The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-12-22
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A Novel
A Week
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Sert Week
Christmas Carol"
BY
CHARl DICKENS
Continued From Our Last lssue)
CHAPTER TX.
The Test
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| Continued From Our Last lssue)
CHAPTER TX.
The Test
Or Won Gerhard sports motor.
car. "A rakiHh little craft. huilt long
and low. with racing linea and n
green complexion
Won Gerhard rad promised mo
spin n ~ on the first mild day.
Sunday turned out TO be uncx.
pectedly lnmhlikc. as only n March
day can he
"nut warmly you must dress
yourself" Won Gerhard warned
me
And so had swathed myself In
wrappingH aud we had darted off
along the smooth lake drives
There was no chance for CONVEX.
sation. even I, Won Gerhard had
been in talkative mood. which he
was not lie seemed more tact.
turn than usual
Finally We swung off the road.
way and up 10 the entrance ~ the
roadhoune that Was 10 reylyo ua
with things hot aud soupy.
Smile for the lady ! hooking.
" begged when ne had been serv.
ed You've been owliah all the
afternoon
Won Gerhard swept aside IN.
plates and glasses that stood be.
fore him. leaned his arms on the
table and deliberately stared a,
me.
I sail for Europe In June. 10 be
gone probably more" he
said
SAM" echoed. idiotically.
4 90 10 study and work with
Chuck. II IL tho opportunity Of n
lifetime. Cinck Ia 20 the world
OF medicine what Edison IL to the
world OF electricity Il II a won.
derful opportunity. "a"
Won Gcrhard'n face was very in
distinct and uncertain to my eyes.
but l managed 10 say So glad
congratulate you-very happy no
doubt Fortunate"
Two strong hands grasped my
wrists.
Ma. did not mean 10 Brighten
YOU. Dawn. How your hands trem.
bic 50. look At me You would
like Vienna. Klndchen. AK YOU
lu tho name Of ali that f. reason.
Ing. and Tor the sake ~ your hap.
plneas and niue. 10 divorce this
man Peter ormo--this man who
for Amos, ten years has not been
your husband ~-Nho never can he
your husband ask YOU TO do
something which will bring suffer
Ing 20 no one. and which Will
mean happiness TO many. Let.
me make you happy You were
born TO bc happy-you who can
laugh like a Eirl In spite OF your
womans sorrows
Hut sank into chair and bid
nav face In nv hands 50 that
might b~ spa cd the beauty and IN.
tenderness OF his eyes tried 10
think ~ all the sane and common
place things IN life. Somewhere In
my inner consciousness cool III.
tie voice was saying. over and over
again: Nov. Dawn. careful
You've come TO tho crossroads at
last. Right or lcft' Choose Now
Dawn. he careful" and the rest of
Il all over AGAIN
When I lifted my face from my
hands al last 4, was 20 meet the
tenderness Of Won Gsrhard's gRre
with scarcely a trcmor
You ought 90 know" said. very
slowly and evenly. that a divorce.
"a Al
most impossible. even n ! wished
10 do what you suggest There arc
certain state laws"
An exclamation of impatience
broke from him. LAVE In some
! states. yes In others. no. II 10 a
mere trchnlcality--a title 4 frv
months residence IN another state
perhaps These American laws.
they are made to break"
Yea you arc quite right. ! said.
and knew In my heart that the
, cool. insisteut little voice within
had not spoken In vain Hut there
are other laws laws Of honor and
decency. and right living and con.
science cannot be broken
with such ease. cannot marry
YOU. ! have a husband"
You can call that unfortunate
wretch your husband, He docs
not know that he has a wife. Tho
man there Ia the barred room"
At that took his dear hands In
mine and held them close as |
miserably tried 10 make him hear
what that small. still voice had
told me
There That Ia Il, II he were
, free. II he were able 10 stand be.
fore men that his actions might
+. be Judged fairly and Justly. |
} should not hesitate for one single.
precious moment. But, Ernest. can't
J you see? He IL there. alone. In
that dreadful place. quite incapa-
Bile. quite at our mercy. The thing
ls inhuman, No state laws. no red
tape can dissolve such n union"
You stlll care for him"
Ernest"
p You do care for him still. But
veal You can tell me that you
would not hurt him. not for your
happiness. not for mine. But me
, you can hurt again and again, with
, out one twinge OF regret"
, There was silence for n moment
In the little bare dining room--a
, miserable silence on my part. a
bitter one for Ernest. Then Won
Gerhard smiled one of the rare
smiles that illumined his face with
such sweetness.
quarreling- You Will think Of
what ! haze said. will you not /?
Perhaps | was too abrupt, too
brutal. Ach Dawn. you know not
how I Very we'll. will not"