The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-03-26
A DIVORCE KILLER
BY DOROTHY cRoWELL

Mrs. Roberts darted furtive glanceS
at her daughter who was idly drum
ming on the closed window. Finally
unable TO stitle her curiosity longer
she burst out: "Grace stop that silly
pounding. What In the world is the
matter? Has Richard developed a
grouch?"
Grace shrugged her shoulders and
sighed. II hardly see enough of lim
to know" Something was forming in
her mind Of which the mother. despite
her superior knowledge of the word,
was ignorant.
Mrs. Roberts went to her. "Never
mind Grace. You will find after you
have been married as long as | that
men are peculiar creatures, and that i
is best to let them fight out their
gfonches alone"
"Qh, it isn't that" grace declared
seriously. Put can see that grad
ually / am losing Richards love. In
many ways he shows it,"
Mrs. Roberts tried to comfort her
daughter, yowing to give Richard a
piece of her mind at the first opportun-
ity. Mrs. Roberts was to he farther
shocked before the visit was over.
The cause of this new worry was
her daughters firm determination to
bury herself in the country, and think
out the reason for the growing cold
ness between herself and her husband,
and of all places in the world at
Grandmother S;etson's away up in the
wilderness miles and miles from every
thing. Mrs. Roberts threw up her
hands in despair as she heard this in
sane folly of her silly daughter.
Grandmother Stetson while living in
the wilderness knew human nature
with a knowledge that her daughter
could never acquire. and Wlen Grace
walked dejectedly into the little sit
ting room of the house in the wilder
ness, she was met with ready SYM
pathy and folded in two substantial
arms.
in a few words Grace unfOlded her
grievance. and when she had finished
Mrs. Stetson declared with conviction:
THAT is a mighty poor apology for
a woman who canno keep her hus-
bands love once she has won it."
Within the week Grace had discard
ed her city frocks for more suitable
garments, which her W hands had
fashioned under the critical eyes of
the grandmother. Mrs. Stetson took
matters into her own hands now. and
Immediately forwarded a telegram
which brought Richard to the house
in the wilderness within a day. He
burst hastily into the sitting room.
"Great Scott" he cried. where is She?
| never realized Grace was as i'll us
that. oh, | knew there was some
thing. but
Grace is not ill., Mrs. StetSon told
him. THAT telegram is something be
tween myself and my conscience. You
wrote a pretty letter about going away
for months, and leaving your wife
didn't your
We'll, a business man has to at.
tend" he began.
Hum" Mrs. Stetson shifted disdain.
fully. "Go III the kitchen and wash
up She pointed to a door ut the
end of the short hail. Richard pressed
he latch and went IN.
The figure bent over the table, roll
ing pin in hand, he failed to rccog.
niZe. Alarmed at the heavy tread the
girl looked up. Dick" she gaSped in
establishment. Both We're embarrassed
n acted like two children. A formal
handshake which left his hand white
from the flour was her greeting.
AS the day passed Mrs. Stetson re-
fused with a pOsitivencss that for
babe argument to assist in the kitchen
and left the entire management to her
granddaughter. Richard seemed to
find little if any time to think of bust
ness. This new order Of things ap-
pealed to him immensely. He had
never known Grace in this new role.
Mrs. StetsOn's teachings were Ger.
tainly bearing fruit. One day Grace
went to her perplexed and not a little
peeved. Tell me. Grandmother 1Stet-