Macon beacon., 1917-05-04

he showed himself bacK from the taole'
ut was an idiotic arrangement, just
the same. Iagreed because was sick.
Dad thought l was all shot TO pieces.
But I'm all right now and able to run
my own business"
Nevertheless, 1t was bargain, and
it will stand. If your father were alive
he'd make you live up to it."
you talk as If l were a child"
shouted her husband; and his plump
face was apoplectic with rage. 1.-THE
title is in my name. How could he
make me do anything?"
Nobody could force you," his wife
said, quietly. "You are still enough of
man to keep your word, believe, so
long as l observe my part of our bar
gain?"
Ed, slightly Modified, agreed. "Of
course / am; never WEIGHED. But
l won't be treated as an Incompetent
and I'm tired Of these eternal wrangles
and jangles."
"You have welched."
"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently.
"You agreed to go away when you
felt your appetite coming on, and you
promised to live clean. at least around
home"
"Well?"
Alaire went on in a lifeless tone that
covered the seething emotions within
TN nj IN n ~
at San Antonio or other large cities,
although of course l have ears and
can't help hearing about them; but
these border towns are home to us,
and people know me. won't be humil-
lated more than am public pity is
hard enough to bear. I've about
reached the breaking point"
Indeed" Austin leaned forward,
his eyes inhamed. His tone was raised,
needless of possible eavesdroppers.
"Then why don't you end it? Why
don't you divorce me? l never see
anything of you. You have your part
of the house and have mine; all we
share in common is meal hours, and
: and q mail address,"
Alaire turned upon him eyes dark
with misery. "You know why don't
= divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to
ilive out our agreement, and these
brownsville episodes are going to
cease" Her lips whitened. $50 are
your visits to the pumping station"
What do you mean by that?"
"you transferred Pantilo because he
1 was growing jealous Of you and Rosa. y
Ed burst into sudden laughter
q There's no harm in little Irritation
! Rosas pretty girl"
I His wife uttered breathless
y smothered exclamation; her hands, as
: they lay on the table cloth, were tight
ly clenched. "She's your tenant-al.
y most your servant. What kind Of q
e man are you? Haven't you any de-
:. cency leftT
It "Say! Go easy! l guess I'm no diff
Il ferent to most men," Austin's unpleas
ant laughter had been succeeded by O
e still more unpleasant scowl. Il have
o to do something. It's dead enough
e around here"
2. "You must stop going there"
y "Humph! I notice you 60 where
you please. Rosa and l never spent {
y night together in the chaparral-"
1 "Edw Alaires exclamation was like
g the snap of whip. She rose ant
faced her husband, quivering as If thu
lash had stung her flesh.
THAT went home, Ell? Well, I'm NJ
fool I've seen something of the world
and I've found that women are abou
like men. I'd like to have look at thi
David Law, this gunman, this Hand
some Harry who waits at water hole
for ladies in distress" Ed ignored hi
wife's outflung hand. and continued
mockingly: 'T'll bet he's oil thati
manly and splendid, everything tha
I'm not"
"You'd-better STOP" gasped tn
woman. II can't stand everything.
h $50? Well, neither can l."
"A "After-this, l think you'd bette
II go-to San Antonio. Maybe I'll forge
II before you come back"
/ To this "Young Ed" agreed quickl
n enough. "Good!" said he. "That suit
| me. I'll at least get little peace q
| my club" He glowered after his wifi
as she left the room. Then, still scowl
ing, he lurched out to the CALLER
where the breeze was blowing, an
flung himself into q chair.
Eds marriage to Alaire had been ir
evitable. They had been playmateE
and their parents had considered tn
union q cOnsummation of their ow
lifelong friendship. Upon her mother
death Alaire had been sent abroad, an
there she remained while "Young Ed
IS attended an eastern college. For an
child the experience would have bee
ho lonesome one, and through it tn
motherless Texas girl had grown int
an imaginative, sentimental person, Ii
ey ing in make-believe world, people,
for the most part, with the beS