The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-01


ITO love your" queried Langford in
hot and bitter jealousy.
THAT was one thing l learned my
self" answered the man. And yes
terday, you might call 1t chance, but
call it Cod" said the man gravely,
discovered to us the love we bore
each other and that is all"
Are you-forgive the question"
said Langford, addressing the woman,
and there was agony in his voice, "as
you were when / left your"
Il am different woman, thank
Cod"
Differently?
Eyes. but in the sense in which you
mean the question, am just as l was,
save that / love this man"
But you had no right to love him
or any one" burst forth Langford BIT
terly.
And do you reproach me with
that"
do II"
Think Of your wife"
"She's dead" said the man hoarse-
ly. II have searched the world for
you. have come back here to make
amends, to own my fault to marry
you before God and man, to take you
back. to do for you as long as shall
live all that man can do"
There was such genuine passion In
his voice and in his appeal that the
TIT nj TO-
have recognized it, but there was no
response to it in the woman's heart.
A greater love than his had come into
her soul. The whole current of her
being flowed to the man by her side.
NO." she said Your words have
no appeal for me. They awaken no
| response in my heart. l love this man,
not you"
Have you thought" cried Langford
meaningly, that YOU are not free to
love any one but me?"
by heaven!" cried the man spring
ing forward, this time l will be an
swered. Why is she not free to love
me or any one?"
Because" said the other resolutely,
before she came into your life she
belonged to me-"
Belonged to your
Eyes, to me-"
"And by what tie?"
Langford hesitated. He was furi-
ously wrought up. He saw that It was
| necessary to make break a rupture
between these two. He thought that
II he could do so, his own suit might
the better prosper. He was in deadly
, earnest and therefore he took the risk.
How frightful it was, he had no pre-
conception. He did not understand
that he was dealing with a primitive
man. How should he? He did not
understand what passions slept be-
meath the surface. And perhaps If he
had understood, to do him justice, for
he was a fearless man, he would have
ventured just the same.
"She was my mistress!" he said
through his teeth.
Shame! Shame!" cried the woman,
and then fell silent, clasping her hands
and waiting for what might come. The
hour of her travail was upon her.
Langford flashed look at her and
then his gaze reverted to the man. The
expected outbreak did not instantly
come.
"Mistress!" said the other. II know
not what that means, but It's word
of bitterness. Say further and more
clearly your intent"
why, you fool"
HE that calleth his brother a fool
shall be damned" said the man.
Lansford stared at him.
Where have you lived" he cried
that you don't know the meaning OF
words?"
81 have lived nowhere but here and
have known no language but what
this woman has taught me-"
Yet she could easily have taught
you the meaning Of that word" the
other responded with cruel, ruthless
meaning
81 will take the lesson from you"
You will have 1t them"
~ will"
"She was my wife, but without the
blessing of God or the law of man.
owned her, do you understand? pos
sessed her body and soul"
Not SOUL" said the woman, but the
protest was lost.
You lie," cried the man, swiftly
leaping upon him.
No tiger ever sprang with sucl
swiftness or such ferocity. LangforC