Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-01-08
CHAPTER v.

SIEI En-
Mary Slade sat down to the break
fast table with q certain sense of be-
wilderment. It was the same this
morning as 1t had been each success
sive morning since Dams departure.
She could not bring herself to the real
ization of the fact that Dan had not
come home-apparently did not intend
to come home.
She had waited up the night he had
gone to the club, just as she had
waited up every night of their married
life, no matter where her husband
was or how late he might be coming
home. AS the night hours heightened
into day she was forced to the con-
for the night. That he wouldn't be
home at all through the day never &C.
CURED to her. She reasoned that
nights sleep would clear his mind
and that he would have recovered
from his "tantrum" the next day. But
Dan didn't run In" that day nor the
next. The days had become weeks,
yoI uClluCl Ny tclCpHOuC uOA A0SS0l u0O
he sent as much as word.
Finally Mary had mustered up her
courage and telephoned his club. It
took courage for Mary to use the tele-
phone on any occasion. She was afraid
Of the sound of her own voice the mo-
ment she began to talk into the trans
mitter. This time she feared Dams
displeasure and his possible harsh
ness. Mr.. Slade was out, had left no
message. they did not know when he
would return, was the disappointing
result as she hung the receiver on the
hook.
This morning, as the maid served
her breakfast. she resolved to try
again. The situation was getting un-
bsarable. It was bad enough to live
In the great house and be surrounded
BY servants with Dan there. Without
him she felt like q prisoner Of state
and looked on the servants as 30 many
jailers.
Leaving her breakfast practically
untasted. Mary again ventured to the
telephone. With faltering voice she
repeated the number. "One-three-nine-
four" with beating heart she inquired
for "Mr. Slade;" with sinking courage
she received the answer that Mr.. Slade
lad gone out. leaving no message.
Again and again during the day she
repeated the call. only to receive .
similar reply. The possibility Of her
husband having left such q message
70 be delivered to her, whether he was
there or not never occurred to the
truthful, simple-minded little woman.
But 6lade did not want to be reached
By her. and II an untruth, more or
less. were necessary, the telephone
boy was easily bribed.
Meanwhile Slade was eagerly look
Ing forward to his new life. Never .
man to wavsr, he did not once look
back to the wife he had 20 coolly de-
serted. He was bssng dined and ban
quoted and feted. being everywhere
hailed as the, candidate for governor.
he was shining the first breath Of fu-
ture glories with keenest delight. This
wa the sort of thing that made . man
feel bigl This was the sort of life to
leAd-with men bowling and salaaming
Ill around him. He walked with firmer
tread. His shoulders were thrown
hack . bit moro arrogantly. His chest
was more noticeable - he walked
down the street.
The innate conceit and self-esteem
of the man made him overlook the fact
that the party needed rich man. He
was quite satisfied that he was being
boosted by Strickland and the others
because Of his brains, his unusual abil-
ity, his oratory and his power to lead
men. He was happier than he had
been for years. Every day the new
life looked brighter and the old less
desirable.
II he gave . thought to Mary 1t was
. passing one. Mary was comfort.
able" She had everything that money
could buy. The servants would be TAX.
Ing good care Of her. of course. OF
the lump In Mary's throat as she sat
ut the lonely breakfast table and a
she went through the still more lone
some ordeal Of the formal dinner, he
AnOW AOtAiu6. vi Tic WOudu aCQln&
heart and her eyes bright with unshed
tears as she tried to keep up before
the servants and make excuses for his
absence. Slade was heartlessly OBJ
livious. Or perhaps 1t was self-esteen
again, that made him unable to fee
for her-the self-esteem of the sue
cessful man who feels no wound,
when fighting for what he wants, ant
neither knows nor cares that other,
feel them. He had heart, but it wa.
unpleasantly like Pharaoh's.
But of Katherine Strickland's stat
uesque beauty and her cosmopolitan
manner he. was delightfully."- aware
During the weeks since he had lief
home Slade had been calling regu
larly at the Strickland home. partly Il
consult with the senator and partl
for the purpose of posing for the bus
which Kathnrine was modelling A
they sat hour after hour. re posin
comfortably nrking deity an