Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-05-15
D . Q

the remaining evenings were Darb,
and Joan affairs in which they sat sid,
by SIDE before the open fire in theil
library and David read while Penelop,
rcaj Or sewed.
During the second year OF their mar
riage Judge Strong went to a hospita
fer Il serious operation which kept him
there for several months. During his
absence. of course. David took on the
JUDGES work. Here was his chance
to make up in earnest for that dalliance
before his marriage. In the evenings
he vent 10 see his father at the hos
pilal Dinners and dances became i'm
possible. The judge recovered and went
to Europe for a rest while David still
carried on at home, not only looking
after the entire practice of the firm
but after his fathers personal affairs
as well. and giving some time to his
sisters, who had been left behind while
their father and mother went abroad
In short. David was very much oc-
cupled and he unconsciously fell into
the habits OF the tired business man.
He ate his dinner, read and dozed by
the fire an hour or two every evening,
and then dropped into bed and slept
exhauStedly. He looked for Penelope
the instant he entered the house at
night, and if he did not see her he
experienced a n of disappointment
and loneliness which lifted promptly
when she appeared. On leaving in the
morning he absent-mindedly kissed
her cheek or the top of her head, his
mind usually being full of his case in
court that day.
Al the end of another four months
Judge Strong came home, improved in
health, but not the mar he had been,
and resumed what he could carry of
the lrm's growing practice. A prom
isiug y%oungster who had just been adj
mitted to the bar was taken into the
Office to ave David and his secretary
a lot of detail work. But David had
formed habits. He liked his evenings
at home. He looked forward to them.
Penelope. he judged, had been gadding
all afternoon. He assumed, if he
thought of it at all, that she found
Their quiet evenings as agreeably rest
ful as he did.
He was aroused from this delusion
six months after the judges return
from Europe. David was very deep in
a book of extremely interesting legal
cases n evening when he suddenly
heard the overturning Of a chair, the
flop Of a heavy book on the floor, and
startled. looked up to find Penelope
facing him with furiously resentful
eyes.
David" she said abruptly, I'm
through. I'm not going to stand this
sort OF life any more
This sort of life?" David stared at
her mcomprehendingly and his ex-
preston added the last touch to her
Sense of injury.
Yes, this sort of life" she ragged.
This sitting around night after night
and watching you doze and read while
my friends are having a good time
and I'm eating my heart out! I'm
through with it, ! tell you. You've
neglected me eve since our marriage.
You're the kind Of man I've read about
and always dreaded-the kind that
takes everything for granted. / sup
pose my dread was a sort Of Fremont
ton that I was going to get one OF
them. You never plan anything pleas
ant for me. You never say an affec-
tionate word to me. Oh, don't talk!'
She checked the words on his lips. 81
know you love me, in your damnably
selfish way. But I'm fed up with the
life we're living. I wasn't made fol
it and I can't endure it. 1 did endure
it while your father was sick and away,
but to keep it up all my life, as you
seem to expect"
MY dear" he said gently, don't get
so excited. You're perfectly right. I've
been a selfish beast. I admit it; but
Of course, you know that / wasn't con-
scious of it. Now that you've opened
my eyes we'll have a new deal. Where
would you like to go tonight?"
His capitulation was so complete, anC
evidently SO unexpected, that Penelope
capped at him almost as stupidity as he
had gaped at her when she fired tn,
opening gun of their encounter.
Where would you like to go?" h
repeated, drawing her arm through hi.
and walking her toward the door O
the library. Its too late for the thea.
ter, I suppose, but there ought to be
a good picture at the Academy. o.
snail we drlve, and drop IN on SOM
of your friends?"
Penelope stopped short, so that he
had to stop, too. She gave him a lon,
look-an odd look-and nodded.
"You mean it," she said, land, 0
course, I'm ashamed Of myself for go
ing off at half cock that way. w
won't go anywhere tonight, but I'd Xix
to have a few friends to dinner tomor.
row night and take them to the theatel
afterwards. There's a play in tow
that's really good. Now, go and finisl
YOU book"
Fine" he said heartily. 'We1l d
it. Make your arrangements and ge
your tickets tomorrow"
His relief over the respite was SO obvi
GUS that she laughed. But she wake
ustairs with him arm in arm and the
had q pleasant chat before the fire il
her upstairs sitting room, during whicl