Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1915 — The Governor’s Lady A Novelization of Alice Bradley's Play [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Governor’s Lady A Novelization of Alice Bradley's Play

By GERTRUDE STEVENSON

Illustrations from Photographs of the Stage Production

U CHAPTER Xll—Continued. The New York driver looked at the raw-booed westerner and then proceeded to become absorbed In the allimportant matter of consuming the largest possible number of griddle cakes In the least possible time. “Well,” remarked the sociable waiter, as he brought another cup of coffee, "I guess we don’t get any of your crowd tonight.” “You wouldn’t get our crowd anyway!" And the westerner Inflated his chest. “Our*bosses are quail-on-toast boys.” “And champagne, too, I suppose?" “Nope, my boss don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t keep yachts or horses, don’t keep worn— ’’ He stopped as he realized that he was talking loudly. The little woman quietly eating crackers and milk looked up as she heard the old, familiar formula “Why, Jake!" she exclaimed in quick surprfse. The westerner jumped up hastily and looked to see where the voice came from. There was only one voice as sweet and gentle as that; It was (he voice of a woman who had been the best friend he had ever had. “Why, Mrs. Slade!" he exclaimed gladly, as bs recognized her in spite of the fact that her hair had grown grayer and that she was a much trimmer figure than she had been when he had last seen her. “I recognized your word,’’ she laughed as he came over to her table “I’ve kind of got that by heart hearing it so often.” Jack stammered. Then turning to his companion, he asked him to go on alone. “What are you doin’ here, on a night like this?" he asked as he drew up a chair beside Mary. “Oh, I often come here," replied Mary. “It’s late, though. I’m glad to see yon, Jake; it’s sb seldom I see a face I know," and she looked at him intently, and Jake thought a bit of her old wistful look crept Into her eyes. 1 '■ “I’ve been to the meetin’ tonight, Jake,” she explained. “I wanted to hear Mr. Slade. I saw in the paper he was goln* to speak." “We kind of—we didn’t always know Jest where you were,” Jake told her, his eurprise and pleasure at meeting her so unexpectedly putting him at a loss to know what to say. “Oh, I drift round,” Mary told him. “I live near here. I got tired of hotels, they’re public and lonely. And boarding houses —well, people are so inquisitive. So I got a nice, pleasant furnished room and go out for my meals I come here because it's cozy. Is Mr. Slade well?" “Yes."

“Very well.” “Ye*, the governor's very well.” “Do you make him wrap up nights—weather like this? Do you get him to put on his rubbers?” and her voice was very tender. "I sure do,” laughed Jake. “I make him do everything you did. That's why I’m East with him.” ZZTZZ “You’re a good boy, Js£e,” and she reached forward and patted his hand. “Tell me, does he always get the applause he did tonight?" she asked, eagerly. “I was very proud. He got three times as much as anyone else. 1 found myself applauding, too.” “You bet he does.” Jake was very proud of his “old man.” “He gets over. The other four western governors we’re traveling with—they ain’t heard. Do you think you’ll ever come West again, Mrs. Slade?” “No,” answered Mary, decisively. *Tm puahln’ right ahead. I’m going to Europe next Jake, I’m a citizen of the world now.” -Well.” Jake got to his feet A sudden resolution had formed in his mind as he heard about the contemplated trip to Europe. He hadn’t been with the governor dally for the past two years without knowing what that personage’s secret wish was. Neither had he devoted so much of his attention to motors and tires and carburetors that he had neglected to cultivate the art of judging human nature. If Jake were any judge—-

and Jake thought he was—a woman didn’t go to hear a man speak if she was wholly indifferent to him. Also a woman didn't fuss and worry about a man’s overshoes if she hated him. “I wish you a pleasant journey, Mrs. Slade. I guess I’ll have to run along now.” “Jake, I’d just as soon you didn’t say you saw me,” Mark remarked as she shook hands with him. ‘'You can depend on me, Mrs. Slade.” Jake’s candor and sincerity would have deceived <&, saint “You eat your supper in peace. I give you my word of honor I won’t say a thing.” “Thank you, Jake,” she replied, satisfied. “Good night” As Jake opened the door the snow eddied in and a blast of cold wind emit a chill through Mary’s body. It •Mined good to meet Jake, but some-1 how she almost wished she hadn’t It had brought back so forcibly the things she was trying to forget She sat looking into space for a long time after he had gone. People came and went, a queer assortment of humanity—women of the streets and char-

women wanting a cup of coffee —hut she scarcely saw them. She knew when the door opened by the accompanying chill, hut she paid no attention to anyone coming or going. When Slade’s handsome figure appeared and his eyes searched the room anxiously she did not look up. For a moment he looked at her, hungrily—sadly. She was pathetle even now, although she had changed and improved, but she did look eo little and wistful as Bbe sat eating her lonely, simple meal of crackers and milk and coffee.

He walked down the room and stood before fier, but it was only when he spoke that she looked up. Her eyes showed first amazement and then the love she could In no wise conceal. A warm flush made her look, to him, almost as pretty as she had when Bhq was a girl. “Well, how are you, Mary?" he asked. It was an ordinary enough speech, but the tone was tender and his eyes were asking the question she could not ignore. “Why, Dan! I heard you tonight," the words were out before she recovered from her surprise. “I’m glad you wanted to go," he said, simply, “but what's the use of it alir There was a touch of cynicism in his attitude and manner. “Of what?" Mary asked. “Of my getting elected, and —of the whole business?" and he looked at her searchingly. “Aren’t you satlsAed?” For a moment there was a trace of the Mary who had kicked open the kitchen door that day she had driven him from that cottage. “What way has It disappointed you ?’’ - “Well, what’s the use of being governor if you can’t share the honors?" Slade smiled wanly as he thought of their former discussion of the same subject. “No, It doesn’t amount to much after all! Jake tells me you are going to Europe?" "Yes, It’s a Cook tour,” she exclaimed as she produced the ticket from her handbag. “It’s a quick glimpse of famous places. We are to see Rome. We have .two days there and half a day for the Pyramids. Then the Holy Land, then Paris for three whole days. I’m to see everything—to see life! I’ll see the whole world in two months."

“Well, I hope you’ll enjoy It,” he commented sadly. “I couldn’t” '“Why not?” she asked Innocently. Slade looked at her for a full minute before he replied. “I find I’m too old to make new friends,” he finally replied. “It’s what I’ve had that counts; it’s looking back, not ahead. And I want to say right here and now that If I had It all to do over again I’d do differently. I’d do differently.” “Yes, I guess we’d all do differ ently," and Mary fumbled absently with the Cook’s ticket to the world in two months. “But It’s too late now,” she finished. “You couldn’t think of trying it again, could you, Mary?” Slade’s voice was tense. “Oh, no,” she replied as if his sug-

geatlon war* not to be considered for a moment. “We are divorced and the only dignified thing for divorced people to do is to stay divorced. Why? Are you lonely?"

“No, I can’t honestly say I’m lonely," he answered, candidly. "I’m too busy tor that I asked you because I care for you, very, very much. I’ve missed you. It wasn’t loneliness. I’ve Just missed you. And if anything had happened to you before I'd seen you again—well—my life wouldn't have been worth a continental. I want you because—because you’re my girL Ton always were. The girl I loved when I was nineteen. You’re handsomer now, My God! Mary, but you look pretty tonight !’£ “Oh, Dan! Please, I’m going," Mary protested. “Hold on there.” Slade laid a detaining arm on hers. “I want to ask you something. Do you remember the first time I kissed you?” “No, I do not,” and Mary looked away toward the window where the endless process of grlddle-cake making was going on. “Yes, you do." Slade was leaning toward her eagerly. “Yon were bending over your mother's washtub and I—” He stopped suddenly. “Mary, If I were sick —would you come back to me?”

“Oh, that would be different," she answered, meeting his gaze. _now would R-he different?” he argued. “Whether I'm sick of body or slek of heart—what’s the difference? Sick one way or the other, I can’t get on without you—l can’t. I’ve tried it alone, and I can’t get on. And you’re tired of It, too. You're not happy,” he accused. “Well, yes, I am, in a way." “No, you’re not,” he persisted. “Now, then, first I’m going to take you home, wherever you live. Come on.” He had easily reverted to his old masterful way. “No, I won’t!”

“Come on, there are four governors' wives at my hotel,” he told her. ‘Til Introduce you to them tomorrow after we’re married and then you can come on the trip with us. You’ve been away long enough. Come on." “Positively no,” replied Mary, and possibly she thought she meant it “Then you’re through with me for good and all?” he asked in surprise. “Well, I don’t blame you. God,! What an awful memory of all those years we lived together you must have!" “Don't say that!" and Mary shrank away from him. "Don’t feel like that! It was only at the last; I was unhappy only at the last. Before that why, Dan, you know perfectly well, I’d rather not have been at all then not to have been the wife of Daniel S. Slade.”

“Do you mean it?” he asked, eagerly. “Of course.” “Well, that settles it,” and he jumped up to get her heavy coat “We’re going to try it again. We’ve got to.” “But what will people say?” asked Mary, weakening. Tm all packed up to go to Europe.” “That for Europe,” and reaching for the ticket, he tore It Into bits. "Well go together some day,” and he held out her coat invitingly, “Oh, Dan,” she murmured as she obediently let him put it on. Before she had decided one way or the other he had her bag and her umbrella and he had her by the arm and in another flash she was being helped into a motor car that had been waiting outside. Jake cranked the car, and as he climbed up on the seat he chuckled to himself: “Well, this is the time they’ve got to hand it to me for being a diplomat.” (THE END.)