The Carlisle independent., 1915-01-14

and terrors. He expressed his thoughts and Jane's response was ready.
 Bob" she said softly there Is way out of all this. have taken you at your word and kept silent, but you know what l mean?'
 A frown passed over his face; look not of anger. but of pain.
 You mean Brand?" he asked.
 Yes"
 He dropped her hand Unconscious ly his whole form stiffened. He got up from the window seat and stood look ing down st her.
 Yes, there Is a way out" he an swered. but that is not the way" | Suddenly he caught her up in his arms.
 Jane" he cried, q never want to speak harshly to you in my life. I did | once and have regretted 1t more than | once. But you must not talk that way It Is not that I wish to dominate or love you one bit less for your per | sistency. In most matters you could make me do anything you wished. Not make me, for you know it is my joy to please you. But in this you hurt me; not because you oppose me, but be- cause 1t is you. You are good and you are honest and if you persevere in this it is because you do not understand. 1 That Is what hurts; that I cannot make you understand; the blandish- ments and wiles of pure crook ahOnlH Ifuro 3oh ha al af your husband"
 His words hurt her again. 1nstfnc- lively she recoiled as if they stood at opposite brinks of some chasm and she feared to take the leap. But Jane was in the fight to stay this time. In her mind 1t was Bob who was blinded and not her. She was ready to receive the blow and parry 1t. but she was deter mined to return balm for stringent and do battle in a woman's way.
 But, Bob" she said, as she stepped to him and put her arm around his shoulder; "are we so unequal either mentally or morally? Isn't it possible that you are mistaken as well as ?"
 No, we are not unequal, dear" he answered, and 1t is as possible for me to be wrong as you. But you are arguing from determined conviction rather than true one. I do not mean you are deliberately deceiving your self, but you have permitted yourself l to be deceived"
 He thrust her out at arms length and looked fixedly into her eyes. | "Oh, Jane" he cried. why do you say these things? Why do you cheap en yourself by defending dishonesty? 1 Business? Roti It's theft A crook is crook and a crooked deal is crooked. You can't make anything else out of 1t. What right have you or I to s40,000 we haven't earned? None. There's the answer and Demos themes himself could not alter 1t with words"
 Still Jane persisted Still she sub dued a spirit that rebelled.
 I'm not asking Demosthenes to alter 1t, Bob. I'm not asking you to submit to anyone's influence. but mine. You know, whatever you may think of Brand, that I have no ones interest at heart but yours and mine. Do you remember the words of our eourtship? We'll be partners That's what we said. Partners. Is it GUS tomary for one partner to say T will have this or I will do that or Is 1t usual for them to unite one way or the other and say 'We? I have tried to uphold my end of the bargain. What we have done we have done together. We haven't had much. Don't" she added quickly as she saw him start as If from a blow. "Don't-think that I am holding that up to you. You are an honest, able man and any woman could be proud to call you husband. What thie world has given you, or what you have taken from 1t. I have been content to share. That Is all I ask now; to share what you can take"
 "The right word" he interrupted quickly. Take; that Is it; take; steal! Do you hear me, Jane? Steali" He brought his fist down squarely on l the table, then checked himself as If ashamed of vehemence.
 "Oh, what's the use?" he said. He 1 bent toward her again, but without the touch or caress Of moment before. Jane" he ended, and his voice was | low and sorrowful; I'm not a thief and not even you can make me one"
 There was the cold fnality in his voice that meant mo more" She saw it; saw that she had lost again. The venom of money lust had run deep in Jane. or in that moment she would have seen and felt the man of him. But she turned away The blood mounted to her cheeks. Her answer. though, was as stolid as his and it was not wrung from her with pain. All right, Bob. We will let 1t drop. But mark my words" she turned to him with fearless, fiery eyes-"Bob, you will remember this day." Poor Jane She was right; he would remember that day, but how much more would she remember 1t! Oh how many days and months and years would she remember 1t and try in vain to efface the memory,