The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-02-06
CHAPTER Iv.-Continued.

or course, II l could afford It, But L
can't. The old man has found out all
about you, Ruth, don't know how.
He's not bad Sort the old man; all he
says Ia cut it, that's all.
Ruth drew her breath quickly. On
her pale check there showed q spot of
color
Gut it, he says, and you shall be
partner; keep it on AMI you shall be q
beggar.
That's the situation, Ruth'-he
threw himself into char with lauda-
BILE assumption Of carlessness. "A beg
gar. There is nothing in the world that
/ can 60. | cont know any tradc--I
can't do anything. There isn't a man
In the world more helpless than / when
1t comes to doing any work that will
pay. So you see, as l can't afford to be
pauper, and it would only make things
for you worse il / made you a pauper,
to, Eve mado up my mind that the only
thing for US to do is TO cut 1t; to have
done with ito separate-to go on as
II We had never met"
But we cannot, Harry. 1t is too late
TO talk OF such thing
1T Is never too late. That is my res
olution, Ruth.
Good Heavens! Why, we are mar
ried. Have you forgotten that?!"
Are we?"
Are we noti"
Look here, Ruth" he threw himself
Into chair and tried to assume a fine
air OF carelessness, as IL the matter was
one OF very small Importance. $50 long
as there was any chance at all for US
was willing TO go on. But there isn't.
1t would be only cruel to you to keep up
the thing any longer. want to consult
yonr interests first. can't keep a wife,
you see. / can't even keep myself.
Well, now-don't fly out more than you
can help, Ruth Look here, you've got
dozen Of letters of mine; you can
! make yourself internally disagreeable
il you please. III you go into court of
law you would even get damages, l dare
say. Now look here. Don't let's have
any scandal. I'll buy the letters-Pll
buy up everything at big price. Any
thing TO prevent a row and to part
amicably."
She stared at him with mind only
half awakened.
Buy your letters? What do you
mean? Harry-husbandA- laid her
hand ON his arm as he sat up in the
chair; tell me what does THE mean?
buy your lettefS ~ your NilS!
"Wife-ah! well-of course, l don't
pretend to believe that you didn't see
through the trick. Where were yol
married, pray?"
At registry"
Where is that registry
Il don't know. You took me there"
Il took you to an Office; but, my child,
1t was q sham registry"
He turned away his head. Cold and
selfish as he was, he Gould not face her
as he told this Internal lie.
A sham office" he went on, "and
took false name. You are no more
married than your sister, Miss Ruth
Heron
He forced himself to face her.
Il don't know, l don't know" she
said, not in fact knowing what she said.
Then she stopped and neither spoke.
do you mean all you say-all2' she
asked.
All; mean 1t ell. Hang 1t, Ruth, no.
body wants you to como to any harm! l
tell you frankly that will buy back all
the letters
She bent forward and whispered.
He sprang to his feet with an oath
and walked across the room. When he
came back to her his face was logged
and obstinate, as it had been with his
father Unhappily, the girl would not
meet him with equal stubhorness.
What does that matter to me?" he
aeked her.. with brutality incredible.
DO as you like. Only when you come
TO think 1t over you will say that the
best thing you can do is to follow my
advice. Give up all the papers and I'll
see you through-buy You business,
send you abroad-anything you please.
Remember that this man up to this
moment had been her passionate lover;
one who would not find respect too great
OF worship too complete. What did !
saw? Fear Of poverty reduced him In
ona moment to this level Again / say
1T makes one tromble lest through
some temptation we, too
The girl stared at him. 1t was as il
bene ath the visor Of the knightly helmet,
where "a moment before had been the
face of a man, there should be prinning
the ugly features of hooking ape.
@You mean all this, she said again.
"Of course. mean it. What the devil
should say it for unless meant 1t?
Brutality. YOU see, once begun must be
kent up. even if one has had enough Of
It. Yet l declare thnt 10 this young maj
the recollection of his fathers fierce
ewes and of his awful threats drove pity
love. memory, honor-everything out O.
his mind. He had but one thought, Il
get out OF the mess.
you have no pity? Ccnsider-oh!
have told observation-disclosures 20,
did love me only a week or two ago.
drop it, Ruth. If one Of us two II
going to be pauper it shall not be me
If can help it. We've had good time
and it's over. You shalt be taken carr
of. 1t is all over, tell you.
"No-no. Oil" She clasped he
hands with a cry Of anguish. 1t Is onl,
beginning. OH it is beginning.
She sank into the chair he had lei
and buried her face in her hands. Ihel
che sp-ang to her feet again as II thef'
was no rest in her. -,
aOh. my sister Naomi Oh. M,
sister!-how shah l tell here Wha
shall l say? What twill she say! On
would rather die than tell herr
He was leaning against the mantei
shelf. He turned impatiently and tool
up little dagger paper-hnife, one 2
those glittering toys the handle OF whlcl
Is OF mother-o' pearl and the blade
rolished blue steel, and began to pa
with It, not even thinking Of the toy:
y thought you had mo 9 sense p
said, sthsn to 90 On lie this, We'll, 70
grow apw What ! hes 70 cay, Sstsey q
~oisSsss aaf eA.Sl IL ov1r Coma. Hyfs