The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-10-24

/
shoulders. At Kazias age Hanka had
| already begun to wither into an un.
| comeliness that men passed by unde-
string. She went over to the dressing
| woman and touched timidly the firm.
still youthful flesh.
You are like your mother"
| What was she like?"
"She was like you" Kazia did not
smile. Men cav her and wanted her"
The comb became still. Did she
did she love my father?"
Such q love l have never SEEN"
| 1t had been dark almost an hour
when the bell rang. Hanka heard
kazia going to the door and a startled
exclamation answered by a mellifluous
voice Hanka did not know. The Wis.
| itor was admitted and taken into the
sitting room. To the kitchen came
the murmur Of Kazia's voice and his
chiefly his.
He had been there but a few min
utes when his voice changed. It be-
came eager, with an undertone that
perturbed Hanka strangely. Once
Kazia uttered low hurt cry. Hanka
rose and crept along the little hall
She crouched in the darkness near
the sitting room door, listening in
tently and wishing she had not been
SO stupid about English.
Am l an ogre" the mellifluous
voice was saying.
Il do not love YOU"
1T ia not a question OF love. I an
not old, but have lived long enough
to prick that illusion. We scientists
know what love IT,"
Il don't care for you In any way.
Kazia answered coldly. Mr.. Quinby
you oughtnt to be here. A man II
your position"
MY dear lady, let me remind 20,
that the interest Of a man in my posi-
ton is not to be rejected lightly. Witt
q word l gave you the best position
your profession offers a woman. Witt
a word can take 1t away. l can re
lieve you Of the necessity Of workinI
at all. l can make 1t impossible 70
you to find work in this CITY,"
Threats"
My dear LADY," the strangers voic
protested. Il would not do that.
would harm no one. l am a tende,
: hearted man. l. too. suffer. II by chanc
, others suffer through me-. The voice
} vibrant with emotion. would hav
/. wrung tears Of sympathy from a stone
, But Hanka, as we have seen, coul
I not weep. II am only trying to sho,
! that those who enlist my interest d
! not lose by it,"
, so you think I am for sale?"
Forgive me. my DEAR" said Quinby
) but that is gross. Say rather thai
, since you have struck q RESPONSIVE
! chord In my breast, 1t will be my pleas
ure to be guardian of your welfare
to lift you out Of the sordid struggl
for existence. And have ] not prove
that? You lay in the hollow of m
hand. With a breath | could have d.
stroyed your reputation. But I keI
y silence. ! advanced your interests.
n held you tenderly in my heart Won
an. you have bewitched me. I war
q you"
Z Hanka understood at least his las
e words and she understood his ton,
I She crept closer and through the crac
d OF the sitting room door saw Kazi
{ elude Quinby's outstretched arms.
At the same moment she heard
e hating step on the stairway. Sh
o opened the outer door and went GU
o to meet Mark Truitt, whispering e,
D citedly to him In Polish. When b,
astonished by her appearance an
3 emotion. would have spoken. sh
o clapped a hand over his mouth. an
Z clutching him by a sleeve, drew hir
: into the hall. She pointed through tn
, crack.
Again Quinby reached toward Kazi
, and again she recoiled.
{ "Dont-don't touch me-"
why do you rebuff me? You're nc
! an ignorant child. You must hav
|. known what my interest in the no,
. pital and In you this year has mean
You wouldn't have taken my help III
! less you were willing to give me wha
/ want"