Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-17
CHAPTER XIV.
Payment

1t was two days after the funeral.
Mark had seen KaZia but for a few
minutes, merely long enough to learn
her new plans, and then Hanka had
been present. KaZia proposed to take
care of her, and that they might not
have to be apart, to give up her fine
position at the hospital; she thought
she could obtain a new one that would
take up only her days. She had. of
course. to find new apartment.
All day Hanka had been alone in the
dismantled fiat. thinking not of him
who had gone but of the woman who
had assumed her protection. Often
her head shook in troubled gesture.
Hanka had not lost the habit of seeing
and understanding many things from
her shadowy corner. Not out of grief
for the dead. she knew, had the look
that haunted her come into Kazia's
eyes.
The dinner was over, the dishes
washed and put away; this being part
OF Hanka's share in the new division
OF labor. She went into the little bed
room whittier Kazia had gone to dress.
But at the door she stopped, unnoticed.
looking at the figure that lay motion
less and face downward on the bed.
She started to steal away, then turned
again and went timidly to the bedside.
She laid a gentle hand on Kazia's hair.
Little Kazia," she murmured, half
troubling you?"
Nothing. Matka." came the muf-
fed answer.
rs 1t because of me? l don't want
to be burden. ! can CO."
NO. no! You mustn't leave me. I'm
just tired"
Heart tired. Is it because OF him
your lover?"
Il have no lover"
Kazia rose wearily. and going to the
mirror, began to take down her hair.
The thick soft tresses fell tumbling
around her. Hanka, in troubled won
der. watched the round arm that
welded the comb. the smooth firm
shoulders. At Kazia's 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 saw her and wanted her"
The comb became still. did. she
did she love my father?"
Such a love have never seen."
II had been dark almost an hour
when the bell rang. Hanka heard
kazia going to the door and a startled
exclamation answered by a mellifiuous
voice Hanka did not know. The Wis
itor was admitted and taken into the
sitting room. To the kitchen came
the murmur of Kazias voice and his,
chiefly his.
He had been there but a few min
utes when his voice changed. 1t be-
came eager. with an undertone that
perturbed Hanka strangely. Once
Kazia uttered a low hurt cry. Hanka
rose aud 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 mellifuous
voice was saying.
Il do not love you."
1T is not a question OF love. / am
not old, but I have lived long enough
to prick that illusion. We scientists
know what love Is"
81 don't care for you in any way"
Kazia answered coldly "Mr Quinby,
you oughtn't to be here. A man in
your position"
My dear lady. let me remind you
that the interest of man in my posi-
ton is not to be rejected lightly. with
a word ! gave you the best position
your profession offers a woman. With
a word ! can take II away. | can re-
lieve you of the necessity OF working
at all. can make 1t impossible for
you to find work in this city"
Threats"
my dear lady!" the strangers voice
protested. Il would not do that. /
would harm no one. l am a tender
hearted man. ]. too. suffer, II by chance
others suffer through me-" The voice,
vibrant with emotion, would have
wrung tears of sympathy from a stone.
But Hanka, as we have seen, could
not weep. 81 am only trying to show
that those who enlist my interest do
not lose by it."
so you think ] am for sale?"
Forgive me, my dear" said Quinby,
but that is gross. Say rather that,
since you have struck a responsive
chord in my breast. It will be my pleas
ure to be guardian of your welfare,
to lift you out of the sordid struggle
for existence. And have ] not proved