The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-24


other mood that might have angered
me. just then AZ hurt me so deeply
that 10 remember II today Is to feel
a faint ache la the scar of the long
healed wound. My face was not hid
den as was hers. so. perhaps. she saw.
At any rate. her voice tried Ia bo
friendly as she said. we'll have
crossed tho Rubicon. And / don't re-
gret. IL was silly of me To cry.
thought I had been through SO much
that | was beyond such weakness. Hut
you will find mo calm from now on.
and reasonable"
Not too reasonable. please" said I.
with an attempt at her lightncss. "A
reasonable woman IN as trying as an
unreasonable man"
but We are going to be sensible
with each other" she urged. like TWO
friends. Aren't weT'
we are going to b. whit We ar.
going TO be-" said l. Well have To
take life rs 10 comes"
That clumsy reminder set her TO
thinking. stirred her vague uneaslness
In those strange circumstances Ia act
i've alarm. For presently she said. in
tone that was not 80 natter-of-
course as she had tried 20 make IL:
We'll 60 now To my Uncle Franks.
He's a brother OF my fathers. i al
ways used To like him best-and still
do. But he married n woman mamma
thought--queer. They hadn't much. 80
he lives away up on the West Side
one Hundred and Twcnty-sevcnth
street"
The wise plan. the only wise plan"
said I. not 80 calm az she must have
thought me. is III go To my partners
house and send for n minister"
Not tonight" she replied nervous
ly. Take me Ia Uncle Franks. and
tomorrow we can discuss what To do
and how TO do IL
Tonight" I persisted. we must
be married tonight. No more uncer-
tainty and INDIGESTION and weakness.
Let us begin bravely, Anitai"
Tomorrow" she said. But not to-
night. I must think n over"
Tonight" I repeated. Tomorrow
will be full OF Its own problems. This
IL toniRht's."
She shook her head. and I saw that
tho struggle between us had begun
the struggle against her timidity and
conyentionality. mo. not tonight"
This In her tone for finality.
To argue with any women I'm such
circumstances would be dangerous: TO
argue with her would have been fatal.
To reason with a woman In To na;ter
her into suspccting you or weakness
and herself OF strength. I told the
chauffeur To turn about and 60 slowly
up town. she settled back into her cor
ner OF the brougham. Neither OF us
spoke until We were passing Grants
tomb. Then she started out OF her
secure confidence In my obedience. and
exclaimed: This IL not the wny!" And
her voice had ia Il the hasty call-to-
arms
No" I replied. determined TO push
the panic into rout. AS I told you.
our future shall be settled tonight"
That I'm my tone for nnality.
- "a N..1s
she said. like a child that feels. yet
denies. It's impotence as II struggles IN
the compelling arms OF it's father. II
thought until "A few minutes ago that
really intended To marry you. Now
sec that I didn't"
Another reason why we're not going
TO your uncle's." said I.
She leaned forward 80 that could
sec her face. II can not marry you."
she said. ~ feel humble toward you.
for having misled you. hut IL In better
that you-and I-should have found out
now than too late"
ut is too late-too late TO 20 back"
Would you wish 90 marry n woman
who does not love you. who loves some
one else. and who tells you 30 and re-
fuses To marry your" She had tried TO
concentrate enough scorn into her voice
TO hide her fear.
II would" said I. And shall. I'll
not desert you. Anita. when your cour-
age and strength shall fail. VIII carry
you on 10 safety"
II tell you can not marry you" Ehe
cried. between appeal and command.
There are reasons--I may not tell you.
but II might, you would-would take
me To- my uncle's. i can not marry
you"
THAT IL what conventionality bids
you say now l replied. And then i
gathered myself together and In q
tone that made me hate myself as I
heard II, I added slowly. each word
sharp md distinct: But what Will
| conventIonnlity bid you say tomorrow
morning, as we drive down crowded
, Fifth avenue, after n night In this
brougham?"
/ could not see her. for she fell back
into the darkness rs sharply as IL i
had struck her with all my force full
| In the face. But I could feel the effect
OF my words upon her. I paused. not
because I expected or wished an an
swer, but because had to steady my
self-myself. not my purpose: my pur-
pose was infiexible. would put
| through what we had begun. just az i
would have held her and cut or her
arm with my pocketknife IL we had
been cast away alone. and had TO do
Il 60 save her life. She was not COM
potent TO decide for herself. Every
been decided by others for her. Who
but me could decide for her now7 ]
Ionged TO plead with her. longed TO let
her see that / was not hnrd-hearted.
was thinking OF her. was acting for
| her sake as much as for my own. But
I dared not. "She would misunder-
stand me-" said TO myself. she