The Washington herald., 1914-07-05

= She flushed hotly, and
turned through the magazine she had
taken from the table; but the leaves be-
trayed her trembling hands, so she laid
it down again. Il lnow"-with an ef-
fort she steadied her voice-"l merely
wanted to say
q told you, Margaret, we would not
discuss that question"
Every we'll" She said it quietly, but
her hands clenched beneath the folds OF
her dress.
From now on we will have no post
snortems. l refuse to dwell on things
that are not constructive"
Constructive?
Yes, constructive"
"And YOU think your attitude toward
me now is constructive, when you have
beaten me down like this-crushed my
pride-reduced me to a cringing abject-
ness where l am afraid to even say
what | wish-I, who have always been
so fearlessly proud and independent?
Do YOU think it constructive so to des-
troy a woman's pride, her self-respect
even? Do you think
He rose abruptly, crossed the room,
and picked up his hat and cane. His
ewes were hard and nerciless.
"Oh: no. no-I didn't mean that. For
give me-I1l take it all backl l
shouldn't have said it. Don't leave me
like this-don't punish me any more |!
On. l can't bear it-I can't bear it
She was clinging to him now, sobbing
with her face against his arm. But
there was no softening or yielding in
his attitude. He stood motionless for
moment, then drew coldly away.
1--WE have had quite enough heroics
in the past few weeks. All that has lost
its effect. If l am to stay there is to be
no more. melodrama- Do you under
stand that?"
She nodded
DO you?" cruelty forcing her to
speak
YES"
He put down his hat and stick.
As she went back to her chair there
flashed through her mind the picture of
a little fox-terrier she had once seen
rbrutally beaten, how it had cringed and
fawned and then skunk back against the
wall, its eyes full of appeal and terror.
She wondered if in her own there was
not some of that same expression.
He had walked over to the window
and was standing with his hands in his
pockets, looking down at the street be-
low. His very attitude was another
lash to her bruised, quivering pride. AS
he stood there now, she saw in him a
certain coarseness that she had never
seen before. Were the strength and
power and forcibleness that she so loved
in him merely brute strength which, now
that she was in his power, had become
a fierce, savage cruelty? Were the ten
derness and gentleness he had given her
at first but a pose to win her love-a
pose no longer needed?
He turned now and recrossed the
room. 81 believe told you was going
to Buffalo tomorrow"
mo, l didn't know"
81 am going on that Covington deal"
A silence followed.
You will be gone several days." She
asked the question hesitatingly.
More than a week"
"Oh"
why, what's the NATTER" sharply.
''Nothing-only didn't suppose you
would stay so long.
Why"
She knew why he was pressing her. |
She knew what he was waiting for her
to say-and that he was waiting to hurt
her for saying it. And yet for some
reason she did say it, with just the
quiver in her voice that always made
him the more harsh.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. remember we
had an engagement for Sunday?"
And you expect me to sacrifice my
business for that?"
"Oh, no, no, of course not" humbly.
And she felt that he was waiting for
her to say something more, to ask him,
perhaps, when he would come. when
she would see him again, just that he
might tell her he didn't know-and
humiliate her a little more And she
knew that sooner or later she would ask
him, and that she would not let him
leave without asking him She could
have shrieked aloud at this hideous
power he had over her, and at her utter
helplessness to combat It.
Perhaps we can go the Sunday fol-
lowing?" timidly, and yet she knew he
loathed her timidity.
81 can make no engagements that far
ahead. You know I'm too busy for
that" severely. you mustn't depend on
me for any definite engagements. I've
told you that again and again" in
tone of stern disapproval.
"Yes, l know" There were tears in
her voice now. q merely suggested il" {