Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-24
ROUGH DIAM ONDS
By JAMES HARTLEY
"Oh, why drag up old bickerings?'
Mrs. Renshawe.

"Oh, why drag up old bickerings?"'
walled Mrs. Renshawe.
Good might" said Gregory, in COL
orless monotone. and he Immediate
ly passed from the drawing rooms by
a rear door. :
And then new chickering's began be-
tween his parents. After all, Mrs.
Renshawe declared to her lord. he
treated Gregory with only a little less
tyranny than he treated her. She
hadn't half enough gowns for New
port in the coming Summer-and her
husband worth ten millions, at the
very lowest figure! Shed already half
decided not to go to Newport at all
this year. She'd prowl off to some
stagnart little hole, with a ,sunshade
4 W. small trunks. Only the 9Th
ef day that spiteful bag, Mrs. Wh..e-
wright, had ,smirked to her: "You
always look SO we'll in your green
gown, Actually she'd worn ii: seven
or eight times that Winter. your
green gown!" 1t was too .sickening!
Everybody would understand why she
stayed away from Newport. But she
didn't care; she had grown desperate.
Very reluctantly! almost an hour
after midnight. she succeeded in
wringing a promise from her husband
that her allowance should be appre-
ciably increased. But in six months
he muttered, you'll be grumbling
just the same, and wanting at least
a ~thousandEa year more" e
Though flushed with victory and
feeling how impolitic were her next
words. Mrs. Renshawe half-tearfully
tainted him: "A thousand a year
more! You don't spend half your in
come; you probably don't, spend a
third. Why should you go on hoard
ing? It's too absurd, and it's too
melancholy! Just for this once, in
the name Of common sense, explain,
Rupert, explain!"
But he could not explain-or would
not. The old curse OF Midas was on
him. Money had long ago ceased to
n.cah what it could buy. He some
times had desires to be deep down
in the earth, within the>walls Of some
sealed DON with all his possessions
turned into gold, and there to plunge
his arms in depths of coin, clutch
handsful Of them, battle in them his
naked body. feel their myriad chilly
little caresses fondle his flesh. But of
such longing he was fiercely ashamed,
and hid It, like some secret insanity
which, indeed, it was. He could not
explain and SO turned away from his
wife with a naughty scowl. But just
as he was leaving her, Mrs. Renshawe
remembered her motive for having
awaited him.
"oh, you9said that young Troop
came to e you today. What is he
like 2"
"Like?" jeered .Renshawe, pausins.
Hes like a car. conductor, a hotel
porter, an Eighth avenue shopkeep-
err -
s bad. Al. that !"
Worse, II you please"
And today we went to his sisters,
Marian and l.. They seemed to me
horribly coarse. But admit they're
pretty. Still nobody who is anybody
would endure them"
Money soAs a long distance now
adays," her husband replied but
such a. fellow as this. LeAnder Troop
n.'kht have the income Of q million 4
minute and yet and society at odds
with him. Luckily. the season ID
over. and we're soon going out OF
town. So all entertainment-even
though he's banking with me to :
very large extent needn't be
thought Of" He was again leaving
the room, when he paused once more.
You're going up. I suppose. Shan |
turn out these lights?"
yes; please"
And while the room, grew DINNER
and DINNER. till only one light from
the outer hall vas left to guide them,
she heard his voice frigidly continue:
by the way, I hope you've had
time to speak again with Marian, and
i hope she's come to her senses re-
garding q certain matter"
She hasn't, Rupert. She never
iwill.". @
With r~epressed b%elligerence he an
swered her through the dimness:
Very well. Take her this message,
please. Usk mean TO remain here
through the Summer. He won't sail
itill' early October. But II she stays
obstinate till that time. what I'm now
swing her--every penny Of it-shall
be withdrawn. She can have. her
room with M, and she can feed at
our table. hut there 1t shall end. Per.
haps you may feel like clothiniR her
and supplying her with pin-money. !
certainly sha'n't.H
Mrs. RsnshAwe made no Answer.
ghe had. indeed, nons 10 ralke. Tsor
S1spush ~ gdfuslatian l1asie1:s
49, FqSSf45%St s.s&s