The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-03-29
CHAPTER ix.-(Continued.)

She held her answer. quivering
with indignation. That he should
dare! Yet there were two things in
his attitude to calm her: an imper-
sona1 note, puzzling, and a simple dig
nifty that left little foothold for re-
sentiment
AS for Coast. ~momentarily while
she did not reply, the issue hung in
the balance, whether he should speak
or no: whether enlighten her forth
with OF leave her (were she happy in
her marriage) in her FOOLS Paradise.
He felt himself a prey to discordant
impulses, pride and generosity coun-
selling him, each with a double
tongue.
II hold you happiness above all
else," he resumed as the pause length
ened-"far above my own, Katherine.
That is why l ask you: are you hap
py."
Il have no regrets" she told him
steadily.
THAT doesn't answe me-"
Her eyes wavered beneath his
oSo1 6AuLCC oHc luIlcu away
and stared off into the acancy of the
fog.
How is one to tell?" she said pres
emily. Isn't happiness difficult to
define? A thing of comparative val
ues?. . l am content, that much |
know. have discovered something
in life higher than the qualification Of
self; | have learned that to serve
means more than to be served.
l married the man l loved; he needs
me now, could hardly do without me.
! am a help to him in his work: he
would probably be unable to continue
1t without my assistance. |
have my cares, as he has his, as you
have yours. Who has not? j..
But a year is a long time; l have
learned much since . :" She took
q deep breath. Yes" she concluded
evenly: Il think | may say | am hap
py, Garrett"
But she kept her face averted.
And thfs?" he asked, stepping to
her side and lightly touching her bare
forearm with his finger.
Just below her left elbow four
marks. like blush stripes set close to-
gether. stood out like weals upon her
delicate skin, where the flesh had
been bruised by the cruel pressure of
a mans strong fingers.
At his touch she recoiled with a
half-sti1ed cry, her face blazing.
"Dont'-don't-!" she gasped, trying
with faltering fingers to pull down
the sleeve. But realizing that it was
too late, that he had already seen. she
recovered. sullenly leaving the sleeve
as it
I'm sorry" said Coast soberly: Il
didn't mean to touch you. didn't
thi2k-had forgotten what-what |
may not expect o to forget. Only
that is his mark, Katherine"
Well" she flashed defiantly, land
what If it Is? Is he. or am l., answer
able to you? Can he not touch me
But his undertaking and pene.
trating gaze disconnected her; her an.
ger raj unconvincing even to her.
self. 1T was an accident" she fin
1shed lamely. "One of the servants
angered him-they are Chinese and
stupld-and in his blindness he mis-.
took me for the man and caught nv
1T must have hurt" said Coast. try.
ing to believe her.
She was silent, facing him with a
trace Of bravado. He bowed.
Il beg your pardon; it was, as you
suggest, none of my affair. | merely
happened to notice, and it startled me,
Will you be good enough to tell me
the way to the beach?"
Silently the woman indicated a path
leading away from the gate.
Still he fingered. letting his eyes
drink their fill of her; and knew, in
q swift flash of gertrude, that never
had she been more lear to him than
In this moment Of re%nunciation, that
never would his hearts allegiance