s. Since their marriage day they had not been separated for more than twelve consecutive hours. It was the first night she had spent alone-

reigning forces there was now only loneliness. No object seemed familiar to her. Everything that had given personality to the little farm was gone with the whistle of a locomotive, the clacking of railway coaches, the clanging of a bell. The landscape was not the same, t

ow's he gittin' 'l

expecting a letter soon. How long does

od deal on ho

two hundred m

e long, then. Shell I ast ef they's an

e Spangler to the t

it

that he was rewarded. Then came a thick envelope on which blazed the Chicago postmark. Every hanger-on about the toll-gate unhesitatingly declared the handwriting to be that of Jud Sherrod. It was addressed to Mrs. Dudley Sherrod. The letter was passed around for inspe

w the spindle-shanked boy racing up the lane

to meet him, her face glowing once m

as he drew near. "Jim says he'd know

-husband in the great city. His descriptions of places, people, and customs, as they appeared to his untrained, marveling eye, were vivid, though disconnected. The

e would fail and that the failure would send him back to gladden the little home. Afterwards the bitterness gave way to rejoicing. Success to him meant success and happiness to both; his struggle was for her as well as for himself, and the end would justify

rself she felt a certain wifely superiority, a little disdain for their surprise, a certain pity for their ignorance. With a touch of self-importance, innocen

with the news of Jud's success. Long before the night was over certain well-informed and calculating individ

ends to his knittin' like a sensible feller'd oughter, he'll come back here with a reecord so derned hard to beat thet it wouldn't be a whipstitch tell he'd be the most pop'

et there has been more Presidents of the United States come from Chickawgo than from airy other State in the West. What Jed'll be doin' 'fore long will be to come out fer President or Vi

tine's husband might find constant employment in Chicago. The torture of knowing that she was another man's wife could be assuaged if he were not compelled to see the happiness they

eaningly, as he leaned over the greasy counter t

ffing away at his pipe. Despite his apparent calmness, his teeth

er a newspaper up there, an'

h is he

start out with $15 a week, an'l

ean a

ne. Thet's what

gittin' $18 a month, an' I've allus been counted a better hand'n him. Wh

right out loud, an' he's a powerful quick-

ittle liar in Clay to

're jest mad 'cause Jed's doin' well, thet'

trying to recover his temper

onscious that she was stirring his violent nature to the boiling point. But t

r, ain't he?" he asked. "

ou talked a year ago,

ughly dissatisfied woman. But Mrs. Hardesty did not know how deeply she h

idity. He was conscious that he was trespassing, and he knew she would not like it. But if she saw him cross the meadow, he never knew. His intention had been, of course, to attract her notice, and he was filled with disappointment. Late in the night he walked back from the hills. There was a light in one of her rear windows, and he peered eagerly from the garden fence, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. When Yank

from a far corner of the pasture, leisurely, in the waning daylight, her thoughts of Jud and the future. She did not see Crawley un

, Justine?" he asked, his voic

he cried, not checking her sp

it, is there? What's the use bein' so unfriendly, anyhow? I'll driv

t her to a standstill, her e

. If you ever put your foot in this pasture again I'll sic' Yank on you. Don't you ever

hen we fit over yander by the crick. I let him up fer your sake an' I'v

friend on earth. If you were a man you'd keep off this place and quit bothering me. You know

ight to call me a c

about me and to make your boasts down at

lyin' to you--" h

snake, and I wouldn't trust you as far. 'Gene Crawley, I've got a loaded shotg

despair burned away every vestige of the brutal conf

defiance and humbleness in his voice. It was now dark and they we

unken brute, and you don't deserve to be spoken to by

"I've a notion to--" he hissed, but could not comple

oward?" He glared at her for a moment, baffled. Suddenly

orld, Justine." He turned and walked

nces that curdled in his heart, freezing forever the lust of liquor. He was beginning to crave the respect of a w