The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-01-20


There was q sound almost AZ OF .
scuflie, and then Allison, with his top
coat on his arm and his hat IN his
hand, strobe to the doorway OF the
music room, followed Immediately by
the butler, who looked as II his hair
had been peeled & little bit at the
edges. Allison had apparently brushed
roughly past him, and had disturbed
his equanimity for the balance Of his
life.
Gail was on her feet almost instan.
taneously with the apparition in the
doorway. and she still held the sheet
of music which she had been about to
deposit on one Of the piles. Allison's
eyes had q queer effect of being
sunken. and there was strange nerv.
Gus tension In him. Gall dismissed
the butler with q nod.
You were informed that I am not
at home" she said.
II meant to see you" he replied,
with certain determined insolence in
his tone which she could not escape.
There was triumph in 1t. too. as II
his having swept the butler aside
we're only part OF his imperious IN
rention. 81 have some things to say
to you to which you must listen"
"You had better say them all. then,
because this Is your last opportunity. .
she told him. pale with anger. and
with quaver in her voice which she
would have given much to suppress.
He cast look on her which blazed
He had not slept since he had seen
her last. He smiled. and the smile
was snarl. displaying his teeth.
Something more than anger crept into
Calls pallor.
i have come to ask you again to
marry me. Gail. The matter Is too
vital to be let pass without the most
serious effort of which I am capable.
/ cannot do without you. have a
need for you which Is greater than
anything Of which you could conceive.
| come to you humbly. Gail. to ask
you to marry me-"
For just a moment his eyes had
softened, and Gail felt a slight trace
OF pity for him; but in the pity itself
there was /revulsion.
II cannot" she told him.
"You must!" he Immediately re-
Joined. "As / would build up an en-
pire to win you, would destroy one
to win you. You spoke last night of
what you called the cruelty and trick
cry Of the building up of my big trans
portation monopoly. II 1t is that which
stands between us, 1t shall not do so
for moment longer. Marry me, and
will stop 1t just where 1t is. Why.
only built this for you, and ii you
don't like 1t. / shall have nothing to
do with It," In that he lied, and con-
sciously. He knew that the moment
he had made sure Of her his ambition
to conquer would come uppermost
again, and that he would pursue his
dream Of conquest with even more ar.
dor than before. because he had been
refreshed.
THAT would make no difference, Mr.
Allison" she replied. II told you last
night that / would not marry you be.
cause do not. and could not. love you.
There does not need to be any other
reason" There was In her an inexpii.
cable tension. reflex OF his own. but,
though her face was still pale, she
stood very calmly before him.
The savageness which was in him.
held too long in leash. sprang into his
face, his eyes. his lips. the set OF his
jaws. He advanced step towards
her. His hands contracted.
IT shall not again ask you to love
me-" he harshly stated; but you must
marry me. have made up my mind
to that"
"Impossible!" Angry now and con-
temptuous.
"Tll make you! There Is no re-
source / will not use. I'll bankrupt
your family. I'll wipe 1t OF the earth. /"
Calls nails were pressing in her
palms. She felt that her lips were
cold. Her eyes were widening, as the
horror OF him began to grow on her.
He was glaring at her now. and there
was no attempt to conceal the savage
cruelty on his face.
'sTll compromise YOU" he went on.
"I'll connect your name with mine In
such way that marriage with me Will
be your only resource. I'll be an In
| fluence you can't escape. There will
not be step you can take in which
you will not feel that am the mas.
ter Of 1t. Marry you? I'll have you
IL 1t takes ten years! I'll have no
other end in life. I'll put into that one
purpose all the strength and all the
will that / have put into the accom-
plishment Of everything which have
done: and the longer you delay me
the sooner I'll break you when ! do
get you"
Out of her very weakness had come
strength: out of her overwhelming nu'
initiation had come pride. and though