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


can have 1t 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 rs bluntly, "but
l think that's rather an impcrtincnt
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
rotten business with girl Of your
tastes and bringing up. And I'm afraid
you'll find 1t worse If this snow stays
long. | know what n logging camp Is
when work stops and whisky creeps in
and the boss let's go his, hold"
"That may be true" she returned
gloomily, but l don't see why you
should cnumcratc these disagreeable
things for my benefit"
I'm going to show you way out"
he said softly. 1--WE been thinking It
over for quite awhile. want you to
marry me-"
Stella gaspcd.
"Mr. Fyfc"
"Listcn,' he said percmptorily, lean
ing closer to her and lowering his
voice. Il have an idea that you're 60
ing to say YOU don't love me. Lord, l
know that. But you hate this. It
CRATES against every inclination of
yours like n file on steel. l 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 moro than
I'd care to say right out loud. You
and together could make homo
we'd Dc proud of. l want you, and
you want to get away from this. It's
natural Marry me and play the game
fair and | don't think you'n be sorry.
I'm pItting 1t us badly rs can. You
stand to win everything with nothing
to lose but your domestic chains" The
gleam of n smile lit up his features
for second. won't YOU take u
chnncc?"
NO." she declared impulsively az
won't be party to any such cold
bloodcd transaction"
You don't seem to understand me-"
he said sobcrly. II don't want to hand
out any sentiment, but 1t makes me
sore to sec YOU wasting yourself on
this sort of thing. If you must do 1t,
why don't YOU do 1t for somebody
who'll make 1t worth while? Because
we don't marry with our heads IN the
fog Is no reason we shouldn't get OH
fine. What nrc you going to do-stick
hero Mt this till YOU go crazy? You
won't get away. You don't realize
what one idea, determined person
this brother of yours is. He has Just
one object In life. and he'll use every
thing and everybody In sight to attain
that object He means 10 succeed, ana
he 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 wings. Nature never intend
ca 8of,an like yua 10 be a .ccl!bate
any more than was SO intended. And
sooner or late you'l marry somebody
If only to hop out Of the fire into the
frying pan"
u hate YOU" she flashed passionate
ly. "whcn YOU talk like that"
mo. YOU DON'T" he returned quietly.
"1cu hate what | say because it's the
truth, and It's hulniliating to be help
less. You think | don't snbe? But
I'm putting weapon into your hand
Let's Eut it differently: leave ont the
sentiment for II minute. Wen say TINT
l want housekccpcr, preferably an
ornamental one. because | like bcauti-
full things. You want to get away
from this drudgery. That's what 1t Is
simple drudgcry. You crave lots of
things you can't got by yourself, but
that YOU could help me get for you.
There's things lacking In your life, and
SO are there In mine. Why shouldn't we
go partners? You think about It,"
II don't need to-" she answered cool
ly. cit wouldn't work. You don't ap-
pear to have any idea what 1t means
for woman to give herself up body
and soul to man she doesn't care for
For me 1t would be plain selling my
self. / haven't the least affection for
you. l might even detest YOU"
you wouldn't" he said positively.
"What makes you so suro OF that?"
she demanded.
ut would sound cOnceited IL ! told
you why" he drawled. Listen. We're
not gods and goddesses we human be-
ings. We're not, after all, in our real
impulses. so much different from the
age when q man took his club and
went after a female that looked good
to him. They mated and raised their
young and very likely faced Oh an
average fewer problems than arise In
modern marriages supposedly ordain-
ed in heaven. You'd have tho ono
big problem solvcd-the lack Of means
to live deccntly, which wrecks more
homes than anything else, far more
than lack of love. Affection doesn't
thrive OH poverty. What Is love?
His voice took on a challenging note
II don't know" she answered absent
~, turning over strips Of bacon with
the long handled fork.
"There you are" he said. II don't
know, either. We'd start even, then,
for the sake Of argument, No, guess
we wouldn't, either, because you're the
only woman I've run across so far with