The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-21

"I'm not so sure Look, each tur1 l of the wheels take US farther away
 from the places where society goes or
 in it's own grooves. Out here we man
 age the world in our own ways.
 Unconsciously the eyes of both o1
 them turned down the river. along
 which the boat now steadily continued
 it's course. He went on somberly.
 "Out there." he said pointing to
 ward the west. tout beyond the big I river. there's a place where the will
 derness sweeps. Out there the law is
 that of the old times. 1t is far away
 Pm going to hold you. keep you. You
 shall not get away. Why he added pacing apart for moment "I have no shame left. I've planned very lit tie. I thought I might even ask you to be a guest at my own plantation. 1 My place is out on the edge of the l world. thirty miles back from the I river.''
 ''That, then. is your robber castle. suppose?"
 q rule there. madam" he said sim ply.
 "sOver thra1l and guest?" 1 "Over all who come there. madam
 tI've heard of the time'' she went on jelly, '.when this country was younger, how the lords who held right under the old French kings claimed the law of the high. low and middle Justice. Life. death, honor. all lay in their hands-fn the hands of individ- uals. But I thought those times past I thought the south had gentlemen''-
 You taunt me. my dear lady-my dear girl But be not so sure that times have changed Out beyond there, 
 mile back from the river. and you would find yourself in a wilderness the i most painless and lawIess in the world i today
 She looked at him. some inarticulate sort of sound in her throat, fully fright ened now. seeing how mistaken she had been.=-He went on: =----zs--ss=z-
 "OtIt therein the bigavalleys beyond the river you would indeed disappear. No man could guess what had become of you. You would never be found again. There's where you're going. Your other. 5ailer t.,ld you the truth.
 She looked at him slowly and fully now. the color fading from her face. She temporfzed.
 Listen! Do you ever stop to reflect what you are doing, how you are aban- doning yourself. your own traditions. your own duties. when yoH speak you have been speaking to me: l had committed no crime. 1 am held by no process of law. You take risks.''
 .I know. l have thrown it all away in the balance. If these things were known would be ruined" He spoke duly and evenly indifferently.
 You are not living up to your standards
 s.No. but I cannot make you under stand me. I cannot make you under stand that the great thing of life isn't the foolish ambition of man to get into state legislature. to make laws, to see them enforced. It isn't the orig inal purpose of man to get on in poli- tics or business or social regard. Man is made to love some woman. Woman iss made. to be loved by some man. is nothing else.''
 Excellent for you to force such talk upon 8 woman who is helpless .''
 s'Talk doesn't help, but deeds will. You're going along with me. l would swear you belonged to me if need be. as I intend you some day shall Don't tempt me. Don't try to drive me. 1t will never do. I'll be harder to handle than the man who lost you to me last evening in game of cards and who went away last night and left Vyou--to me-"
 "A game-a game at cards! And f& was lost-I! I! And also won? N< can you mean? Am I then indee. | t slave, ehattel? An. indeed. now 3Ea I lost! My God, and I have no coun- try. no kin. no God. to avenge me.''
 A sort of sob caught in his throat. T was wrongr' he cried suddenly. Il always say the wrong word. do the wrong thing. take the wrong way. But tell you cannot otherwise And I've told the truth. I've made, wreck of everything right now. You ask me to make plans. and I tell you l cannot would take you off the boat by force rather than see you go away from me.'
 A sudden revulsion swept over him. He uembled as he stood and reached out hand.
 Give me ehancei' he broke out, sobered now. "It was new thing, this feeling Come, you sent=f for me you asked me-that other man placed me in his stead as your guardian. He didn't know l would act in this way, that's true. I own I've been brutal. Give me my chance Let me try again.
 They both were silent for awhile, but at length she resumed, not so un- gently: '"Then let there be this con- tract between us, sir. Neither of us shall make any further scene. We'll temporize since We can do no better 1 gave parole once. I'll not give it again. but I'll go little farther on west ward until decide what to do.''
 'sBe my enemy even.'' he said, '.only do not leave me. I'll not let you go.''