The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-01-19
CHAPTER lx.-(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'
sonal note. puzzling, and 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 or leave her (Were she happy In
her marriage) In her FOOLS Paradise
He felt himself a prey to dscordant
impulses, pride and generosity coun'
selling him. each with double
tongue.
Il hold your happiness above all
else," be resumed as the pause length
ened-"far above my own, Katherine.
That is why ask you: are you hap.
py."
81 have no regrets" she told him
steadily.
THAT doesn't answer me-"
Her eyes wavered beneath his
searching glance. She turned away
and stared off into the vacancy of the
fog.
How is one to tell?" she said pres.
emily. isn't happiness difficult to
define? A thing of comparative val.
ues?. 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
married the man loved; he needs
me now. could hardly do without me
! am help to him in bis 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?
But a year is a long time; have
learned much since :" She took
a deep breath. Yes" she concluded
evenly: II think may say | am hap
py. Garrett"
But she kept her face averted
And this?" he asked, stepping &c
ner side and lightly touching her bare
forearm with his finger
Just below her left elbow foul
marks. like blush stripes set close to
gether, stood out like weals upon bel
delicate skin. where the flesh hac
been bruised by the cruel pressure O
mans strong fingers.
At his touch she recoiled with ;
half.stified cry, her face blazing
"Dont'-don't-!" she gasped, tryins
with faltering fingers to pull dowr
the sleeve, But realizing that it wa,
too late, that he had already seen, she
r,'overed, sullenly leaving the sleeve
as 1t was
. I'm sorry" said Coast soberly; {"
didn't mean to touch you. didn'
think-had forgotten what-what
may not expect you to forget Onl,
mat Is his mark, Katherine.
We'll" she flashed defantly, "ant
what if 1t Is? Is he, or am l. answer
able to YOU Can he not touch me
But bis undertaking and pene
tratlng gaze disconnected her; her an
ger rang unconvincing even to her
SELF 1T was an accident" she fin
'shed lamely One of the servant
angered him-the" are Chinese an
stupid-and in his blindness he mis-
took me for the man and caught m
arm
III must have hurt" sad Coast, tr,
Ing to believe her
She was silent. facing him with
trace OF bravado He bowed
Il les yonr pardon; 1t was, as 70
suggest none Of my affair. mere!
happened 10 n, .tce. AMI it startled me
VIII yoa lie good enough to tell m
the way TO The beach,"
Silently the woman indicated a pat
lcrdtng away from the gate.
St:ll he fingered. letting his eye
drinl: their III CT her; and knew. /
swift cash of gertrude. that neve
hao she tACn lccre dc r 10 him tina
IN this nrment II nurc!ation, tina
nev~r "nn'd his "nar''s plIegiaDc