St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-11-06

DuSn any longer, JACK. You already
know what's the matter with me
don't you? And Notwithstanding you
simulated Indifference, l can see you
remember. You-can you look int
my eyes, John Drury and deny that you
still love me" She had risen, an(
was standing very close to him, hel
pink, palpitant cheek just grazing the
rough black of his coatsleeve.
Very paintakingly, and without ;
word, DR.. Drury laid aside his table
and pencil and-shrugged.
Don't be fool, Dolly" His tone
was admirably modulated, but The
barely perceptible twitching of his up
per lip revealed a transient weakness:
to his companion.
She laid a trembling row Of finger
tips on his arm. He remained i'm
movable, and she caught his hand IL
her hot palms, crushing it convulsivc
ly. Jack" The word was half
whisper, half-caress.
He shook off her fingers brutally
Il thought we had settled all this
years ago. Didn't I say enough then
or are we to repeat the scene?" His
eyes searched her shrinking face mer
cilessly.
Presently she began to speak again
in low, broken voice.
Il, too, thought that it was over
then" she said, butt could't be
dear. I've found that out. 1 cannot
forget. God alone will ever know
what those three years were to me
He'll itself can hold no greater tor
lures"
Stop" He turned blazing eyes up
on the pleading woman; his face
famed with dull crimson. But even
as she looked up, a softer light made
its transient passage across his fea
lures and his eyes fell away from hers
Her hands dropped listlessly to hel
sides, and her slender body shook from
head to foot
The clock on the mantel licked audi
bly,. A minute passed, two-three
At last the woman lifted her eyes
The doctor stood with folded arms
his gaze on the floor. Without look,
ing up he said: Several patients are
waiting for me. We do no good by
prolonging this interview. Good after.
noon" He started toward the door
but the woman interrupted him with
a little low cry of pain.
"Jack-Jack!" the word broke
hoarsely from her white lips, you
can not mean that this is-the end ?
that-that-O my Cod" she crumpled
down on the floor and flung her arms
about his knees in the tragic abandon
of despair
An instant the man stood like stone
then suddenly his powerful frame
shook under torrent of emotion, and
he lifted her in his arms, staining her
to him in a passionate embrace
When their eyes met finally, all the
old slavish devotion had come back
to the mans. 1--WE can't stay on here, -
he said huskily, Tim married now,
you know. In a week I can get my
affairs into shape, and we can go away
anywhere you say
The woman contemplated him a sec.
ond in baff1ed silence Then swiftly
like fork of lightning, rage and dis
appointment flashed athwart her quiv-
ering face.
you fool" she shrieked, when l
was so near it, to be defeated at last.
hate-hate-hate you, do you under.
stand? Do you think after that day
three years ago l could ever think of
you again except to despise?
Shall l tell you why l came here
today" she hurried on, gaspingly,
lit was because l heard that you had
grown famous, grown to be a great
man. That you had married a beau.
tiful girl, and were happy-your
name in everybody's mouth, your opin,
ion valued above all others per-
haps you have heard of Lynnette Mac
Farlane, famous on two continents as
one of the leading woman sculptors?
. I want to be world-famous! And
had l succeeded in my quest today. |
would have been . 'Spurned' has
been offered place in the great In.
ternational contest . the figures
are complete-just one little express
sion lacking in the mans face, elud
ing me persistently -. l came a
thousand miles to get it, and you have
failed met" The woman paused.
her breath all gone. Her face was
lined and pallid, and she beat her
hands together in the passion of her
defeat.
The man stood watching her stup-
idly. His tongue moved, but made no
sound. He put out his hand blindly;
it fell limp at his side.
Dolly" His lips framed the word
at length in dull monotone; his
eyes sought mutely to kindle some an
swering spark in hers.
But with an ejaculation of disgust
the woman wheeled and swept past
him to the door.
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