The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

she had forced him TO this banal ex-
PLANTATION. There we're times when her
stupidity could be exasperating.
She was very pale, her eyes dark. her
nostrils expanded. On her face was an
expression of pitiful bewilderment and
distress.
..Then-then-you didn'N want to
marry ne?" she stammered with trem-
bling lips
"Oh. want to- he said with a propi-
tiatory shrug. "Of course ! want TO.
But one can't always do what one
wants. Under the circumstances, as i
tell you. marriage is impossible"
She could say nothing for a moment,
the first stunned moment Of ccmpre-
hension. Then she said in a low voice,
still with her senses scattered, And
thought you meant ii all"
Meant what? that love you?-Don'
you trust me? Don't you believe me?
You must acknowledge l understand
life better than you Go.
she looked at him straight in the
eyes. The pain and bewilderment had
left her face, leaving it white ana
tense. He realized that she was not
going to weep and make moan-the
wound had gone deeper He had
stabbed her 10 the heart.
You're right" she said Il don't un-
derstand about life as you Go. ] didn
understand that a man could talk TO a
woman as you have done to me and
then strike her such blow. It's too
new to me. to learn quickly. lean
understand yet. / can't say anything
10 you. only that l don't ever want to
see you, or hear you, or think of you
again"
My dearest girl" he said, going a
step toward her, don't be so severe.
You're like a tragedy queen. Now
what have I done?"
Il didn't think that man could have
the heart 10 wound any woman so-any
living creature. and one who cared as
did she stopped, unable to continue.
But 1 wouldn't wound you for the
world. Haven't ! just told you / loved
your"
''Oh. go" she said. backing away
from him. GO go away. Never come
near me again. You've debased and
Inundated me forever, and I've kissed
you and told you / loved you Why
can't creep into some corner and die?''
''Mariposa. my darling" he said,
raising his eyebrows with theatrical
air of incomprehension, what is it?
I'm quite at sea. You speak to me as
if I'd done you a wrong, and all I've
done is TO offer you my deepest devo-
ton. Does that offend you?"
Yes, horribly-horribiy, she cried
furiously. "Go-go out of my sight If
you've got any manliness or decency
Lee 7 -
She pressed her hands on her face and
turned from him.
"Oh, don't do that" he said tenderly,
approaching her. Does my love make
you unhappy? A half-hour ago it was
not like this"
He suddenly. but gently, attempted
to take her in his arms. Though she
did not see she felt his touch. and with
a cry Of horror tore herself away
rushed past him into the. adjoining
room, and from that into her bedroom
beyond. The bang of the closing door
fell coldly upon Essex's ear.
He stood for a moment listening and
considering. He had fancy that she
might come back. The house was alb
solutely silent Then, no sound break
ing its stiffness, no creak of an open
ing door echOing through its bare
emptiness, he walked out into the hall
put on his hat and overcoat and lei
himself out He was angry and dis
gusted. In his thoughts he inveighet
against Mariposa's stupidity. The un-
fortunately downright explanation hae
aroused Ler wrath, and he did not
know how deep that might be. Only a:
he recalled her ordering him from the
room he realized that it was not th'
fictitious rage he had seen before and
understood.
Mariposa stood on the inside of heI
room door, holding the knob and trying
TO suppress her breathing that sht
might hear clearly She heard hi!
steps, echoing on the bare floor witt
curious distinctness. They were SLOW
at first; then there was decision il
them; then the hall door banged. Sh'
leaned against the panel, her teetl
pressed on her underlip, her head boweC
On her breast.
"Oh. how could he? how could hep
she whispered.
A tempest of anguish shook her Sh
, crept to the bed and lay there. her fac
buried in the pillow. motionless ant
dry-eyed, till dawn.