Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-15

my prc-cIArtin2 your job:'
Not at all she answered. "You
can have II fer keeps If YOU want"
AREN'T YOU getting pretty sick of
this sort Of work. these more or less
uncomfortable surroundings and the
sort of people YOU have to come in con-
tact WITH" he asked pointcdly.
II am" she returned us bluntly, "but
! think that's rather an impcrtinent
question. Mr., Fyfc."
"You hate it." he said positively. 81
know You do. I've seen your feelings
many time. | don't blame you. It's
n rotten business with Il girl of your
tastes and bringing up. And I'm afraid
you'll find ii worse if this snow STAYS
long. | know what II logging camp Is
when work stops and whisky crccps In
anu TIC boss let's 20 his hold
THAT may hc true" she returned
Gloomily, "but | don't see why you
should cnumcrutc these diSagrecable
things for my benefit
IN going to show you n way out"
he said softly. 1--WE been thinking 1t
over for quite awhile. want you to
marry me-"
Stella gaSpcd.
"Mr Fyfc."
"l.istcn," he said pcrcmptorily, lean
ing closer to her and lowering his
voice. Il have an idea that you're go
Ing to say YOU don't love me. Lord, I
know that. But YOU hate this. 1t
CRATES against every inclination of
yours like file on steel. wouldn't
Jar on YOU like that; wouldn't permit
YOU to live In surroundings that would.
That's the material side of 1t. Nobody
can live on day dreams. l like YOU.
Stella Benton. Il whole lot more than
I'd care to say right out loud. You
and | together could make n home
we'd lie proud of. | want YOU, and
you want to get away from this. It's
natural. Marry me ana play the game
fair and don't think you'll be sorry.
I'm putting ii rs badly rs can. You
stand To win everything with nothing
to lose but your domestic chains" The
Elcam of Il smile lit up his features
for II second. "Won't you take n
chnncc?"
no. she declared impulsivcly. IL
blooded transaction"
on don't seem To understand me-"
he said Sobcrly. II don't want to hand
out any sentiment. but il makes me
sore to see You wasting Yourself on
this sort of thing. If YOU must do 1t.
why don't You do II for somebody
who'll make II worth while? Because
we don't marry with our heads in the
1oE Is no reason we shouldn't gct on
linr. What arc You going to do-Stick
here ut this till YOU 20 crazy? You
won't get away. You don't realize
what one idea. determined person
this brother of yours is. lie has just
one object in life, and he'll use every
thing and everybody IN sight to attain
that object. He means 10 succeed, ami
lie WILL You're purely Incidental. But
lie has that perverted, middle class
FAMILY pride that will make him pre-
vent YOU from getting out and trying
your own WH.Ss. Nature never intend
ca "oitail Hnv !.0 - ~ t>clihatc,
any more than | was 80 intended. And
sooner or late you'll marry somebody
If only To hop out of the fire Into the
frying pan"
II hate you" she flashed pnssonatc-
ly. when You talk Ike that"
NO. y"u dent" he returned quietly.
"1ru nntc what | say because it's the
truth. and it's humliating to be help
less. You think | don't sahc? But
I'm putting weapon into your hand
Let's lot ii differently: leave out the
sentiment for Il minute. Wen say TINT
! want h"nSckrrpcr, preferably IN
ornamental one, because | like bcuuti-
full things. You want to get away
from this Gr,ldgcry. That's what II is,
simple drud"cry. You crave lots of
things you can't get by YOURSELF but
that YOU could help me get for YOU.
There's things lacking In Your life, and
50 are there In mine. Why shouldn't we
go partners: You think about It,"
Il don't need to-" she answered cool
ly. ut wouldn't work. You don't APP
pear to have any idea what ii means
for woman to give herself up body
and soul to Il man she doesn't care for.
For me II would be plain selling my
self. | haven't the least affection for
you. might even dctest YOU"
"" " 'hhill - lc Sul(I DDSlIlSclS.
what makes YOU so sure of that?"
she demanded
at would sound conceited If ! told
you why" he drnwlr,!. Listen. We're
not gods and gcddcsscs, we human be-
ings. We're not, after all, In our real
impulses. SO much different from the
age when man took his club and
went after q female that looked good
to him. They mated and raised their
young and very likely faced on an
average fewer problems than arise in
modern marriages supposedly ordain-
ed in heaven. You'd have tho one
big problem solyed-the lack of means
to live decently, which wrecks more
homes than anything else, far more
than lack Of love. Affection doesn't
thrive on poverty. What Is lover"
His voice took on challenging note.
II don't know" she answered absent
ly, turning over strips of bacon with
the long handled fork.
"There you are" he said. II don't