Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-08-06

I'm going to make my own living
somehow"
That's very foolish" Helen stroked
the hand that had clasped hers. You
know he wouldn't let you 60 OF like
that"
What do you think he said last
night?' her eyes ablaze. THAT IL
left him-he'd never give me a cent.
He says that's his hold over me-that
I'm afraid to leave him because l can't
support myself"
But he never says those things ex-
cept when he's drinking?"
NO, but he must think them. Peo-
pie don't say things, even when
they're drunk. that haven't been In
their thoughts. Last night he said all
women were parasites-that nine.
tenths of them lived with their hus-
bands because they were too lazy or
too incapable to work. That II |
wanted my pay-rd have to stick to
my job"
But he wasn't himself" pleaded
Helen. What he did proved that"
Then hesitatingly. "How-how did 1t
happen? Was it right after"
She nodded. HE came home in an
| ugly mood. went to my room and
locked the door-but he banged on 1t
until l let him in. His face was awful
never saw him so Infatuated. He al
ways keeps a revolver, but it's never
loaded. I didn't think 1t was last
night, until he showed me the car
tridges. Even then l wasn't afraid
suppose l didn't care Oh, I don't re-
member what he said-but at last he
left me and went back to his room.
Then I heard the shot"
She shivered and caught her breath.
II found him lying on the floor. the
pistol beside him. Rosa and got him
on the bed and phoned for a Doctor
it seemed hours before he came. Oh.
it was awful. trying to stop the blood!
The doctor stayed with him until the
nurse came, and IL haven't seen him
SINCE
HAS he asked for you?"
She nodded
"And you refused to see him."
Yes" bitterly. II never want to
see him again."
Don't you think that's rather
hard?"
You wouldn't think SO If you
knew"
A tap on the door and the nurse en-
tered.
Mrs. Colburn, your husband keeps
calling for you. He's exciting himself
and his fever's very high. Won't you
come-just for moment?"
"Oh. I can't" recoilingly: can't!
Don't ask me-"
II think you should" urged Helen.
A moments silent struggle with her
bitterness and outraged pride. then
with slow reluctance Mrs. Colburn
rose to follow the nurse.
Don't co." appealingly to Helen.
wait for me-"
Drawing a chair to the shaded light,
Helen took up a book. But she could
not read; she was picturing the scene
in that other room.
Fifteen minutes-a half hour passed.
Then the nurse came in.
Hes sleeping now. Mrs. Colburn
wants you to come to the door,"
Helen followed her across the hall
to the darkened room. Mrs. Colburn
was sitting by the bed. fearing to
move lest she awaken her husband.
who was now sleeping quietly. one of
her hands tightly clasped in his.
Her whole face had softened. She
smiled up at Helen, a tremulous I'M
certain smile. that seemed to acknowl-
edge her weakness. the weakness of
love-not of dependency.
Very gently Helen closed the door,
and, knowing that she was now no
longer needed, went down to her own
| apartment.
On the hall rack hung one Of War
ren's overcoats. With q rush Of emo.
tional tenderness she buried her face
in its rough folds, which held the faint
man odor of tobacco and downtown
SCOT.
How fine and strong and dependable
| Warren was! How trivial his faults
of irritability and temper now seemed
How much she had-how much more
than that poor little woman upstairs!
From the wide flap pocket she had
drawn out a heavy gray glove. Slip
ping her small hand into 1t. she wrig.
gled the long untitled fingers with a
feeling of exultation at Warren's size
and strength. He was SO big and
strong and virile-so wholesome and
notwithstanding her cheek Low.
ingly against the shaggy coat. She
had never realized before how deeply
grateful she should be that Warren
was always that-wholesome and
clpan-habitedi