Middletown transcript., 1914-10-24
Suddenly he caught her up in b

suddenly ne cauSuI HSE up IL nAo
arms.
Jane" he cried, l"I never want to
speak harshly to you in my life. l did
once and have regretted it more than
once. But you must not talk that way.
1t is not that l wish to dominate, or
love you one bit less for your per
sistency. In most matters you could
make me do anything you wished. NOT
make me, for you know 1t Is my JOY 70
please you. But in this you hurt me;
not because you oppose me, but be-
cause 1t is you. You are good and you
are honest and II you persevere In this
It is because you do not understand.
That is what hurts; that / cannot
make you understand: the blandish-
ments and wiles Of a pure crook
should not outweigh the counsel OF
your husband"
His words hurt her again. lnstinc-
lively she recoiled as if they stood at
opposite Drinks of some chasm and she
feared to take the leap. But Jane was
in the fight to stay this time. In her
mind it was Bob who was blinded and
not her. She was ready to receive the
blow and parry 1t, but she was deter
mined to return balm Tor stringent
and do battle in woman's way.
But, Bob" she said, as she stepped
to him and put her arm around his
shoulder; ARE we SO unequal either
mentally or morally? Isn't it possible
that you are mistaken as well as l 2"
mo, we are not unequal, DEAR" he
answered, "and it is as possible for me
to be wrong as you. But you are
arguing from a determined conviction
rather than true one. l do not mean
you are deliberately deceiVing your
self, but you have permitted yourself
to be deceived"
He thrust her out at arms length
and looked fixedly into her eyes.
"Oh, Jane" he cried, why do you
say these things? Why do you cheap
en- yourself by defending dishonesty |?
Business? Rot! It's theft. A crook
is crook and a crooked deal is
crooked. You can't make anything
else out Of it. What right have you
or l to $4,000 we haven't earned?
None. There's the answer and Demos
themes himself could not alter 1t with
words"
Still Jane persisted. Still she sub
dued spirit that rebelled.
I'm not asking Demosthenes to
alter it, Bob. I'm not asking you to
submit to anyone's influence, but
mine. You know, whatever you may
think of Brand, that have no ones
interest at heart but yours and mine.
Do you remember the words Of our
courtship? Wen be partners That's
what we said Partners. Is 1t GUS
tomary for one partner to say I will
have this or I will do that or Is 1t
usual for them to unite one way or
the other and say 'We?' l have tried
to uphold my end of the bargain. What
we have done we have done together.
We haven't had much. Don't" she
added quickly as she saw him start as
II from a blow. "Don't-think that
am holding that up to you. You are
1 an uOuG6ls dOAC I1dA anu any WOAAeeA
could be proud to cali you husband
What this world has given you, OF
what you have taken from 1t, l have
been content to share. That is all
ask now; to share what you can take
1.-The right word" he interrupted
quickly. "Take; that is it; take;
steal! Do you hear me, Jane? Steal!'
He brought his fist down squarely OIL
the table, then checked himself as 4
ashamed of vehemence.
ooh, what's the use?" he said. He
bent toward her again, but without the
touch or caress of a moment before
Jane" he ended, and his voice wal
low and sorroYful; I'm not a THE
and not even you can make me one"
There was the cold fnality in hiI
voice that meant mo more" She say
it; saw that she had lost again. Tht
venom of money lust had run deep IL
Jane, OF in that moment size woul'
have seen and felt the man Of him
} But she turned aNRy. The bloo'
/ mounted to her che Her answer
though, was as, st as his and 1
was not wrung fron her with pain.
"All right, Bob. We will let it drop
| But mark my words" she turned t.
him with fearless, fiery eyes-"Bot
, you will remember this day!"
> Poor Jane! She was right; b
would remember that day, but hoJ
, much more would she remember it
Oh how many days and months an
: years would she remember it and tr
| in vain to efface the memory!