The Lamar register., 1918-05-15
vnnt YOU 10 touch me"

I've stood about all of your nonsense
I'm able 10 stand I've had To fight Il
pack of business wolves to keep them
from picking my carcass. and. what's
more important 10 me. TO keep them
from handing II raw deal to five men
who wallowed through snow and frost
and all kinds of hardship to make
these sharks fortune. I've got down
to their level and fought them with
their own weapons-and the thing is
settled. | said last night I'd be
through here inside n week. I'm
through now-through here. | have
business in the Klappan; to complete
this thing I've set my hand to. Then
I'm going to the ranch and try TO get
the bad taste out Of my mouth. I'm
going tomorrow. I've no desire or In
tention To coerce you. You're my wife,
and your place is with me- If YOU care
anything about me. And | want you.
You know that, don't you? | wouldn't
he begging you like this if didn't.
| haven't changed, nor had my eyes
dazzled by any false gods. But it's
up to you. | don't bluff I'm going,
and If have to go without you |
won't COME back. Think 1t over. and
just ask yourself honestly II it's worth
while"
lie drew her up close TO him and
kissed her on one anGcr-n flushed cheek,
and then, as he had done the night be-
fore, walked straight away to the bed
room and closed the door behind him.
Hazel slept little that night A hor-
rid weight seemed to rest suffocating-
~ upon her. More than once she had
an impulse to creep in there where
Bill l;.y and forget 1t all in the sweep
of that strong arm. But she clicked
back the impulse angrily. She would
not forgive him. He had made her
suffer. For his high-handedness she
would make him suffer In kind. At
least. she would not crawl to him beg
ging forgiveness.
When sunrise laid yellow beam.
all full of dancing notes. across her
bed. she heard Bill stir. heard him
moving about the apartment with rest
less steps. After time she also
heard the unmistakable sound of n
trunk lid thrown hack. and the move
iFHlN VI nlul hS ne EhlHtTtu MS
clothes-so she surmised. But she did
not rise till the maid raped on her
door with the eight o'clock salutation:
breakfast, mn'am."
They made n pretense OF eating.
Hazel sought chair in the living
room. \ book lay open in her lap.
But the print ran into blurred lines.
She could not follow the sense OF the
words. An lncessant turmoil OF
thought harassed her. Bill passed
through the room once or twice. De-
terminedly she ignored him. The final
snap OF the lock on His trunk came
to her at last, the humping sounds Of
Its passage to the hall. Then a burly
expressman shouldered II into his
wagon and drove away.
A few minutes after that Bill came
In and took u seat facing her.
What are you going TO do, Hazeli"
he asked soberly.
Nothing" she curtly replied.
Are you going to sit down and fold
your hands and let our air castles come
tumbling about our ears. without max
ing the least effort TO preyentT' he
continued gently. Seems to me that's
not like you at all. | never thought
you were qultter."
I'm not quitter," she flung back
resentfully. Il refuse to be brow
beaten. that's all. There appears to
be only one choice-to follow you like
n lamb. And I'm not lamblike. I'd
say that you are the gutter. You
have stirred up all this trouble here
between us. Now you're running away
from 1t. That's how It looks to me.
Go on! | can get along"
II dare say you can" he comment
ed wenrily. Most of US can muddle
along somehow, no matter what hap
pens. But 1t seems pity. little per-
son. We had all the chance in the
world. You've developed an abnormal
streak lately. If you'd just break
away and come bncl, with me. You
don't know what good medicine those
old woods are. Won't yOu try 1t a
while?"
Il am not by nature fitted to lead
the hermit existence" she returned
sarcastically.
And even while her lips were utter
ing these various unworthy little bit
ternesses she inwardly wondered at
her own words. II was not what she
would have said. not ut all what she
was half minded To say. But a devil