Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-02-19
CHAPTER xvl-Continued.

CHAPTER xVl-Continued.
Quite sadly and quietly he turned to
her as he had before, but 1t was q
graver question now. He realized that
and he knew that his answer would
be momentous one.
Jane" he said, IF have failed
failed to give you what you wanted /:
failed to give you what you hoped for;
failed as a husband and a man, l am
sorry. l am sorry, but that is all
can say. II you want more; more than
money can buy and want to buy 1T
with the kind of money that Brand
offers, you must look elsewhere. 1t
cannot come from me. What you have
said Of yourself is largely true. But 1t
was all part of the agreement. l told
you you would have to go through it.
All of 1t. We both knew that"
YES" she answered. until the
chance came for you to help yourself.
You know that you believed and that
! believed that some day the chance
would come, and when 1t came, you
discarded it."
But not that kind of a chance" he
said softly. THAT was not what
was expecting or looking for. / never
wanted to be thief. Jane, and l have
told you I won't be one now I know
the temptation and though 1t grieves
me to see you blinded to it, 1t is not
merely my opinion against yours that
makes me firm. I am thinking of you.
too. I know II l take this money all
the love will be driven out of our
hearts. and this home. such as 1t is,
that we have struggled for. will be
gone"
But we can find q better one"
mo, Jane" he persisted firmly, but
hopelessly. ut won't be a better one.
1t won't be home at all. That word
doesn't signify four walls and a roof,
no matter how much magnificence may
be within them. Home Is here where
we have made 1t. Home Is in our
hearts and II we destroy the purity
OF 1t and our respect for each other
home is nowhere. That doesn't mean,
though. that we are doomed forever to
this particular spot. will work on.
II man is capable and honest and
knows his duty and does it. nothing
can stop him. 1t Is only little wait"
Wait! That was the word she would
not brook. The lure Of ready money,
the luxury of 1t, had trapped Jane
firmly In its meshes. The little taste
she had had was just enough to make
her crave It, as a little water drives
a thirst-famished man to a maddening
quest for more.
only a little wait Only a little
wait!" She drawled the words out In
a wearisome monotone. and then ex-
claimed: why, soon I'll be like Mrs.
Collins with paint on my face and my
hands In gloves to hide the seams in
them. and wanting some liquid balm
to drown the sordidness of it all. Now
II 1t were necessary. Bob, I'd be will
ing to live like Mrs. Collins, dowdy and
dirty. but 1t isn't. You can't take this
chance Of escape from me. You can't
and you won't. That's final"
She turned and crossed quickly to
her room. Reynolds stood as il dumb
stricken. watching the door through
which she had gone. In a moment she
came out. dressed in coat and hat.
You're going out?" her husband
inquired In a surprised tone. why.
Jane, II you want anything at the store
let me 60 for YOU"
Il don't want anything at the store,
Bob. and I'm going farther than that.
I'm going to New York. But not to
Brand" she added. There was no
more between Brand and me than be-
tween you and your employer and l
guess my Jobs about ended there, as
the partnership is here"
You mean you're leaving your hus-
band and your home? Why. you must
be mad. Jane. | won't let you"
by what right can you stop met"
she inquired coolly.
Just by the right of our love-" he
answered, stepping quickly to her side
and putting an arm about her. II
can't let you go that way. Jane. That's
my end of the partnership"
She drew away from his embrace.
not angrily. but with determination.
Bob" she said gently, Il love you.
You know l do. But I'm not going to
be weak enough to let you dominate
me and make this fatal mistake. When
partners can't agree there Is but one
solution and now our partnership IL
dissolved" She looked up at the
cuckoo clock that had told on 80 many
happy hours and, Of late. 90 many sod
and wearisome hours in the little bun
galow. As she looked 1t began to
strike. a dismal. lonesome note, a. II
the cuckoo had lost its mate and was
calling in q hopeless way from its little
prison.
-Four o'clock" she said. I'll be-
LEI me see-where will I be? l don't
know New York very well Yes, III
be at the Aston library at six. II you