El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-14
overture
By Jack London
Continued from Saturday.

one breath you tell me I must go. and
in the next breath you tell me there is
no place to go and that you will not
permit me to go. What is q poor girl
to do?"
That's the trouble" he said help
!essly.
And the situation annOys you"
only for your sake"
Then let me save your feelings by
telling you that it does not annoy me
at all-except for the row you are
making about it. I never allow what
can't be changed to annoy me-
can't go elsewhere. by your own
count. You certainly can't 20 else
where and leave me here alone with a
whole plantation and 200 woOlly can
nibals on my hands. Therefore, you
stay, and I stay It is very simple.
Also. it is adventure. And further
more, you needn't worry for yourself
am not matrimonially inclined. 1
came to the SolOmOns for a planta
ton. not a husband"
Sheldon flushed, but remained Silent.
Il know what you are thinking
she laughed gayly. That if I were a
man. you'd wiring my neck for me.
and I deserve it. too. I'm so sorry.
I ought not to keep on hurting your
feelings"
I'm afraid 1 rather invite it." he
said. relieved by the signs Of the
tempest subsiding.
81 have g." she announced Lend
me a gang Of your boys for today
Pn build a grass house for myself
over in the far corner Of the com
por-d-on piles, Of course. can
move in tonight. III be comfortable
and safe. The Tahitians can keep an
anchor watch just as aboard ship
And then III study cOcOanut planting.
In return, I'll run the kitchen end Of
your household and give you some
decent food to eat. And finally, 1
won't listen to any of your protests.
On the other hand, If you don't agree,
I will 20 across the river, beyond your
Jurisdiction, and build a village for
myself and my sailors, whom l shall
send in the whalebOat to Guvutu for
provisions. And now I want you to
teach me billiards"
Joan took hold Of the household with
no uncertain grip, revoludOnizing
things till Sheldon hardly recognized
the place. For the first time the bun
galow was clean and orderly No
longer the house boys lOafed and did
as little as they could; while the cook
complained that head belong lin
walk about too much from the siren
nous course in cookery which she put
him through. Nor did Sheldon escape
being roundly lectured for his lazi-
ness in eating nothing but timed pro
visions. She called him a muddler
and a SLOUGH, and other invidiOus
names, for his slackneSs and his dis
regard Of healthful food
She sent her whalebOat down the
coast twenty miles for lines and or
anges, and wanted to know scathingly
why said fruits had not long since
been planted at Berande, while he was
beneath contempt because there was
no kitchen garden Mummy apples.
which he had regarded as weeds,
under her guidance appeared as appe-
thing breakfast fruit. and, at dinner.
were metamorphosed into puddings
that elected his unqualified admira-
ton. She or her sailors dynamited
fish daily. while the Balesuna natives
were paid tobacco for bringing in
oysters from the mangrOve swamps.
Among other things, she burned the
pestlential hospital, quarreled with
Sheldon over the deed and In anger
set her own men to work building a
new and what she called a decent hos
pital. She robbed the windows of their
lawn and muslin curtains. replacing
them with gaudy calico from the trade
store and made herself several gowns
When she wrote out a list Of goods
and clothing for herself, to be sent
down to Sydney by the first steamer.
Sheldon wondered how long she had
made up her mind to stay.
She was certainly unlike any woman
he had ever known or dreamed Of So