River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-11-25

regaining her breath with an effort.
She had fingered in the front parlors
to receive him before her Uncle Jim
should know that he was in the house.
and she had led him straight into the
little tete-a-tete reception room. She
meant to free herself quickly.
why Aot?" he laughed, and ad-
vanced toward her. taking her attitude
| lightly, ascribing her action to a girl
ish Whim, confident in his power over
her. He meant to dispose of her coy
ness by taking her in his arms again.
She belonged to him.
/ "Mr. Allison" The tone was cold
enough, and deadly in earnest enough
to arrest him.
whats the matter, Calf" he pro-
tested. ready to humor her. to listen to
what she had to say, to smooth mat
| ters out.
"You have no right" she told him.
"Yes / have" he jovialIy assured
her. Il hope don't have to wait until
after marriage for kiss If that's
the case I'll take you out and marry
you right now"
| There was an infection In his laugh,
contagion in the assumption that all
was right between them. and that any
| difference was one which could be
Strengthened out with jolly patience,
and Gail, though her determination
would not have changed, might have
| softened toward him, had she not seen
in his face look which paled her lips
Ever since last night he had antici.
| pated her, had rejoiced In his posses
sion of her. had dreamed on the time
when he should take her for his own:
and his eyes were cloudy with his
thoughts OF her.
Let us have a clear understanding,
Mr.. Allison" She was quite erect. and
looking him directly in the eyes Her
own were deep and troubled. and the
| dark trace which had been about them
in the morning had deepened. 81 told
you last night that should need time
in which to decide: have decided. /
shall not marry YOU"
He returned her gaze for a moment,
and his brow clouded.
you've changed since last night"
he charged her.
Possibly" she admitted. at is
more likely. however. that / have
merely crystallized. 1 prefer not to
discuss it." She saw on his face the
| growing instinct to humiliate her.
"You must discuss it," he insisted.
Last night when took you in my
arms you made no objection. was
| justified in doing 1t again tonight.
You're not a fool. Eou knew from the
| first that l wanted you. and you en-
couraged me. Now. I'm entitled to
know what has made the change"
The telltale red spots began to ap-
pear in her cheeks.
| "YOu," she told him. Last night,
your scheme Of world empire seemed
wonderful thing to me. but since
then I've discovered 1t cannot be built
without dishonesty and cruelty; and
you've used both"
His brow cleared. He laughed
| heartily.
You've been reading the papers.
There isn't man in the financial field
who wouldn't do everything I've done;
and be proud of it. / can make you
see this in the right light, Gail"
It's q proof Of your moral callous-
ness that you think so" she Informed
him. Can you make me see it in the
right light that you even used me. Of
whom you pretended to think sacredly
enough to marry, to help you in your
most despicable trick of allT'
Look here" he protested. THAT
I would be impossible! You're misin-
! formed"
Il wish | were" she returned. "Un-
fortunately, 1t is matter of direct
| knowledge. You caused Vedder court
to be torn down because | thought it
should be wiped out Of existence, and
in the process you cheated Market
Square church out of six million dol
| lars!"
He could not have been more
shocked If she had struck him.
Il knew you did not understand" he
kindly reproved her. II didn't want
those old buildings. They couldn't
have sold them for the wreckage price.
When you suggested that they should
be torn down, saw it. They were
public menace, and the public was
right with the movement The con-
demnation price will cover all they
could get from the property from any
source. You see. you don't understand
business" and his tone was forgiving.
I'D have been foolish to pay six mil
lion dollars for something | couldn't
use. You know. Gail. when the build
ing commissioners came to look over
those buildings. they were shocked!
Some of them wouldn't have stood up
another year. It was only the political
influence of Clark and Chisholm and
| few of the other big guns of the con-
gregation, which kept them from being
condemned long ago. You shouldn't
interfere in business. 1t always creates
| trouble between man and wife," and