Arizona republican., 1911-06-30
Before Night
Copyrighted, 1910, by The Pearson
Publishing Co.
BY D. E. Dermody

TO marry him, John Waith, a chief
boatswaln's mate in the Navy, rejoined
his ship, which steamed away into the
South Seas and remained there for six
months, practically out of touch with
home. John wrote letters to Jane al
most daily and mailed them in a bunch
once in two months on an interisland
boat that carried them from Tutuila to
Apia, where they were transferred to
an Australian liner which delivered
them at San Francisco. Jane lived in
San Pedro. John received one letter
from her during the six months, the
brevity and moderate phraseology OF
which only made him prize it the more,
since he had to suck from this rind the
taste of the flesh of the apple He was
Of the kind that can do that
His vessel anchored in San Pedro
harbor on its return, in preparation for
semi-annual target practice in Santa
Barbara channel. John went ashore at
once, at four o'clock in the afternoon,
and hurried to his sweetheart's home,
little cottage near the shore, north
Of town, where she abode with her
mother There was nobody at home
and all the doors were locked. He
waited, sitting in a wicker chair on
the vine-clad porch, and there dreamed
masterful dreams of a marital para
disc. There were gorgeous shops in
that Eden, and he was with Jane, buy
ing for her gauds and finery. Jim
Storkley came upon the scene, plucklng
unforbidden fruit; but John, cruel and
memorable, fiourished a flaming sword
and drove his lifelong enemy out
through the gates and into the barren
wilderness. Thus dreaming, he dozed
in his chair.
He was awakened by a woman's
stifled scream. He opened his eyes and
discovered that it was night. A skirted
form was fiuttering through the rose
tree shadows toward the gate. He in
stantly understood the situation.
rs that you. mother?" he called.
From the hour that Jane accepted him,
he had called Mrs. Whylie mother"
Come back here; it's only me-John."
The form by the gate hesitated. He
called again: Its only me-John.
Come back, cOwardy."
rs that you, John?" quavered a
voice.
Where's Jane?" he asked, as the old
lady regained the porch.
Mrs. Whylie did not answer him. She
sat in another chair, and rocked her
self violently, spilling raspberries from
box in her lap without taking notice.
Where's Jane?" he repeated impa-
tiently
She's at home, John" 1t was a
sepulchral voice.
John stood up and laid hand on the
doOrknob. "Pshawi" he laughed. she
must have come in while is asleep"
The old lady rocked more violently.
She was coughing and holding a hand
kerchief 70 her mouth. Not here,
John; she's at her own home" she
whimpered. John, she's married"
John reeled, clinging TO the door,
knob. One should have warning before
the crack of DOOM The old lady waited,
couchant, for the storm TO break. But
John was silent In the darkness she
could not see his pallid face and sud-
denly bloodshot eyes. A wave of relief
swept over her that he should take it
thus quietly, for she knew him as one
not given 10 suppressing his passions.
She began TO talk, anonymously.
She married Jim Storkley bout a
month ago" There was a rapier in
Johns heart and the old lady was I'M
Willingly twisting it. Il tried to coax
her out Of it, but he seemed. bent on it,
and it 'peared he had some sorta hold
on her fancy, though | don't believe
she really loved him. Her girl friends
was always mockin' her about marryin'
a sailor who has a sweetheart in every
port and amt much at home nohow.
| mistrust Jim; he's too free about
drink and amt over fond of work, |
reckon. He quit that job on the break
water just because why"
She had heard the gate-latch click
and looked up. The shape of a man
was looming along the outside of the
picket fence. The old lady peered
about the porch, but John was not
there.
John Waith was a man who lived
life with a maximum appreciation of
the privilege-lived and was glad of it
and made the most of living He was
not dissipated; had never been under
the influence of alcoholics. The vigor
and virUlence of his blood and brain
were sufficiently intoxicating. At
twenty-six he was primitive as a child,
and his cup of life was filled to over
flowing with equal measures of love
and hate, TO which all other passions
were but alleviations, cordials and sed-
atives. He loved Jane Whylie and
hated Jim Storkley. He had hated the
one and loved the other since child
hood, and this broth of love and hate
made up his life. The hatred culmi-
mated when he and Storkley became
rivals for the favor of Jane. In the
initiative John won. He always won
when he could be on the ground, be-
cause he overbore and used force. men,
tai and muscular. To ask him to step
aside in love affair, no matter in
what esteem the lady in the case might
hold him, would have been tantamount
to asking a wild cat guarding its
young 20 climb down and capitulate.
When a man of mature years. who
has never been under the influence of
liquor. becomes intoxicated, he is a
fearful and wonderful being. Little
more than an hour after he left Mrs.
Whylie's cottage. John found himself
leaning on bar near the freight shed
of the inner dock, wondering whether
he was himself or a fellow from the
Fijis-that was how he expressed it
: