The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-19
IN THE NECK.

It was sober day for them both
Theirs was the pledge and the fruitIess-
ness thereof. Besides the Town since
the last quadrennial happening had peen
subject to an alcoholic drought Even IN
toxicating music was there barred
All pretenee of conversation nao oeen
given up between them.
They crossed the last meadow and en-
tered the wood back of the house she
took of her hat and carried it. PROBABLY
because he did not offer TO carry II Tor
her. The breeze rumpIed her hair And
he dared hot trust himself to look upon
its bewitching disorder that day
Suddenly and without any warning, ne
spoke: 1T may be wrong 1t may be dis
honorable. But must say IT anyawy
She put out her hand quickly.
mol You must notr' And her voice
was so ringing in its liquid depths as to
wiring the water from his brain into a
necklace of beads upon his manly brow.
Yes, but must" he replied. And his
breath came faster.
Let it be as it is" she said softly as a
waiter on velvet carpet.
But it cannot remain So" And he
flung his arms toward her. And she did
not blame him, for well she, daughter Of
BASEBALL player, knew that every man
must have his fling.
1T cannot. cannot let it" he cried
again and yet ssain.
You mustp' Al the half tones of her
piano tuning ancestors were amalga-
mated in the two small words.
''Oh. I cannot: I must. / must" he
groaned.
You must wait" And she turned her
eyes away and away.
That l will not do" he cried. Il am
a man for all that
With a gesture she stopped him. BE
a man in spite of It,
For a moment all was so still one
could hearsthe pin feathers on the birds
in the trees overhead pricking up to lis
ten
ANY other woman would not stand by
and see me suffer as you de-" And he
showed his teeth set-with gold Even the
sun was set
= am sorry; oh. so sorry" she moaned.
but 1 cannot listen to sueh talk She
STOPPED like clock run down.
II. too, am sorry" he cried. But l.
must, 1 must say it. L. It is not
wrong. Other men have. T."
The fields swan before her. She tried
twice TO speak out. but could not. With
a supreme effort she silenced him. Her
voice trembled as though With the ague
"Dontf' she said.
81 must he gasped.
But II you do, she said
IF I do?" he asked
''All will be over between u.s." And
she closed her eyes.
He groaned.
at cannot be the same again. she
whispered
He groaned again.
Things once said cannot be-unsaid,''
she said family.
But they can be said over again." he
suggested.
She Screamed.
"Donitl 1 beg of you" she entreated.
But 1 mustr' he CRIED.
- We shave been SO happy in~our friend
ship" There were tears in, her eyes
And it will spoil air"
"Oh, you are crue.," he cried.
1T am right
''knd I am left" And he crossed his
fingers upon his breast.
And I want you TO be noble" she cried.
And again he only groaned.
She turned from the look in his eyes.
For a moment all was still.
Then, with a sharp gasp. he broke the
silence into a thousand bits.
He tore at his throat.
With scream she covered her ears.
Then, like the winter han on tin roof,
the popping of many corks, or patent
feathers on gravel, cameshis words.
In hot, torrid, burning torrent such as
issued from the mouth OF Pelee, they
came
Falling like bursting rockets on a move
less mass Of people, they struck upon
the pure air of the world, soaring, burn
ing where they fell.
There was the smell of burning feath-
ers as the birds luttered from the trees.
Drop by drop the rosin melted from
the trunks of the pines.
His fingers frightened at his throat. He
tore at his collar. And still the words
fell.
A gasp, struggle. And then with
one mighty effort he wrenched the collar
button from it's nest, where it lay imbed-
ded deep in the firm, white flesh of his
neck.
Then he sank tremblingly at her feet.
Forgive me- he cried. but to no wo-
man is it given to know that which a
man may suffer"
She gazed long distance into his eyes.
Then with the divine pity of womanhood
in her eyes, she said:
Don't wire; telephone; It's quicker"
And so ended the beginning.-By Edna