The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-04-19


She was justified.
Eventually she slept. At ten O'clock
heayy-eyed, suffering an intoleraDle
headache. she rose and dressed.
Beside her plate lay thick letter
addressed In Bits handwriting. she
drank heG coffee and went back to the
bedroom before she opened the en-
velope. BY the p0stmark she saw
that it had been mailed on train,
Dear Girl: | have caught my
breath, so to speak, but l doubt II ever
a more forlorn cuss listened 70 the
intermnable clicking of car wheels
l am tempted at each station to turn
back and try again. II seems so un-
real, this parting in hot anger so MIS-
crably unnecessary. But when / STOP
to sum ii up again, | see no use III
another appeal. | could come back
yes. Only the certain knowledge that
giving in like that would send US spun
ming once more in a vicious circle pre-
vents me. | didn't believe ii possible
that we could get so far apart. Nor
that "A succession of little things could
cut so weighty a figure in our AVeS.
And perhaps you are very sore ana
reSentful AT me this morning Tor De-
ing so precipitate.
II couldn't help it. Hazel. IT seemed
the only way. 1t seems so yet to me.
There was nothing more to keep me
in Granville-everything to make me
hurry away. If | had weakened ana
temporized with you 1t would only
mean the deferring OF just what has
happened. When you declared your
self fatty and repeatedly it seemed
hopeless to argue further. | AIN poor
pleader, perhaps; and / do not beleVe
in compulsion between us. Whatever
you do you NUT do of your own voll-
ton, without pressure from me. we
couldn't be happy otherwise. If
compelled you to follow me against
your desire we should only drag mis-
cry in our train.
81 couldn't even say good-by. l
didn't even want it to be goOd-by.
didn't know if / could stick to my
determination to 20 unless l went as
| did. And my reason told me that II
there must be break ii would better
come now than after long drawn-out
chickering's and bitterness. If we are
so diametrically opposed where we
thought we stood together we have
made mistake that no amount of ad-
juSting, nothing but separate roads,
will rectify. Myself | refuse to De-
lieve that we have made such a mis-
take. | don't think that honestly and
deliberately you prefer an exotic, USE
less, purposeless, parasitic existence
to the normal, wholesome life we hap
PLY planned. But you are obsessed,
intoxicated-I can't put il any better
and nothing but a shock will soDer
you. If I'm wrong, if love and Bills
companionship can't lure you away
from these other things-why, l sup
pose you will consider 1t an ended
chapter. In that case you will not
suffer. The situation as it stands will
be a relief to you. If, on the other
hand, it's merely stubborn streak,
that won't let you admit that you've
carried your proud little head on an
overstiff neck, do you think it's worth
the price? l don't.
I'm not scolding, little person. I'm
sick and sore at the pass we've come
10. No fool pride can close my eyes
TO the fact or keep me from admitting
freely that l love you just as much
and want you as lOngingly AS / did
the day put you aboard the Stanley
d. at Bella CoOla. l thought yOo were
stepping gladly out of my life hen.
And l let you go freely and without
fate, because it was your wish. IAN
step out of your life again-if it 9
your wish. But l can't imprison mp
self in your cities. I'm neither an
idler nor can become a legalized buc-
cancer. l have nothing but contempt
for those who are. Mind you, this is
not so sweeping statement es II
sounds. No one has keener apprc-
citation Of what civilization means thar
/. Out of it has arisen culturs and
knowledge, much of VIII should r.ake
the world a better place for US all. But
somehow this doesn't apply ., 1re
mass, and particularly not to 80 CIR
cles We invaded in Granville. Wiah
here and there solitary excslr'ea
that class is hopeless in its snug es.f-
satisfaction-its narrowness of ,>r-
look, and unblushing exploitation .of
the less fortunate, repels me.
"And to dabpN my nnoIs III rneir
muck. to settle down SID 1--we my life
according to their bourgeois standards,
to have grossness o. sofa fexh replace
able sinews. to subrserge mcntality in
favor Of specious cfaftinsss OF mind
which passes In the city Tar brains
well, I'm on the road Ap4s. on, girl
girl. / wish you were With TS
Il must explain this isinire DEAL
that phase of 1t which seat usW oc the
rampage in Granville. I 1haI!l have
done so before, should hare tuG;s.ed
on making 1t clear to you. Tn. cthef
side had been presented to you rther
cieverly at the right time. Aud your
ready acceptance Of 1t angered me ire-
yond bounds. You were pref,diSea.
Ii stirred me to a perfect fury to thlnx
you couldn't be absolutely loysl to
your pal. When you took that position