The Raymer enterprise., 1917-08-09
HEART OF THE SUNSET
By Rex Beach
BY yH@p~v vRumu
Copyrishs By Haspsr q Brothers

impulse, and. just as Alaire bade him
good night, clumsily sought to force
an explanation.
'See herel" he shot at her. whats
the matter with you lately?" He saw
that he had startled her. and that she
made an effort to collect her wander
Ing thoughts. "You're about as warm
and wifely as stone idol"
"Am l any different to what I have
always beer.T
"Humph! You haven't been exactly
sympathetic Of late. Here come home
sick, and you treat me like one Of the
help. Don't you think l have feelings? +?
Jove! I'm lonesome"
Alalre regarded him speculatively,
then shook her head as If In answer to
some thought.
In an obvious and somewhat too mel
low effort to be friendly. Ed continued: :
Don't let's 60 on like this. Alaire. You
blame me for going away SO much, but
when I'm home / feel like an inter-
loper. You treat me like cow-thief."
"I'm sorry. I've tried to be every
thing ! should. I'm the interloper.'
Nonsense II we only got along
together as well as We seem to from the
outside, 1t wouldn't be bad at all. But
you're too severe. You seem to think
a man should be perfect. Well. none
Of US are, and I'm no worse than the
majority. Why, know lots Of fellows
who forget themselves and do things
they shouldn't. but they don't mean
anything by 1t. They have wives and
homes to go to when It's all over. But
have II You're as glad to see me as
II had smallpox. Maybe we've made
mess Of things. but married life isn't
what young girls think 1t is. A wife
must learn to give and take"
"T've given. What have I takenw
she asked him In voice that quivered.
Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh,
don't be so literal! mean that, since
we're man and wife, It's up to you to
be little mOre-broad-gauge in your
views"
"In other words. you want me to ig-
more your conduct. Is that It? I'm
afraid We can't argue that, Ed"
"All right; don't let's try to argue
It," he laughed. with what he consid-
cred an admirable show Of magnanim-
ity. Il hate arguments, anyhow; I'd
much rather have goodnight kiss"
But when he stopped over her Alalre
held him off and turned her head.
"No" she said.
"You haven't kissed me for"
II don't wish to kiss you"
Don't be silly" he insisted. "Come,
now, want kiss"
Alaire thrust him back strongly, and
he saw that her face had whitened.
Oddly enough, her stubbornness an.
gered him out Of all reason, and he
began harsh remonstrance. But he
halted when she cried:
"Wait! / must tell you something,
Ed. It's all over, and has been for a
long time. We're going to end IT.
END itf'
"We can't 90 on living together. Why
should WEI"
80? Divorce? Is that iti"
Alaire nodded.
swell, I'll be d-d" Ed was dunn
founded. isn't this rather sudden"
he managed to inquire.
"Oh, no. You've suggested 1t more
than once"
II thought you didn't believe In d.
vorces-couldn't stomach 'em? What's
happened!'
II have changed my mind"
"Humph People don't change their
minds In a minute" he cried angrily.
rs there some other manw
Now Ed Austin had no faintest Idea
that his wife would answer In the affir-
native, for he had long ago learned to
put implicit confidence In her. and her
life had been so open that he could
not imagine that 1t held q double In
terest. Therefore her reply struck him
speechless.
"Yes. Ed" she said quietly. "There
Is another man."
It was like her not to evade. She
had never lied to him.
Eds mouth opened; his reddened
eyes protruded. "Weli-" he stam-
mered. "Wellw Then after moment:
"Who is 1t, the greaser or the cow
boyT He laughed loudly, disagree
ably. 1T must be one or the other, for
you haven't seen any men except them.
Another man! Well, you're cool about
f."