Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-01-23


wants I've the right to live my own
life We must each ot MS choose our
world, the one ot conventions aud
shamS or the hjg one that's beyond
the world ot reality, where free mcu
AMI women live and work In freedom
while youth and daring lead the way"
She paused and Stuart'S lips parted
In amozcmcut. Never had he heard
such cloGucncc from the woman be
fore him.
Jim" she went on faltcriuCy, I'm
lonely and hcartsick, I'm trying to
tell you that want your love; that
l can't i've any longer without It."
Her head sank low, aud sob caught
her voice
There; I've told you. I've no pride
left Tell me that you love me.
want To hear II thousand times
want 1t. right or wrong, Speak! Say
something, IL only to curse me-
"Nou should have thought of this,
Nan. before these gray hairs began
to creep into my hair"
/ II did. linn" she cried, eagerly bend
ing near. God knows fought! You
never knew It, but | did For whole
nights | wrcStlcd with the ticnd that
tempted me aud fought for my love,
1t took days and weeks to strange its
hold on my heart and force me to he
tray myself oh, Jim it's not too
late to live, Look ut me, dearest, and
say It's not For Gods sake, tell me
that YOU love me still, Am old? Am
/ | fadCd?"
The man had felt sure of himself
when she began, but the tenderness,
the passion, the ycarnng appeal of her
voice were more than he could resist.
Look into my eyes, Man. he cried.
land let me see the bottom OF your
SOUR
She lifted her dark lustrous eyes,
devouring him with love,
"Noull tud only your image there,
Jim"
He looked ut her stcrnly.
Before | take you into my nrms and
smother You with KISSES. he whls'
pered hercely, there mustn't he any
mistake this time. I've got 10 know
that your love for me Is the biggest
thing in your life-the only thing In
your Iifc!"
~ swear IT. she gaspcd,
"You've got to prove t. I'm going to
put you to the test"
ANY test" she broke In quickly.
81 warn YOU" he went on, with In
creasing seriousness, the test will he
a real one You and |. Nan, could
never be happy with the shadow OF
Bivens' fortune over u.s."
But its shadow can't he over usl
It's going to he yours He has given
1t to me--his death is only n question
of year or two-and I'm going to
give II all to you"
"rhere's not n dollar of his millions
TINT isn't smirched I'd sooner wear
the rags of lepcr than soil my hands
with It. If you love me you will have
to give up these millions"
Nan gazed at him In establishment
and broke into n low laugh
'"Of course, you're teasing me. iou
can't be IN earnest In such an absurd
dime novel idea! Give away this
enormous fortune!'
The woman placed her hand tenderly
In his and nestled close to his side.
"Come. Jim. dear this Is a practical
world: you have some common sense
even II you are man of genius: you're
not insaner'
"1 think not" he answered. soberly.
"You cannot make this absurd de-
mand on me-" she repeated slowly.
"knowing the awful price | paid for
these millionsT
ITS because / know II that | make
the demand" he went on. pnssionately
1--WE are face to face now, you and l.,
with all the little subterfuges and lies
of life torn from our eyes. The fact
that the price at which he bought you
was high-say hundred millions
does not change the fact. ! refuse to
share with the woman | love the price
for which she sold herself. whether the
sum be n hundred dollars or n hundred
millions. | can forgive and have for.
given the wrong you've done me, but
could never share It's conscious
degradation"
Nan looked mt him in despair, her
eyeb HuubtIly tlOuuIUR Win ltHIS
what do you mean when you say
give up these mlllionsT'
Just what | say" he answered
quickly.
But ! couldn't throw them into the
street What would do with themT
You can give them back to the PEG
pie. the public. from whom they were
taken-the people whose labor created
their value. That's what an honest man
does when he finds he has wronged his
neighbor. There's not stone In your
palaces whose cement was not mixed
In human tears. The stain OF blood IN
In every scarlet thread Of your carpets.
rugs and curtains"
"But you are talking like mad an
archIst His money was made as all
great fortunes are made"
80 much the worse for our nnan-
ciers Civilization must rest ut least on
M