The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-02-14
THE MAN THAT WASN'T
lcopyrlght. 1901. by pany sso-r Pm. COB
BY IRWIN


Copyright. 1901. by
The Woman leaned back among the
dlken cushions in the great arm chair
In which she sat and shook her golden
head saucily.
mo-" she said, 81 have never loved"
"And you never want to- answered
the Man solemnly.
yes. It must be splendid to have
Four whole heart wrapped up in some
one man. To feel that his presence
was your only sunshine, your only n
great Joy. And when he was cross to
grope IN utter darkness, despair and
humiliation, and when he smiled to
feel the gladness and warmth Of Heav-
en-"
You have clear ideas for a woman
who has never loved"
Yes. haven't II II It wasn't for my
healthy appetite I should have been a
poet"
Now, suppose" said the Man, that
you loved some one dearly-as you
said before-and you were laughed at
and treated like a school boy, though
you knew o were not Indifferent to
the loved n or she would not toler-
ate you, and you knew you had no
very serious rival because every other
man was treated the same. What
would you do?"
Il would go away and forget"
mo, you would not. Not as long az
there was hope"
Yes, I would. A person who can
love once can love again"
But suppose"
mo, I viii not suppose"
Very well. Then we will talk fact
Why do you treat me so? why do
you keep me dangling to your chariot
wheels? You are not Indifferent to
me-"
You are useful to me. You run
my errands. You give me ideas for
my work, you"
"Is that all?"
There was a deep-toned pathos to the
Mans voice.
You amuse me-"
"Is that so?"
you are excellent company"
"And-?"
"A delightful escort"
"In other words, a cross between a
graphophone and a Waterman"
with a generous piece Of faithful
Fido added"
you are heartless."
'I know It"
you love me-"
For answer the Woman arose and
pushed aside the Indian seat she had
used for a footstool and raising her
slasped hands to her head she walked
10 the other end of the room and
viewed through half-closed eyes an un-
finished painting.
I'm going to put more yellow in
that grass" she said.
The Man did not move his eyes from
her face. He repeated:
"You love me-"
The Woman continued to smile, ana
returned to her chair.
II know It," the Man continued.
But you are too co~ld-blooded to tell
me so. You like to see me suffer; It
gratihes your vanity. 1? I? Why, I
san do anything except where you are
concerned"
GO on" said the Woman. II love
to hear it. You a never say it too
often"
mo, / will never say 1t again. I
love you. / have always loved you
from the time we first met, a year
ago. You know it. Now, for the last
time, will you be my wife?"
"And If l say MOP"
You will never see me again"
But I say it."
you do2"
Eyes"
you win lever find another love
like mine"
II know IT,"
"And yet you throw 1t away7"
Eyes"
They sat in silence and looked in
Zach others eyes. II seemed ages to
the Man. Merely seconds to the Wom-
IN. Then the Woman arose and go
Ing 70 the back Of his chair she wound
her arms around his neck and raised
his head till his eyes met hers.
Don't leave me-" she said. II would
give my soul to love you, but l can't.
Il will be so hard at first to do with
out you and to get used to some one
else. Please don't She broke on
In q sharp cry, for the Man had thrown