Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-04-19

something of the standing that certain
circles had accorded her as the wife
of a successful mining man. 1t made
her ponder. Was Bill so far wrong,
after all. in his estimate of them? 1t
was a disheartening conclusion. She
had come of a family that stood well
in Granville she had grown up there;
If lifetime friends blew hot and cold
like that. was the game worth playing!
In so far as she could she gave the
lie to some of the petty gossip. Where
as at first she had looked obviously on
spending Bill's money to maintain the
standard of living they had set up, she
now welcomed that deposit of five
thousand dollars as a means to DEM
onstrate that even in his absence he
stood behind her fnancially-which
she began to perceive counted more
han anything else. So long as she
could dress in the best, while she could
ride where others walked, so long as
she betrayed no limitation of re-
sources, the doors stood wide. Not
what you are, but what you've got
she remembered Bill saying that was
their hottest creed.
1t repealed her. And sometimes she
was tempted to sit down and pour it all
out in a letter to him. But she could
not quite bring herself to the point.
Always behind Bill doomed the vast
and dreary Northland, and she shrank
from that.
On top of this, she began to suffer
a queer upset of her physical condi-
ton. All her life she had been splen-
didly healthy; her body a perfect
working machine, afflicted with no
weaknesses. Now odd spasmodic pains
required without rhyme or reason in
her head, her back, her limbs, strik-
ing her with sudden ~poignancy, disap-
pearing as suddenly.
She was stretched on the lounge one
afternoon wrestling n%ervously with a
particularly acute attack, when Vesta
Lorimer was ushered in.
You're almost a stranger" Hazel
remarked, after the first greetings.
your outing must have been pleasant
to hold you so long,"
1T would have held me longer"
Vest returned, "if I didn't have to be
in touch with my market. 1 could live
quite happily On my island eight
months in the year. But M can't get
people to come several hundred miles
to a sitting. And / feel inclined to &C
quire a living income while my vogue
lasts"
You're rather a wilderness lover,
aren't your" Hazel commented. 81
don't think you'd love it as dearly if
you were buried alive in it,"
"That would all depend on the cir
cumstances," Vesta replied. "One es-
capes many disheartening things in a
country that is still comparatively
primitive. The continual grind of
keeping ones end up in town gets
terribly wearisome. I'm always glad
to go to the woods, and sorry when ]
have to leave. But 1 suppose it's large.
ly in ones point of view."
They chatted of sundry matters fol
a few minutes.
"By the way, is there any truth in
the statement that this Free Gold row
has created trouble between you ant
your husband?" Vesta asked abruptly
81 dare say it's quite an impertinen'
question, and you'd be well within
, your rights to tell me it's none of m!
business. But 1 should like to con
, found some of these petty tattlers.
haven't been home forty-eight hours
, yet I've heard tongues wagging.
hoppe there's nothing in it. 1 warnet
Mr.. Wagstaff against Paul"
Warned him? Why?" Hazel neg
+, lected the question entirely. The blunt
, ness of it took her by surprise. Franz
speech was not a characteristic o
Vesta Lorimer's set. ,
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
He is my brother, but that doesn'
veil my eyes," she said coolly. pau
I is too crooked to lie straight in bed
I'm glad Mr.. Wagstaff brought the 10
OF them up with a round turn-whicl
e he seems to have done. II he had use,
a club instead of his fists it would hav
been only their deserts. 1 suppose tn
fuss quite upset you?"
1T did" Hazel admitted grudgingly
1T did more than upset me-"
: Il thought as much" Vesta sal
slowly. ut made you inflict an lndt
served hurt on a man who should hav
had better treatment at your hands
3 not only because he loves you, but bt
Z cause he is one of the few men VIII
: deserve the best that you or any won
an can give"
o You've said quite enough" Haze
cried. "n you have any more insults
r please get rid of them elsewhere.
v think you are"
"Oh, 1 don't care what you think {
me-" the girl interrupted recklessl,
t. IF 1 did l wouldn't be here. I'd hid
behind the conventional rules of I'll
game and let you blunder along. Bl