Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-01-24

Standing With His Hand on the Knob,
He Turned.
bedroom before she opened the en-
yelope. BY the postmark she saw
that 1t had been mailed on a train.
Dear Girl: have caught my
breath, so TO speak, but doubt IL ever
a more forlorn cuss listened TO the
interminable clicking OF ear wheels.
] i'm tenlptedsat each station TO turn
back and try again. 1t seems so I'M
real, this parting In hot anger, so mis-
erably unnecessary. But when stol'
to sun 1t up again, / see no use Il.
another appeal. could come back
yes Only the certain knowledge tina
giving in like that would send US spin
ming once more in o vicious circle pre-
vents me. / didn't believe II possibl
that we could get SO far apart. MOI
that succession OF little things cout
cut so weighty figure in our live
And perhaps you are very sore an
resentful at me this morning for be-
Ing so precipitate.
II couldn't help 1t, Hazel. II seemed
the only way. 1t seems so yet TO MT
There was nothing more to keep M
IN Granvllle-cveryth TO make M
hurry away. If had weakened an
temporized with you 1t would on
rican the dfciring Of just whnt H.
happened. When YOU declared you
SELF fatty and repeatedly 1t SCENE
hopeless to argue further. am poo
lleader. perhaps; and do not believe
la coinpulsion between us. Whatevet
sou do you must do OF your own vol
tion, without pressure from me. W.
couldn't be happy otherwise. II J
compelled you 60 follow me against
your desire we should only drag mis-.
cry In our train.
~ couldn't even say good-by.
didn't even want 1t to be good-by.
didn't know if | could stick TO NJ
determination to 90 unless | Went 4;
did And my reason told me that
there must be break 1t would bett
come now than after long-drawn-oe
chickering's and bitterness. II we ~
50 Numerically opposed where v
thought we stood together we hay
made mistake that no amount OF al
lustlng, nothing but separate road
VIII rectify. Myself | refuse 10 b.
4 lieve that we have made such mi
take. / don't think that honestly an
.Ik.ftf fntxt n n
less, purposeless, parasitic existcne
10 the normal, wholesome life we hai
PLY planned. But you are obscssel
( intoxicated-I can't put 1t any bett
! --lnd nothing but a shock will SOU
yon. II FIN wrong, IL love and Bil
companionship can't lure you ava.
4 from these other things--why, ! sup
\ pose you will consider 1t an ended
chapter. In that case you will no
Z suffer. The situation as it stands vii
, be relief to you. IL, on the othei
! hand, it's merely stubborn streak
J that won't let you admit that you've
carried your proud little head on az
oyerstiff neck. do you think It's wortl
4 the price? don't
I'm not scoldlng. little person. I'm
! Sick and sore ut the pass We've come
| TO. No fool pride can close my eyes
TO the fact or keep me from admitting
freely that I love you just as much
and want you as longingly as die
! the day put you aboard the Stanley
ID. at Bella Coda. / thought you were
stepping gladly out Of my life then
And / let you 60 freely and without
ANYTHING but dumb protest against
fate, because 1t was your wish. car
step out Of your life again--if 1t Il
your wish. But I can't imprison my
SELF in your cities. Tin neither ar
ltller nor can become iegalized buc
cancer. have nothing but contempt
for those who are. Mind you, this |:
not so sweeping a statement as Il
sounds. No one has keener appre
citation of what civilization means thar
I. Out Of it has arisen culture an(
knowledge. much Of what SHOULD make
the world better place for US all. Bu
somehow this doesn't apply to the
mass, and particularly not to the cir
cIes we invaded In Granville. With
here and there solitary exception
Tint class is hopeless in Its Snug self
satisfaction--its narrowness of out
look. and unblushing exploitation Of
the less fortunate, repels me.
"And to dabble my hands in theii
muck, to settle down and live my life
according to their bourgeois standards
TO nave grossness of soft flesh replace
able snews, to submerge mentality IL
favor Of specious crastiness Of mine
which passes in the city for brains
well, I'm ON the road. And. oh. girl
Fri. wish YOU we're with Inc.
Il must explain this mining deal
Il ihat nhase Of il which sent me on Ih'
rampage IN ssranvilie. should hav
done So before. should have insiste
On making It clear to you. The othe
side had been presented 20 son rattle