Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-05-25
@V REX BEACFA


sidered this quite unnecessary, for she
felt sure that he was either suffering
the customary after-effects of q visit to
the city or else that he lacked the
moral courage to undertake an expla.
nation of his hurried fight from the
ranch. In either event she was glad
he kept to his room.
When Austin made his appearance
ON the day following his return, his
bleared eyes, his puffy, pasty cheeks
his shattered nerves, showed plainly
enough how he had spent his time. AL
though he was jumpy and irritable, he
seemed determined by an assumption
Of high spirits and exaggerated friend
liness to avert criticism. Since Alaire
spared him all reproaches, his efforts
seemed to meet with admirable sue
cess. Now Eds opinion of women was
not high, for those with whom he ha-
bitually associated We're of small in
telligence; and, seeing that his wife
continued to manifest a complete in
difference to his past actions, he de-
.ided that his apprehensions had been
groundless. If Alaire remembered the
Guzman affair at all, or if she had sus-
oected him of completely in it, time had
evidently dulled her suspicious, and he
vas little sorry he had taken pains
20 stay away SO long.
Before many days, however, he dis
covered that this Indifference Of hers
was not assumed, and that in some
way or other she had changed. Ed
was accustomed, when he returned ex-
hausted from a debauch, to seeing 1r
his Wife'S eyes a strained misery; ne
had learned to expect in her bearing
sort of plying, hopeless resignation.
But this time she was not in the least
depressed. On the contrary, she ap-
peared happier, fresher, and-younger
than he had seen her for long time.
1t was mystifying. When, one morn
Ing, he overheard her singing in her
room, he was shocked. Over this phe-
nOmenon he meditated with growing
amaZement and a faint stir OF resent
ment in his breast, for he lived SELF
conferred life, considering himself the
pivot upon which revolved all the at
fairs of his little world. To feel that
he had lost even the power to make
his wife unhappy argued that he mad
Overestimated his Importance.
At length, having sufficiently recov.
cred his health to begin drinking again.
he yielded one evening to an alcoholic
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 stone idol.''
sam I any different to what have
always been?"
"Humph! You haven't been exactly
sympathetic of late. Here come home
sick, and you treat me like one of the
help. Don't you think 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
WIN r
loper. You treat me like a cow-thief.' y
"Tm sorry. I've tried to be every
thing I should. I'm the interloper.''
Nonsense! If we only got along
together as well as we seem to from the
outside, it wouldn't be bad at all. But
you're too severe. You seem to think
man should be perfect. Well, none
of us are, and I'm no. worse than the
majority. Why / 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 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 voice that quivered.
Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh.
don't be so literal mean that, since
we're man and wife, it's up to you to
be 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
II" he laughed, with what he consid-
cred an admirable show of magnanim-
ity. II hate arguments, anyhow; I'd
much rather have 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"
ssDon't be silly" he insisted. "Come.
now, want a kiss"
Alaire thrust him back strongly, and
he saw that her face had whitened.
Oddly enough, her -stubbornness ans