El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-22
Bought and Paid For"
The Great New York and London
Successes.
George BrOadhurst.
vnopsiS of Preceding Chapter


synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Robert Stafford, a New York mil
| Honaire, meets Virginia Blaine, a tel
/ ephone operator and marries her. James
| GilleV, her brOtherinlaW, is given po-
| sition to work for the rich husband.
A few months after marriage, Stat
ford returns home drunk and attempts
! to kiss his wife.
CHAPTER VIII.
"AD Virginia been less a woman
II of high ideals, she might have
= = fallen in with her husbands
J mood, and. by laughter and mu-
tual good fellowship, avoided the scene
that followed. But the thought that
her womanhood was degraded by con-
tact with him when he was in such a
condition, had come to her with such
force that she could not help express
ing her utter adherence and shame
when his lips touched hers.
He sent for wine She asked him not
to drink it. He caught her in his arms
and kissed her, despite her resistance.
Come, now, be a nice little girl" he
coaxed, his calm speech little betray-
ing the delirium that was raging in
his brain.
"Oh, Robert, you have had enough.
Please say goodnight to me and let
me go to my room. I am so tired.
Please let me GO
But I want you to drink with me-"
he insisted.
she had started for her room. AS
she reached the door he warned her:
You won't run away, will you? 1t
wouldn't be a nice thing to do, and
you won't do it, will your
mol" almost shrieked his wife, Il
won't run away
VERY well then come over here and
sit down and drink with me-"
1t was no longer a request; it was
distinct command. She sat down and
Oku entered with the wine. Stafford
heed to the act He had finished his
third glass before he knew that she
had not even tasted hers.
Then he leaned over the table and
sought to kiss her. She arose and
started for her room. He seized her
She struggled to free herself, crying,
in abject fear, Let me go! Let me
gol''
"Oh, no. you don't he Kissed, crazed
with drink Come on, now kiss me
and show we're friends"
I can't" she cried.
Cant? Why?"
For one thing, the odor of stale
wine and whisky isn't pleasant"
rs there any other reason?" he de-
manded.
one. I don't want to kiss you"
That means that you don't love me.
Is that it,"
4 love the man married-love him
with all my heart and soul, and he
loves me. But you are not the man
married You're a stranger, man in
famed with liquor, a man who comes
to me and talks of love when 1t isn't
love at all; man whose every pro-
testation of love is an insult. That's
the man you are, and I hate him; I
hate him.
Virginia took advantage Of his sur
prise and ran from his presence, but
before she had reached the door to
her room he had again caught her in
his arms.
Who were you till I married your
he asked Nobody What were you2
A telephone girl, getting SO a week.
And now who are you? You're Mrs.
Robert Stafford And what are you?
You're the wife of one of the richest
men in the country And how did I
get you for my wife? I bought you
and paid for you, and anything I have
bought and paid for belongs to me.
And now will YOU kiss me-"
No" Virginia cried. almost in des-
peration. 81 will not
''Oh, yes you Will And if you don't
I'LL
For just a moment Stafford seemed
to realize that he was allowing him
self to become dangerous. He stopped
suddenly and, collecting himself,
dsked:
What's the use OF quarreling?
don't want to be mean to you. want
to be nice to you"
Then why do you wish to degrade
me?' she sobbed, her lips trembling
in mingled anger and humiliation. His
words had hurt her beyond repaid.
Degrade your he repeated. as if
dumbfounded- Why you're my wife.
You belong to me-"
Does that make the degradation any
the less?" she cried. when mar
ried you I did not become your prop
erty. Do you own me? Have I sur
rendered all my rights in myself? II
so, then marriage is horrible" Chang
ing her tone to one Of pleading, she
begged: Let me go, dear? Please let
me go?"
Without waiting to hear his answer
she rushed once more to the door Of
her room.
Good night" she called.
"Oh, no, you don'tr' And Stafford
was at her side before she could
make good her escape.
Don't touch mel" she sobbed.
Just give me one kiss-just one
and I'll let you go"
You promise that, Robert?'
yes"
Thinking to satisfy him, she ad-
vanced and kissed him gently on the
cheek
Not that kind he corrected; "a
real kiss Without further argument
he drew her close to him
'Oh. my God?' she cried, as he re-
leased her.
She rushed to her room. He tried to
catch her, but she made sure this
time, and, entering, locked the door
behind her.
open that door, he demanded.
Do you hear me? Open that door,
There was no answer. He caught m
an andiorn from the open fireplace. |
the panel of the door and |
rushed in like a mailman.
CTO be continued.)