The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-11-23
CHAPTER VII,
The Joy Of Freedom.

One night at dinner she had fled
from him. He had been drinking more
heavily than usual and was in an ugly
mood. His handsome face was flushed
savage frown overspread his brow.
he had risen during the meal and with
coarse endearment had attempted
TO lay hands upon her-at last! She
mad broken away and darted into the
nearest cabin, which happened to be
his own. She had closed the door and
turned the key against him before he
realized what she was about. She
stood within the little room, painting,
enraged. fearful, yet ready to defend
her all and almost glad the crisis had
arrived She could hear his drunken
laugh outside the door.
why. you little fool" he cried, do
you think can't break that lock down
In moment? The ships mine, every
man on it's mine. pay 'em. They
do my bidding. have you where
want you and can have you when
please, now-or later"
} Was 1t true? Could she appeal to the
men? But what could she say? AL
though the world knew there was no
binding tie between them, to the Off
GERS and men of the yacht she was his
wife. They would not interfere. And
If she declared the truth, she would
put herself beyond the pale of their
sympathies. Being merely stupid men,
with conventional ideas about pro-
priety, in that event they would be
less apt to interfere than ever. It was
true she could do nothing. She sank
down on a hassock. clenching her
hands.
AS she sat. her eyes fell on a chest
of drawers screwed against the bulk.
head. The top contained various toilet
articles Of silver. Among them was q
picture. the picture of q woman. II
was not her picture. Moved by what
impulse she did not stop to analyxe,
she rose and picked II up. The face
she looked At was insffably vulgar and
common. Across the bottom was writ
ten in q serawly uniformed hand. your
devoted wife" There was . date soy.
voted wife! She had been in that
stateroom before; she had never seen
that picture. He had only brought II
out since the rupture between them.
And SO while entering into this re-
lationship with her, in compliance
with principles and ideas which she
at least regarded as sacred and holy,
he had not been q free man! There
was another woman to whom he had
been bound. Oh. not by the marriage
tie that she disdained, but by the
honor which was supposed to exist
among thieves and which certainly
should exist among philosophers. And
such woman! A cold fury filled her
mind as she looked at the picture.
The last completing touch had been
given. To contempt and pity for him
was added hatred. The combination
transformed her. Instead of avoiding.
she would seek him.
He was still in the cabin. She could
hear him muttering thickly to himself.
Impulsively she stepped to the door.
turned the key in the lock, threw It
open and entered the brilliantly
lighted luxurious cabin. He had dis
missed the attendants some time
since with orders not to reappear I'M
less he summoned them, and they were
alone There was no likelihood of any
interruption whatsoever. The man,
who was leaning back in his chair.
bent forward when she opened the
door. He laughed viciously. If she
had reflected, she would have mar
veled at the change that a few weeks
had wrought in one whom she had
hitherto deemed worthy Of her affec.
ton, but she had eyes and thought for
nothing except the business in hand.
$50 you We come out, have your" he
stammered triumphantly. "Come Of
your own free will! You've found out,
have you, that l am master and you
are coming to heel!"
He whistled to her derisively, wills.
tied as II to a dog!
who Is this?" asked the woman In