The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-07


cigarette. and in the curling smoke of
it caught visions Of his English moth
er and wondered If she would under
stand how her son could love wo-
man who cried because she could not
be skipper Of a schooner in the can
nibai isles.
e
The most patient man in the world is
prone to impotence in love, and Shell
don was in love.
But how to approach her? He d.
vined the fanatical love OF freedom in
her. the deep seated ant1patby for re-
straint of any sort No man could
her. She would nutter away ike
frightened bird. Approach by contact
that. he realized. was the one thing
be must never do His hand clasp
must be what 1t had always been-the
hand clasp Of hearty friendship. and
nothing more. And then. one morning.
quite fortuitously the opportunity
came.
my dearest wish Is the success of
Berande." Joan had Just said apropos
Of discussion about the cheapening
Of freights on copra to market.
"Do you mind If tell you the dear
est wish Of my hearth he promptly
returned. 81 long for It 1 dream
about it. 1t is my dearest desire. It
is for You some day when you are
ready to be my wife"
She started back from him as If she
had been stung. Her face went white
on the instant, not from maidenly en-
barrassment, but from the anger which
he could see flaming in her eyes.
"This taking for grantNdi This
when I am ready? she cried passion
ately. "Listep to me, Mr.. Sheldon.
like you very we'll, though you are
slow and muddler, but want you to
understand once and for all that did
not como to the SoIomons to get mar
RED Getting married il not making
my way IN the world. 1t may do for
some women, but not for me, thank
you. When I sit DC xn to talk over the
freight on copra l don't care to have
proposals Of marriage sandwiched In.
Besides-besides''-
Her voice broke for the moment, and
| when she went on there was a note Of
appeal In It that well nigh convicted
him to himself Of being q brute.
Don't you see? 1t spells everything.
It makes the whole situation impos.
sible-and-and 80 loved our partner
ship and was proud Of It Don't you
see? can't 20 on being your partner
If you make love to me. And was
30 happyP'
Tears Of disappointment were La her
eyes. and she caught swift sob in her
throat.
81 warned you" he said gravefy.
"Such unusual situations between men
and women cannot endure. 1 told you
so at the beginning"
ooh, yes; It Is quite clear to me what
you did. You took good care to warn
me against every other man In the
Solomons except yourself"
It was q blow in the face to Sheldon.
He smarted with the truth of 1t, and
at the same time he smarted with
what he was convinced was the injus-
tice Of It. A CLEAN of triumph that
nickered In ner eye because or tine
hit she had made decided him.
eft is not 20 one sided as you seem
to think It is." he began. II was do
ing very nicely on Berande before you
came. did not want you to stay.
wasn't In love with you then. i want
ed you to go to Sydney. to 60 back to
Hawaii. But you insisted On staying.
You virtually
He paused for a softer word than
the one that had risen to his lips, and
she took 1t away from him.
Forced myself on you-that's what
you meant to say" she cried. the Tags
OF battle painting her cheeks. go
ahead. Don't mind my feelingA"
"All right. I won't" he said deci-
sively, realizing that the discussion was
In danger Of becoming a vituperative.
schOolboy argument. "You have in
sisted on being considered as q man.
Consistency would demand that you
talk like a man and like a man listen
to man talk. And listen you shall.
II Is not your falt that this unpleas-
antness has arisen. do not blame
you for anything-remember that-and
for the same reason you should not
blame me for anything.
"You can't help being yourself. You
can't help being a very desirable crea
ture 90 far as ! am concerned. You
have made me want you. You didn't
intend to; you didn't try to. You were
so made, that is all. And | was 90
made that | was ripe to want you.
But | can't help being myself. / can't
by an effort Of will cease from want
ing you any more than you by an eff
fort of will can make yourself unde-
sirabIe to me-"
'Oh. this desire. this want, want.
want!' she broke in rebeiliousiy. Isl
am not quite a fool. | understand
some things. ! really think it would
be good idea for me to marry Nos
Noah or Adamu Adam or Lalaperu
there or any black boy. Then 1 could
give him orders and keep him penned
away from me and men like you would
leave me alone and not talk marriage
and i want, want"