Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-11-06
feAmbition Of Mark Truitt.
Author Of
THE MAN HIGHER UP" HIS RISE
TO POWER" Etc.
cepzrshe. ,sl,. 5, ~ pobb.MerHn Company

/ But I'd have expected you to say that
Her eyes fell again to the sewing.
nKazia,r he asked directly, after
moment, has any one ever connected
you with my scandal"
She looked up quickly again. Why
no. How could they?
"A mysterious oma has been men
toned. I've been afraid that every
one I've had to do with might be
smirched with me. / didn't want you
of all women-to be touched"
do you care SO much about 1t all?'
II wouldn't admit it to any n else
But I do care, Kazia-"
She was silent, but the dark eyn,
were very gentle.
He leaned forward and drew her to
him. He kissed her again and again.
For a long minute he held her 80, In
silence. Insidious moment, throw
ing open the gate that he might peer
into a golden realm such as even this
Joseph had never dreamed!
You haven't said It," he broke the
silence.
THAT / love you? Dc ! need
n NJ. lIle hIbScd hCl again. W. SAA
L cant quite believe 1t yet. It's worth
going through all the trials and dis
appointments and ugliness-to have
this hour
Much later-it did not seem long
he asked: "Kazia, when will you marry
me?"
She did not answer for a long while.
Then she gently pushed him away and
spoke, slowly. as though all her
strength we're needed to force out
each word.
Il can not marry you"
You can not He stared at her,
stunned.
She shook her head, mute.
But why? You are free"
II am free-under the law. But I
a not"
You love me, and yet"
II a not"
but why?" he persisted. You must
have some reason Then he aroused
himself. Though you may just as
well forget it. Do you think" he cried.
I've found a real enduring love only
to let it go?
II have a reason. l." She broke
of, looking away. Her hands clasped
tightly in her lap, unclasped, then
went out in a little appealing gesture
as her eyes came back to him. 1T
isn't that ] don't want to. IL love
you. Butch, can't you understand?
How could the love endure the little
trials and frictions, the nearness, the
commonplaceness of everyday life to-
gether?"
All! / wish you hadn't said that"
He was staggered for the moment; to
him her reason was not an empty one.
But he went on firmly: THAT wouldn't
be true with us. It's never true where
there Is a real, love to smooth the
way. And you and I've mustn't judge
by our past. because we've never
found the real love-until now"
es, 1t is real. ] think 1t is real"
From her wtstful voice he thought
ne had shaken her. He pressed her
hard. sOf course. It II. Then. don't
you see-n
NO, II II 10 real, then l can't
daren't--risk losing It. ! haven't had
much, ever except this love- mustn't
lose it. And.you don't know-Tm not
fine and clever and cultured. like-like
the women you've known. You'd see
the lacks. she was becoming In
coherentO Oh. don't try to persuade
me. Youaonly make IT hard. I've been
thinking OF this-and OF when you'd
cone-so long! And / know"
But he did try 70 persuade her. And
longing lent him eloquence, as he pic
tured for her their love. triumphant
over the starving years OF separation.
triumphing again over the vexatious
problem OF daily intimacy.
Slowly 1t came to him that she
meant her refusal. He released her
and drew back, &c suddenly that she
swayed and almost fell.
Then 1t only mean that you don't
love me. II you did. you wouldn't
count the risk
IF you must believe that" she an
swered sadly, you must. But 1t isn't
true. II / could forget the risk. /
shouldn't love you as do"
He laughed harshly. and reaching
for his hat. turned toward the door.
The dreamed love had gone the way
of his beautiful philosophy.
But at the door he looked back. She
was standing as he had left her, pale,
her ayes both fear and the glow OF
the lame ne mad lighted. The hand,
held out to him In involuntary ges-
ture, war trembling visibly.
.Why-do you go?"
But you said"
Il didn't sAy-I wouldn't love you"
He laughed again. What Is love-
b ysyitself?'
We could" pitifully she put forth
the suggestion, I'VE could be friends"
Friends! I'm no bloodless poet. I
want q whole love-"
Her hungering look was calling him,
drawing HAM across the room to her.
It babe him take her. He took her.
w~onderin&ly. daxed by the seeming
surrender. In his clasp she seemed to
find q new
"Then-then-l will give you I
whole love--if you will take me ~ I
am"
not he mutterei. Not that,
Kazia. I've hurt you enough. And