The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-03-28

with"
How can it be done with when
when she's the mother Of your child,
your wife before God?" Standing there
straight as an aspen, the beautiful
bosom rising and falling quickly while
the storm waves beat through her
blood, Sheba O'NeiII had never made
more appeal to the strong. Iawless
man who desired her for his wife.
you don't understand" Macdon-
AIDS big fists were clenched so saw
agely that the knuckles stood out
white from the brown tan of the flesh.
''This is.a mans country. It's new
close to nature. What he wants he
takes-if he's strong enough. I'm ele-
mental. L"
"You wanted her-and you took her.
Now you want me-and I suppose
you'll take me too" Her scornfuI
words had the sting of a whiplash.
I've lived as all men live who have
red blood in them. This woman was
an incident. I've been aboveboard.
She can't say 1 ever promised more
| than I've given. I've kept her and the
! boy. It's been no secret. If you had
asked, would have told you the whole
story"
Does that excuse you?
81 don't need any excuse. I'm n
man. That's excuse enough. The one
big fact you want to set your teeth into
now is that love you, that there isn't
another woman on Gods earth for me,
and that there never will be again"
Her eyes flashed battle 1.-The one
/ 1T Eao A.,
insulted me-that you insult me again
when you mention love with that wom-
an and boy in the room. You belong
to them-go to them-and leave me
alone. I hate the sight of you. Why
don't you gO-alI of you-and leave
me in peace?"
1t was a cry of bruised pride and
wounded love. Elliot touched the In
dian woman on the shoulder. Meteetse
turned stOlidly and walked out of the
room, still leading Colmac by the hand.
The young man followed.
Macdonald closed the door behind
them, then strobe frowning up and
down the room. The fear was grow
ing on him that for all his great driv-
ing power he could not shake this
slim girl from the view to which she
chung. His relation with Meteetse
had been natural enough. He believed
that he had acted very hOnOrably to
her. Many q man would have left
her in the lurch to take care of the
youngster by herself. But he had ac-
knowledged his obligation. He was
paying his debt scrupulously, and be-
, cause of it the story had risen to con-
front him. He felt that it was an I'M
just blow of fate.
He knew that he must justify him
, self before Sheba or lose her. AS he
! stood in the dusk so tall and rigid, he
knew her. heart was steel to him. Her
5 finely chiseled face had the look OF
a. race. Never had the spell of her been
more upon him. He crushed back 8
t keen-edged desire to take her supple
} young body into his arms and kiss her
D till the scarlet ran into her cheeks
] | like SplaSheS of wine.
' ''You haven't the proper slant or
this, Sheba. Alaska is the last from
t tier. It's the dropping-off place
t You're north of f1fty-three."
cam I north of the Ten Command
: ments?" she demanded with the mex
orable judgment of youth did yol
/
Y you came in over the ice?"
q He smiled a little. Morality is tn
average conduct of the average mai
) at given time and place. 1t is base
on custom and expediency. The rule
h made for DrOgheda won't fit Dawson
# or Nome. Meteetse does not hold her
e self disgraced but hOnored. She count
l. her boy Ear superior to the othe
e youngsters of the village. and he /
so considered by the tribe. I am toll
e she lords it over her sisters
e A faint flush of anger crept into he
r cheeks. "YOur view of morality put
+ US on a level with the animals I wi
e not discuss the subject, if you please.
It eve must discuss it. must get yo
IT to see that Meteetse and what sh
d stood for in my life have nothing t
If do with US. They belong to my pas
lie She doesn't exist for either Of US
lie isn't in any way part of my preser
ID or future"
"She exists for me-" answered Sheb
a. listlessly. She felt suddenly old an
ar weary. But I can't talk about 1
of Please go. want to be alone"
f Again Macdonald paced restlessl
s down the room and back. The ma
m was one among ten thousand, dom
E. nant, virile, every ounce of him stron
as tested steel. But ne felt as if a
ia his energy were Gagged.
''Why don't you go?" the girl plea
~ ed. ITS no use TO stay"
IS He stopped in front OF her. ''Tl
Y. going to marry you, Sheba. Your
or mine"
m mo. Neveri" she cried. 'Tn tai
the boat and go home first
I'D you've promised to marry N
e, You're going TO keep your word ar
n be glad Of it all your life"
es She shook her head. NO"
On Yes Macdonald had alwa,
as shown remarkable restraint with he
He had kissed her seldom, and alwa,
en- with kind of awe at her young pu
be ity. Now he caught her by the shoJ
We ders.
The color famed into her face. s.
an looked hot to the touch, an acti'
I'D volcano ready to erupt- There was
of odd feeling in her mind that this b
man was a stranger to her.