The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-23

any difference" she said. I'm not
thinking OF her character, I'm thinking
Of her rights"
And don't her character and her
rights sort Of dovetail into each
other?"
mo, l don't see that they do. The
laws above the character or the per-
son. It's the law, without any Ques-
ton of the man or the woman"
''Oh, Rosey, dear, you're talking like
book, not like girl who's got to live
in a world with ordinary people in
modern times. This woman, that you're
arguing about as II she was the moth
er of the Gracchi, hasn't got any more
morality or principle than you could
put on the point Of pin"
"She's been quite good and proper
since her marriage"
well, now, let's leave her and look
at Dominick's side. He marries her
honorably and lives with her for near
ly three years. Every semblance of
affection that he had for her gets
rubbed off in those three years, every
illusion goes. He's tied to a woman
that he can't stand. He went up TO
Antelope that time because they'd had
some sort Of a scrap and he felt he
couldn't breathe in the same house
with her. He told me himself that
they'd not lived as man and wife for
nearly a year. Now, l don't know
what you're going to say, but I think
to keep on living in that state is all
wrong. I'll borrow your expression, 1
think it's sim
She answered doggedly:
ITS awful, but she's his wife. Oh,
II you'd seen her face when she talked
to me, her thin, mean, common face,
all painted and powdered and so mis-
erablei"
He thought she was wavering, that
he saw in this unreasonable, illogical
lodging of the point at issue a sign Of
| defeat, and he pushed his advantage.
And you-a girl of heart and feel
Ing like you-would condemn that man
and woman to go on living that lie,
| that useless, purposeless lie? | can't
! understand it. What good comes Of
1t? What's the necessity for it? Do
you realize what a man Dominick
! might be If he was married to the
right woman, and had a decent home
where he could live Like a Christian?
Why, he'd be a different creature.
He'd have future. He'd make his
place IN the community. All the
world would be before him, and he'd
mount up to where he belongs. And
what is he now? Nothing. All the
best in him's paralyzed by this hell of
box he's got himself into. The mans
Just whitening up with despair
1t was almost too much. For a mo-
ment she did not answer, then said in
a small voice like a child's:
You're making this very hard for
me, papa"
my God, Rosey;" he cried, exas-
perated, you're making it hard for
yourself. It's you with your cast-iron
prejudices, and your obstinacy, who
are making 1t hard"
well, I've got them" she said, ris-
ing to her feet. I've got them. and
| they'll stay with me till 1 die. Moth
ing's going to change me in this.
can't argue and reason about them.
| They're part Of me-"
She approached the mantelpiece,
and, leaning a hand on 1t, looked down
at the fire. The light gilded the front
Of her dress and played on her face
down-drooped and full Of stern de
| cision.
cts quite true" she said slowly,
that / love Dominick. love him with
the best I've got. It's true that
would like to be his wife. 1t would be
a wonderful happiness. But l cant
have it, and so there's no good think
ing about 1t, or trying to bring il
about. 1t can't be, and we-you too
papa-must give 1t up"
He pressed himself back In his chair
looking at her with lowering, sombeI
disapprobation-al look he had seldom
had cause to level at his daughter.
$50 you're going to condemn this
poor devil, who loves you and whom
you say you love, to future that's go
ing to kill any hope in him? You're
going to say to him: You can be free
! and make something of your life, anC
have the woman you want for your
wife, but l forbid all that, and I'm go
ing to send you back to prison.
can't seem to believe that it's m!
Rosey who's saying that, and who's 81
hard and inhuman."
Rose turned from the fire. HI
noted an expression almost Of auster
ity on her face that was as new t
him as the revelation of obstinacy anC
Indifference to his will she had shown
tonight.
Papa, you don't understand what
feel. It's not what you want, or wha
want, or what Dominick wants. IT.
not what's going to please US anC
make us comfortable and happy. It!
something that's much more impor
tant than that. l can't make Domi
nick happy and let him make his If
success at the expense Of that WON
an. 1 can't take him out Of prison, al
you call it, because he's got a re
sponsibility in the prison, that he vol
UNFAIRLY took on himself, and tina
he's got to stand by. A man can
stay by his marriage only as long al
it's pleasant. He can't throw dowl
the woman he's made his wife jus
because he finds he doesn't like her
If she's been disagreeable that's ;
misfortune, but it doesn't liberate hin
from the promises he's made"
Continued Tomorrow
ZEMO FOR DANDRUFF.