Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-05-19
CHAPTER VII.
The Joy of Freedom.

MH.MA sNHHH MFL.Mt IN
One night at dinner she had fed
from him. He had been drinking more
heavily than usual and was in an ugly
mood. His handsome face was flushed,
a savage frown o%verspread his brow.
He had risen during the meal and with
a coarse endearment had attempted
to lay hands upon her-at last! She
had 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,
senraged, 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 a moment? The ships mine, every
mar 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 it 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. 1t 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 a woman. Il
] was not her picture. Moved by what
impulse she did not stop to analyze
she rose and picked 1t up. The face
she looked at was ineffably vulgar an6
common. Across the bottom was writ
ten in a scrawly uniformed hand, "Youl
devoted wife" There was. a date sew
eral years before that hour. Your de
voted wife! She had been in tina
stateroom before; she had never seer
that picture. He had only brought i
out since the rupture between them.
And SO while entering into this re
lationship with her, in compliance
with principles and ideas which sh'
at least regarded as sacred and holy
he had not been a free man! Their
was another woman to whom he hal
been bound. oh, not by the marriag
tie that she disdained, but by tn
honor which was supposed to exis
among thieves and which certainl,
should exist among philosophers. An
such a woman! A cold fury filled he
mind as she looked at the picture
The last completing touch had bee,
given. To contempt and pity for hir
was added hatred. The combinatic
transformed her. Instead Of avoiding
she would seek him.
He was stili in the cabin. She coul
hear him muttering thickly to himsel
Impulsively she stepped to the doc
turned the key in the lock, threw
open and entered the Brilliant
lighted luxurious cabin. He had di
missed the attendants some tim
since with orders not to reappear u
less he summoned them, and they wei
alone. There was no likelihood Of an
interruption whatsoever. The ma
who was leaning back in his chat
bent forward when she opened Y