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

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1T was all had to give. 1t wasn't
enough"
Il wish | could have given as much
as you" The wistful words slipped
out.
He stepped closer to her.
'Kazia. this has got to end"
Yes"
You must marry me tomorrow.
Life, and with 1t pain, flickered once
] more.
!, You are trying to give something
now. But I'm glad you said that"
I'm asking you to give something
more. You will?"
why do you ask it,"
Because I've hurt you enough.
did hurt you when | let you-led you
to sin, even though we kept 1t secret
from the world. | want to make you
happy-you said yourself we've broken
law. | want happiness-and | can't
have it, knowing that for all I've taken
from you I've given nothing"
She tried to smile; the sight OF 1t
cut to his. heart. Every reason but
the one. But I'm glad you wouldn't
lie to me now" The smile faded. You
see. ! can't"
"Kazia, DEAR" he pleaded, I'VE
started wrong-let's begin over again.
Let's give love a new birth"
His voice rang with a longing she
could not understand, but he could not
touch her. She shook her head spir-
itlessly.
There can be no new birth so long
as there is memory. You could never
forget that THAT am not clean"
DO you think me SO small as to
hold my own fault against you? 1t is
my sin, too" He stepped closer. reach
ing out his arms to take her. Come,
dear, your poor little reasons aren't
enough"
She shrank away from his clasp.
trembling. Into the tired white face
came look of fear and despair. She
glanced this way and that, as though
she sought an escape. Her hands went
to her face. Then she forced them
down and her eyes to his.
IL thought thought you under.
stood. .. IL wasn't clean-before
We sinned. The doctor who helped
me, /" She could say no more.
Suspicion had not prepared him for
this. He stared foolishly at her, show
ing how he recoiled from the fact her
broken words had revealed. He did
not then think 1t strange that the
shame of a woman he did not love
should stab so deeply.
"Kazia. how could you-how could
you!"
After a while he forgot his own pain
a little In pity for the silent stricken
woman. Again his arms reached out
for her and would not be denied.
"It must make no difference" His
sternness was all for himself. What
am | to blame you? You sold your
body to live. I gave my soul to fee
others squirming under my feet You
hurt only yourself. I've hurt every
one touched. hurt you. II hadn',
been a coward years ago when we
first loved. you would never have been
tempted. Your sin is only part o.
mine. 1t is you who have most tC
forgive"
Slowly she raised her head to lool
at him. And YOU" came a broker
incredulous whisper. land you would
marry me-even now?"
"All the more now!"
For an instant a faint pitiable hope
defying knowledge, shone in her eyes
, Have been mistaken? Only love
could ignore-ah! don't lie to me now
It wouldn't be kindness. Is it just pay
or lover"
He tried to look away from her ant
could not. Her eyes held his. seeking
through them to hunt out the las
truth hidden in his soul. With a rough
: convulsive movement he drew hel
head down on his shoulder.
How can l know what 1t Is? Il
must be love. since I need you ant
want to make you happy. II 1t ism
now, surely love will come when W.
: start right. Kazia, don't refuse m,
this chance to make up to you LITTLE
. of the harm I've done you"
Her answer was a stifled sob. H,
felt her body relax; her head reste'
heavily on his shoulder.
= She released herself He did no
!. try to hold her. They faced each othe
I in a heavy throbbing silence.
= His soul quivered with the cruelt!
] of 1t; it would have been infinitel!
easier for him II she had been thu
unfaithful one. His words echoed
mockingly in his ears, torturing hin
with their hopeless futility.
You will not?"
you couldn't say it-and I don
want pay"
The sight of her had become NOR
than he could endure. He turned ava.
and dropped into chair. letting hi
head fall to the table.
After little he felt her hand gentl,
smoothing his hair. And soon she be
gan to speak in a voice unsteady a
first but gathering strength as sh
went on.
You mustn't reproach yourself.
know you'd love me IL you could. An,
you mustn't think ! refuse just 70
your sake. I'd do what you want
since you want 1t so much-only !
would be misery for me always. Yo
wouldn't want that. And this
seems I've always known 1t woul
come. II was a chance | took for