Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-23
some face is to chasten marriage Of

stand. Tomorrow i shall go TO 81
John to live under his roof as his COM
panion and fellow-worker. There is to
be no empty ceremony"
As the idea came home to Winners
his chest heaved, his features swelled
with rising rage. Good Lord" he
cried, you surely won't do anything
50 mad as that! It's been tried before
and 1t isn't good enough"
She answered. uhmoyed, coldly de-
cisive: I'VE are quite determined
in the stand we shalt take. Where the
cowerdly draw back, we dare"
Listen to me-" He spoke earnestly,
the anger dying away in his voice. Il
can't see you ruin yourself. II you
can't live without this young scamp
I'll give you your freedom and you can
marry him %decently."
Still you do not understand" she
said. you urge on me the conven-
tional cowardice; you would rob my
act of It's soul. Ours is to be a purely
spiritual communion, a fearless union
of predestined souls"
He threw back his head. God!
You can't be deceived by such rot!
You can't be duped, like a green girl,
by a sugar fellow who sugars his low
motives with a thin coating OF
ethics!"
Her spirit rose TO arms in defense
of the absent one.
Before We go any further you must
understand that | viii listen to no
abuse Of st. John. When we have
o our battle, when he has proved
himself, then II will be time enough
to pass judgment"
Then" he gasped-"then it will be
too late. He viii have dragged you
through the mire."
She ~shuddered; his reference to the
mud with which a conventional world
bespatters the unconventional o n
jured up an unpleasant picture. Yet a
sense of heroism buoyed her up; all
women are potential martyrs.
"Jim," she said, almost pleadingly,
won't you try to understand? Our
union is to be purely spiritual, a com-
munion of mind, a marriage of souls,
no more"
Il know my world" he observed,
brutally, "and men are men the world
over"
A fine scorn burned in her eye.
There are men" she said, who can
understand a noble alliance between
q man and a woman Evidently things
of the spirit pass your comprehen-
sion"
His ear caught the accent on the
your and he WINGED, feeling the
edge.
And st. John" he cried, passionate
ly, "he, | suppose, is an adept in
platonism. How do you Judge between
him and me? Have you put him to
any test? Has he been with you
when the lights were low, when the
passion of the night burns in the
blood? Has he leaned towards you as
| do now and felt the air throb with
the beating of your heart? You've ex-
changed notions on ethics in a crowded
lecture room and you judge him by
that! II he were with you now, do
you think he'd still prate of platon
ism? I'll wager not for long!"
She drew back, drawing her draper
les away from his communicating
touch.
For your own sake | wish | could
prove to you the mans purity of pur.
pose, his holiness of soul"
The thought came to him in a flash:
Here was his chance. Prove it." he
urged; put him to a test. All / ask
is a fair chance" !.
she raised her eyebrows in interro-
rogat'on: "Fow?"
In the thronging thoughts of the
moments silence his devotion to her
rose to heroic heights, topping mere
ecossm and personal vanity. Fear of
the leering, hcoting world faded from
his mind; his one thought was to save
her.
GO to him now!" he cried, breath
lessly go to him tonight! Go to him
as YOU are! Let him feel the mystery
of your beauty. the power of your
presence, and then" The gap was
eloquent beyond mere words.
For answer she turned and deliber-
ately pressed the button summoning
her maid. HE will not fail me-" she
said. simply. The maid appeared and
stood behind her mistress, discreetly
inconspicuous.
In the doorway Mrs. Winners turned.
Il am unafraid. Good-by." Her hand
was c~utstretched. hut he did not see
1t. He was leaning az. list the mantel-
piece, his face in his bands. his shout
ders ~heaving. Got" ne cried, "goi"
A later the slam OF the
street door echoed through the house.
In the dim. high-ceilinged room Viii
mers sat alone, suak n the Morris
chair, his chin ca his crumpled shirt
bosom, his arms hanging limp at his
sides. The Louis Quinze clock which
two gil. Cupids forever bore on their
uplifted palms struck IL in persistent
discord.
His watery glance wandered aim
lessly about the room and paused for
a long moment at the doorway; it had
but lately framed her figure. There
vas a slight rustic on the stairs: the
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