The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-26
CHAPTER IT.-Contjnue<l.

NO, nave Not. should tell them
OF course, Il | could afford it. But
can't. The old man has found ont nj
about you. Ruth, ! don't know how
He's not a bad sort, the old man: all h(
says is 'c,t it., that's all"
Ruth drew her breath QUICKLY. Or
her pale cheek there showed p snot 81
color.
"'Cut It, he says, ana you shall be q
partner; keep i! on and YOU shall be /;
bcssar.
That's the situation, Ruth"-hc
threw himself into chair with laud,-
bic assumption Of carlessness. "A beg
gar. There is nothing in the world that
] can Go. I cont know any trade-I
can't do anything. There isn't man
in the world more helpless than I when
it comes to dom. any work that will
pay. So you see, IS | cant afford +, be-
a pauper, and it would only make thinrs
fer you worse if I made you a pauner
tco, I've made up my mind that the only
thing for US to Go is to cut it; 10 have
done with Ito separate---to 60 on as
if we had never met.
But we cannot, Harry. 1t is too late
to talk of such a thing
1t is never toe late. That is INV res
olution, Ruth"
Coed Heavens! Why. We are mar
ricd. Have you forgotten that?,"
Are we?"
ARE we nOt?'
Look here, Ruth" he threw himself
into u chair and tried TO assume ? fine
sir OF carelcssncss, rs il the matter was;
one OF very small Importance. $50 long
as there '"%s any chance ut all for us I
wos willing 10 80 Oh. But there isn't.
1t would be only cruel to you to keep up
the thing any longer. | want to consult
yonT interests first. | can't keep a wife,
you sec. can't even keep myself,
Wei, now-don't fly out more than Won
can help, Ruth. Look here, you've cot
q dozen Of letters Of mine: YOU can
make yourself Internally disa sreeablc
if you please II you go into court OF
law yea "ould even get damages, dare
say. Now look here. Don't let's have
any scandal. I'll buy tho lettcrs--I'l,
buy up everything at a big price. Any
thing t" prevent Il row and to part
amcab!y
She stared at him with mind onl;
half Sahcncd.
buy your letters? What do Won
mean? Harry-,lUsband she laid her
hand on his arm as he sat up in tho ,
chair; tell lac what does this mean, !
Buy your letters to your wife,"
"iIc-ah. wcll--ot course, J dou't
pretend to believe thai YOU didn't see
through the trick. Where were Won
married, pray"
Alta registry !:
Where IS that registry" !
! don't Know. You took me there"
took you to an office; but, my child,
!. vas sham registry"
he turned away lis head, Cold and
Selfish as he was. he could not face her
as he told this Internal lie,
a sham Office he went on, sacd
took false name You arc 10 more
married than your sister, Miss Ruth
Heron"
lie forced himself to face her.
:. don't know, don't know" she
SAD, not in TACT knowing what she said.
Ihen enc stopped and neither spoke,
DO you mean all you say-al!?' she
asked. ~
All; | mean it ali. Hang it, Ruth, no.
ppuS wants You to come to any harm! I
tell you frankly that | will buy back ali
the letters"
she bent forward and whispered.
he spTang to his feet with an oath
END walked across the room. When he {
cam" Back TO her his face was dossed
ana Obstinate, as it had been With his :
laener' 'lnharpiy, the girl would not
Ale s.',, nm With equal stubporness.
"hat does that matter TO me?" he '
aE her, with brutality incredible. {
10 rs you like. Only when you come
" ~ lH!nS 1t over you will say that the |
p9st thing you Gun do is to follow nv ;
aaV'ce. Give up al the papers and I'll
s'e you through-buy you Business.
Se1a You ahroacl--anythin. you please" '
- hclnembcr that this man up to this '
moment had been her pass onatc lover; !
Ole VINO "oUll' ROT find respect too great /
VI Ho:GNlp TOO complete. What did 8
,"y: rear OF poverty reduced him in i
we moinent to this level. Again I say ]
~ makes one trcmhle lest through t
'' III, temptation We, too 6
mo girl stare at him. 1t was az Il /
, W. the visor Of the hnightIy helmet. t
'nefe moment before had been the h
w. ~ .! man, there sLo:ld he ar.HNirg j
'4e Vsiy features OF {; ElGcsing :.pc. Il
{. a lou mean all this, she sud again. y
!, y, course, mean it. What the devil $
2 or say ii for unless I meant it," T.
,a.. you soc, once begun must be !;
,opy up. even il orc has had enough Of Il
h w. Aet declare Il!st to this young man II
,us recosiect!on q; his fathers fierce 3
,yes anu OF his awful threats drove pity, b
w IVY, memory, honor-cvcrything out of W
~. "a, lnlhd. tie had but one thought. to d
~ NC, out of the mess. u
ou lou nave no pity? Consider-ch. l ST
s'e told -consider-because you
y" an lo'e me only week or two ago" p
o,a nrop 1t, Ruth. If one OF us two is
pug 10 be pauper it shall not be me, u
NJ "a; "a, aclp it. We've had good time, d
: !! :. ) =; over You shall be taken care re
!: .,, IL IS all over, tell YOU" S
,n no-no. OH" She clasped her fl
, onus WIN a cry OF anguish 1T is only a.
ginning, Oh! it is beginning" Il
nd ~ 80, SANK into the chair he had left m