The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-01-01
EN1BERS
By LEIGH GORDON GILTNER
(Copyright, 1s09. by Daily story Pub. co..

chill; his clasp loosened. She faced
him calmly-her cheek family flushed
but for the rest quite unmoved-
Its hopeless, DEAR" she said quiet
ly. "a faint flutter of the pulses-pure-
ly physical-nothing more"
He laid his face down upon his
arms.
Cod" he said miserably, 81 couldn't
have lived through those awful years
if I'd dreamed of this!" She might
have pitied him, but that she no long
er allowed herself the luxury of emo
tions.
Strange, isn't It," she said musing-
ly, that the things we most care for
in this world come to US after we have
ceased to care? Five years ago
would have given my life for an hour
like this and now"
DON'T" he cried sharply, II can't
bear it,"
I'm sorry, DEAR" she said gently.
He did not lift his head. There was
little silence in the room
WILL she went on after a little,
there is something more Il am to
| be married soon to a man I've known
| fer years. l gave him my promise
soon after the death of your wife,
you knew" he Queried sharply
| 'YE1 knew that l was free, yet you
did not wait, you gave me no
chance"
at would not have mattered. There
| was no chance"
Then you love him-this other
MANI"
IF did 1 should not marry him.
have exhausted emotion, Will 1 don't
| live any longer-I only exist. Ny one
prayer is that may never love again
l have suffered enough. If l found ]
was beginning to care for Archie
f, should ask for my freedom at once"
He listened quietly-a hurt, dumb
wonder growing in his eyes
AS it is" she pursued evenly 81
like, admire and respect him thorough
ly. He's fine fellow, our tastes are
congenial and we're the best of com.
rades. l think he loves me in his
way infinitely better than l can ever
! love him-but he will not be the loser
| by that. / can be far more charming
! to him as matters stand than if I wor-
shipped him. woman loses her
power over a man the moment he
knows she loves him. Till then he's
| her slave; thereafter her master If
l loved Archie ! should be unnatural
and constrained, striving always to be
not myself but whatever fancied he'd
wish me to be; a word or look from
| him could make me miserable; if he
| glanced at another woman 1 should
| suffer; the fear of losing his love
would constantly torture me-in short
should be thoroughly wretched
Whereas 1 think l shall be quite COM
| Portable and content. Actors say they
produce their emotional effects when
their own emotions are controlled. So
/ shall play my pretty wifely role all
the better because my heart is not
involved. And shall be happy
enough-as happiness goes in this
world"
And II" He queried bitterly.
"You also, Will. You'll marry some
one else in time and probably be hap
pier than with me. I've often thought.
Will, that if I'd married you, might
have. made you very uncomfortable.
| A great devotion frequently has that
effect upon it's object, I've observed. l
|
lection and worried you with exac-
tions; we should both have suffered
and probably ended by boring each
other. Even if our love. had proved
strong enough to survive the friction
of daily life, we should in the end, aft
er months of discord and discomfort,
with occasional rapturous intervals,
only have arrived at the point where
Archie and l are beginning-a good
comfortable camaraderie, which, aft
er all, is the safest matrimonial basis
Good-by, dear Will 1t hurts now, per
haps; but believe me. the pain will
pass"
WILL" she cried impulsiveIy,
! you're so physically perfect that ]
wonder it doesn't touch me. I re-
member how l used to gloat upon the
l beauty of your face-the type is pure
/ Greek. Odd isn't it that l can con.
: slider it quite impersonally now. as ]
should a work of art?''
: He threw out his arms in sudden
: desperate gesture.
Forgive me. DEAR" she said gently
t Il know it's bitter-but it will not
l last"
, Moved by a sudden impulse she
drew the tall head down and kissed
+ his brow. He did not try to speak
but the look on his face stirred hel
= hard-won calm. His eyes made last
! wistful, dumb appeal; then he touched
her hand with his lips and went away
When the outer door had closed up
] on him, lone drew a long breath.
1 "A moment more" she said, land
e | might have yielded. But it is better
. as it is I've suffered enough"
3 Wild Swamp Potatoes.