The Mena weekly star., 1917-12-20

Na her soft flesh like the jaws of trap. shaking her as terrier might shake rat till the heavy coils of hair cascad- cd over her shoulders, and for a second fear tugged at her heart, for she thought he meant to kill her.
 When he did desist he released her with thrust of his arms that sent her staggering against a tree, shaken to the roots of her being, though not with fear. Anger had displaced that. A hot protest against his brute strength against his passionate outbreak. stirred her. Appearances were against her, she knew. Even so, she revolted against his cave man roughness. She was amazed to find herself longing for the power to strike him
 She faced him, trembling, leaning against the tree trunk, staring at him in impotent rage. And the fire died out of his eyes as she looked. He drew deep breath or two and turned away to pick ID his rife When he faced about with that in his hand the old mask of immobility was in place He waited while Stella gathered up her scattered hairpins and made shift to coil her hair into a semblance of order. then he said gently:
 T won't break out like that again" "Once is enough"
 More than enough for me-" he an swered.
 She disdained reply Striking of along the path that ran to the camp, she walked rapidly, choking a rising flood of desperate thought With grow ing coolness paradoxically there burn rd hotter the flame of an elemental wrath. What right had he to lay hands on her? Her shoulders ached; her flesh was bruised from the terrible grip of his fingers. The very ssound of his footsteps behind her was maddening To be suspected and watched, to be continually the target of jealous fury no, a thousand times no! She wheeled on him at last.
 'I can't stand thisr' she cried. Its beyond endurance. We're like flint and steel to each other now. If today's a sample of what we may expect it's bet ter to make clean sweep of every thing. I've got to get away from here and from you-from everybody"
 Fyfe motioned her to a nearby log.
 ''Sit down, said he. We may as well have it out here"
 For few seconds he busted himself with q cigar, removing the band with utmost deiiberation, biting the end off. applying the match, his brows puck cred slightly
 Its very unwise of you to meet Monohan like that" he uttered finally
 "Oh, see," she flashed. Do you suggest that met him purposely-by appointment? Even if I did' That's for you to say, Stella he in- terrupted gravely. q told you last night that I trusted you absolutely do so far as really vital things are con cerned. but I don't always trust your judgment. 1 merely know that Mono han sneaked along shore, hid his boat and stole through the timber to where you were sitting I happened to see him, and I followed him to see what he was up to, why he should take such measures to keep under cover"
 "The explanation is simple" she an swered stiffiy. You can believe it or not, as you choose. My being there was purely unintentional If I had seen him before he was close I should certainly not have been there. l have been at odds with myself all day, and went for a walk to find quiet place where could sit and think"
 Tt doesn't matter now" he said. "Only you'd better try to avoid things like that in the future. Would you mind telling me just exactly what you meant minute ago-just what you propose to do|
 q think it's better that I should go away" Stella said. "I want you to agree that should; then there will be no talk or anything disagreeable from outside sources I'm strong. I can get on. It'll be relief to have to work. I won't have to be the kitchen drudge Charlie made of me. I've got my voice. I'm quite sure I can capitalize that. But I've got to go. Anything's better than this. anything that's clean and decent. I'd despise myself if l stayed on as your wife feeling as l do. It was mistake in the beginning, our marriage"
 nevertheless" Fyfe said slowly, I'm afraid it's a mistake you'll have to abide by--for time All that you say may be true, although don't admit it myself Offhand I'd say you were sim ply trying to welsh on fair bargain. I'm not going to let you do it blindly, all wrought up to a pitch where you can scarcely think coherently. If you are fully determined to break away from me you owe it to us both to be sure of what you're doing before you act. I'm going to talk plain. You can believe it and disdain 1t if you please. If you were leaving me for a man, real man, think could bring myself to make it easy for you and wish you luck. But you're not. He's"-