The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-12-17
CHAPTER XIV.
al Cannot Come to Him"

|
The next day came, bright and
sweet, and as fair as a blue sky could
make it for one who looked aloft. But
eyes are not always turned toward
the unclouded sky. There are shadows
below that claim the vision and the
day is bleak.
The ship was to sail at noon.
At ten o'clock the farewells were be-
ing said. There were tears and heart
aches-and there was fierce rebellion
in the hearts of two of the voyagers.
Yvonne had declined to go to the pier
to see them off and Brood was going
away without word to her about the
future! That was manifest to the
anxious, soul-tried watchers. In 81
lence they made their way out to the
waiting automobile AS Brood was
about to pass through the broad front
door, resolute figure confronted him.
For moment master and man stared
hard into each others eyes, and then,
as If obeying an infexible command,
the former turned to glance backward
into the hallway. YVonne was stand.
ing in the library door.
"Sahib!" said the Hindu, and there
was strange authority in his voice.
Tell her, sahib. 1t is not so cruel to
tell her as 1t would be to go away with
out word. She is waiting to be told
that you do not want her to remain In
your home"
Brood closed his eyes for a second,
and then strobe quickly toward his
wife.
"Yvonne, they all want me to take
you along with US, he said. his voice
shaking with the pent-up emotion Of
weeks.
She met his gaze calmly, almost Sc
renely. "But of course, 1t is quite
impossible" she said II understand,
| James" = -
1T is not possible" he said, steady
| ing his voice with an effort.
THAT is why thought it would be
better to say good-by here and not at
the pier We must have some respect
for appearances, you know" She was
absolutely unmoVed.
He searched her eyes intently, look
ing for some sign Of weakening on her
part. He did not know whether to feel
disappointed or angry at what he saw.
81 don't believe you would have gone
If had"
"You need not say it, James. You
did not ask me, and / have not asked
anything of you"
Before go" he said nervously, II
want to say this to you: I have no
feeling of resentment toward you. I
am able to look back upon what you
would have done without single
thought Of anger. You have stood by
me in time Of trouble. / owe great
deal to you, Yvonne. You will not
accept my gratitude-it would be a
farce to offer 1t to you under the cir.
cumstances. But want you to know
that / am grateful. You"
go on, please. This is the psyche
logical moment for you to say that
your home cannot be mine. am ex-
pecting it."
He Strengthened up and his eyes
hardened Il shall never say that to
you, Yvonne You are my wife.
shall expect you to remain my wife to
the very end"
Now, for the first time, her eyes
flew open with surprise. A bewildered
expression came into them almost
at once. He had said the thing she
least expected. She put out her hand
to steady herself against the door.
"Do-do you mean that, james,"
she said wonderingly.
''You are my property. You are
hound to me. l do not intend that you
shall ever forget that, Yvonne. ]
don't believe you really love me. but
that is not the point Other women
have not loved their husbands and yet