The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-07-05

impulse, and, just as Alaire babe him
good night, clumsily sought to force
an explanation.
"See here!" he shot at her. "What's
the matter with you lately?" He saw
that he had startled her, and that she
made an effort to collect her wander
ing thoughts. "You're about as warm
and wifely as n stone idol"
Gam I any different to what I have
always been"
"Humph! You haven't been exactly
sympathetic of late. Here 1 come home
sick, and you treat me like one of the
help. Don't you think I have feelings?
Jove! I'm lonesome"
Alaire regarded him speculatively,
then shook her head as if in answer to
some thought.
In an obvious and somewhat too mel
low effort to be friendly, Ed continued:
Don't let's go on like this, Alaire. You
blame me for going away so much, but
when I'm home I feel like an inter-
loper. You treat me like a cow-thief."
I'm sorry. I've tried to be every
thing I should. I'm the in%terloper."
Nonsense! If we only got along
together as we'll as we seem to from the
outside, 1t wouldn't be bad ut all. But
you're too severe. You seem to think
a man should be perfect. Well, none
of us are, and I'm no worse than the
majority. Why, I know lots of fellows
who forget themselves and do things
they shouldn't, but they don't mean
anything by it. They have wives and
homes to go to when it's all over. But
have I? You're as glad to see me as
if I had smallpox. Maybe we've made
a mess of things, but married life isn't
what young girls think it is. A wife
must learn to give and take"
"I've given. What have I taken?"
she asked him in a voice that quivered.
Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh,
don't be SC literal! I mean that, since
we're man and wife, it's up to you to
be q little more-broad-gauge in your
views"
I'm other words, you want me to ig.
more your conduct. Is that it? I'm
afraid we can't argue that, Ed"
"All right; don't let's try to argue
it," he laughed, with what he consid.
cred an admirable show of magnanim.
ity. II hate arguments, anyhow; I'd
much rather have a goodnight kiss"
But when he stopped over her Alaire
held him off and turned her head
"NO!" she said.
"You haven't kissed me for"
II don't wish to kiss you"
"Don't be silly" he insisted. "Come
now, I want a kiss"
Alaire thrust him back strongly, anG
he saw that her face had whitened
Oddly enough, her s%tubbornness an.
gered him out of all reason, and he
began a harsh remonstrance. But he
halted when she cried:
"Wait!. I must tell you something
Ed. It's all over, and has been for 8
long time. We're going to end it."
END it,"
1--WE can't go on living together. Why
should we?"
$50? Divorce? Is that it,"
Alaire nodded.
"Well, I'll be d-d!" Ed was dunn.
founded. "Isn't this rather sudden?'
he managed to inquire.
ooh, no. You've suggested it more
than once"
Il thought you didn't believe in di.
cfopooh ,o,,o 11yL,.,c
happened?"
Il have changed my mind"
"Humph! People don't change their
minds in a minute" he cried angrily
'1s there some other MANI"
Now Ed Austin had no faintest idea
that his wife would answer in the atlir.
native, for he had long ago learned to
put implicit confidence in her, and her
life had been SO open that he could
not imagine that it held a double in
%terest. Therefore her reply struck him
speeches..
"Yes, Ed" she said quietly. "There
is another man."
1t was like her not to evade. She
had neve lied to him.
Eds mouth opened; his Redeemed
eyes protruded. "Well-" he STAN
mered. well" Then after 8, moment
"Who is it, the greaser or the COW.
boy?" He laughed loudly, disagree
ably. 1T must be one or the other, for
you haven't seen any men except them.
lAnother man! Well, you're cool about
it."
II am glad you know the truth"
Muttering to himself, Ed made q
short excursion around the room, then
paused before his wife with a sheer on
his lips. ibid it ever occur to you that
I might object?" he demanded.
Alaire eyed him scornfully. "What
right have you to object"
Ed could not restrain a malevolent
CLEAN of curiosity. "Say, who is it?
Amt I entitled to know that much?"
AS Alatre remained silent, he let his
eyes rove over her with a kind of angry
appreciation. "You're pretty enough to
stampede any man." he admitted.