The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-07-19

you're Almost stranger, 1azei nc.
marked, After the First Greetings.
yet I've heard tongues wagging. l
hope there's nothing In 1t. ] warned
Mr.. Wagstaff against Paul"
"Warned him? WhyT Hazel neg
lected the question entirely. The blunt
ness of 1t took her by surprise. Frank
speech was not characteristic OF
Vesta Lorimer's set.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
'He is my brother. but that doesn't
veil my eyes," she said coolly. paul
is too crooked to lie straight In bed.
I'm glad Mr.. Wagstaff brought the lot
Of them up with round turn-which
he seems to have done. II he had used
a club instead Of his fists 1t would have
been only their deserts. I suppose the
fuss quite upset your
"It did," Hazel admitted grudgingly.
TT did more than upset me-"
81 thought as much" Vesta said
.slowly. "It made you infiict an lnde-
served hurt on a man who should have
had better treatment at your hands |;
not only because he loves you, but be-
cause he Is one Of the few men who
deserve the best that you or any wom-
an can give.'
you've said quite enough Hazel
cried. 'If you have any more insults,
please get rid Of them elsewhere. !
think you are"
"Oh, don't care what you think OF
me-" the girl interrupted recklessly.
IF I did I wouldn't be here. I'd hide
behind the conventional rules Of the
game and let you blunder along. But
I can't. I'm not gifted with your blind
egtK.sm. Whatever you are, that Bill
of yoxrs loves you, and If you care
anything ~: him, you should be with
him. / wouta. II were lucky enough
to stand in your shoes. I'd 60 with
him down into hell Stself gladly II he
wanted me to!"
"Ohp Hazel gasped. "Are You
clean mad2"
Shocked to death, aren't your
vesta feered. "You can't understand,
can your I love him-yes. I'm not
ashamed to own 1t. I'm no sent!men-
tai prude 70 throw up my hands In hor-
ror at a perfectly natural emotion.
But he Is not for me. I dare say /
couldn't give him an added heartbeat
II tried. And have q httle too much
pride-strange as 1t may secm to you
Ito try, so long as he Is chained hand
and foot to your chariot. But you're
making him suffer. And care enough
to want him to live all his days hap
PLY. He Is a man, and there are 80
few Of them, real men. II you can
make him happy, I'd compel you to do
50. II I had the power. You couldn't
understand that kind ot love. eOh,
I could choke you for your stupid dis
loyalty. I could do almost anything
that would spur you to action. can't
rid myself Of the hopeless. reckless
mood he 10 In. There are 80 few Of his
kind. the patient. strong, loyal, square
dealing men, with q woman's tender
ness and q Hons courage. Any woman
should be proud and glad to be his
mate. to mother his children. And
you"
She threw ont her hands with sud-
den, despairing gesture. The blue
eggs grew misty. and she hid her face
in.her palms. Before that passionate
ouaburst Haxsi sAt dumbly amazed,
staring, uncertaiA In q second Vesta
lifted her head deflantly.
II had no notion Of breaking out like
this when came up she said quiet
ly. II was going to bs very adroit.
intended 10 give you q friendly boost
along the right road. II could. But
Il has all been bubbling inside me for
q long time. You perhaps think II very
unwomanly-but I don't care much
what You think. Ny little hcartache
n Sne,6nnfal e0n 0t TIA Hmm He