Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
THE MANAGERS WIFE

ton They were aware only of the pillar
of fire which stood between them.
~What l want you to answer me, went
on Rhodes, lis what do you make out to
do about Letty?"
Innes felt that tang of copper in his mouth
again. After awhile he said, 3Will you let
me talk a minute? Without interrupting
me, mean?'
"If can help it., will"
"Well, then, want to say right here that
l acted like skunk this afternoon; but it
was unprecedented. l was sorry, mighty
sorry, John, the minute l had done it. 1
hope you believe me-"
Rhodes looked through and through him.
His underlids drew up slightly. "And
what" he then said, 3has how you feel and
what you meant or didn't mean, got to do
with how you re goin' to act by Letty!"
Innes stared at him. "Why, can't you see
that l mean never to see Lefty again?' he
asked at last
"And you think it's as plain sailin' as
that?" returned the other.
Innes tried vainly to grasp Rhodes mean
ing When moment had passed, he said
with a spontaneous and oddly boyish shame
facedness, @After all, John, since we're
speaking out, l kissed Lefty only that once.
What is one kiss, especially when you didn't
mean to do it second before it was done,
and are honestly sorry abent it." -
John eyed HIM grimly. 3What is one kiss
to another mans wife, are you aSk1n' me!
It's sneak sin, the meanest sort of sin,
towards little, runty, gelded sin that don't
beget no consequences and amt expect1n
to meet any. That's what it is, and you
know it as well AS l do"
Innes went crif,son and then white. He
gulped and said, "You've right to say such
things to me.
II know have" sad John Rhodes.
Innes felt As deat hly as might a ma, in
the marketplace fron whose hidden def I'M
ity strong hand suddenly matches the con-
cealing rags.
A ND now" continued the other, swell
get back to Lefty. It's Lefty I've come
here about, not myself If I'd come here
first thing after caught you, Innes WINGED,
I'D a shot you same as shot that old mare
for Lefty the first evenin you got here: 1
come of bad stock, as likely you know. My
grandfather shot two men in Henrico County,
and was lynched for it. My own brother
killed a man with his hands for less'n you
done this evenin'. But, as said, it's Lefty
I've come about. You've made her love
YOU. Now how do you see your duty there?
Or do you see any duty?"
Give told you mean to 60 away; never
to see her again, said Innes. He was be-
ginning to feel throb of anger.
Sand you take her and spoil her whole
life and then look to make it right by just
clearin' out?'
@What else could do?"
aye can marry herr said John Rhodes.
Again Innes stared at him.
aye can marry her." said Rhodes again.
GAnd by the Eternal we shall marry herr
But said Innes, and stopped on that
amazing @but."
She'll be free, all right" returned the
other listen at me! l guarantee that
she'll be free for you to marry. All you We
got to do is to give me your word of honor
Mayo's word of honor-that you'll marry
her when she is free. You've broke her life,
and you've got to mend it! It's given to
each man to see the right in his own way, and
this is the way that l see it. l don't say
there amt wrong in it; but say there's
some wrong in every human right as ever |
heard tell Of Anyways, it satisfies me, an
reckon that's all man can ask when he's
dom what's set before him.
Innes saw that he was in deadly earnest.
So may one feel who wakes in the quiet COM
fort of his cabin, to see it filling with sea
water and feel the steadfast ship going