The Yale expositor., 1913-05-22

son. lJB the law, WITHOUT any Queo-
ton OF the man or the woman"
"Oh. Rosey, dear. you're talking like
a book, not like a 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 a 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 of in those three years. every
illusion goes. He's tied to woman
that he can't stand. He went up to
Antelope that time because they'd had
some sort OF 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 ! think
to keep on living In that state Is all
wrong. I'll borrow your expression, /
think It's a sin"
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-
erablel"
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
It? 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 decent home
where he could live like Christian?
Why, he'd be q different creature.
He'd have a 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"
II was almost too much. For mo-
ment she did not answer, then said In
small voice like 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 It hard"
well. I've got them," she said. ris-
ing TO her feet. i've got them, and
they'll stay with me TIL I 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 hand on II, 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.
Its 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. It would be
wonderful happiness. But I can't
have Il, and so there's no good think
ing about It, or trying to bring 1t
about. II can't be. and we-you too,
papar--must give Il up"
IIa nrosaad hfr,,aeIf hack In hfa chatr
looking at her with lowering. somber
Interpretation a 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 a future that's GO
ing to kill any hope In him7 You're
going to say to him, You can be free.