The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-21

Wen, l can't say that's particular
~ pleasing prospect.
Then why ask me what I'm going
to do with III" she flung back Inn
patiently. "itll be an asset--like my
looks--and- and"
She dropped her face in her hands.
choking back an involuntary sob.
F'yfe crossed the room at bound.
put his arms around her.
stella. stellar he cried sharply.
Don't be a fool"
"D-don't be cross. Jack" she
whispered. Please. I'm sorry.
simply can't help IL. You don't
understand"
"Oh, don't To- he said savagely.
II understand too we'll that's the
devil OF IT, But suppose that's
woman's way--to feed her soul with
illusions. and let the realities 30
hang. Look here"
lie caught her by the shoulders
and pulled her to her feet. facing
him. There was fire In his eve. a
hard shutting together OF his lips
that frightened her "A little.
Look here" he said roughly.
Take brace, Stella. DO you realize
what sort OF a state of mind you're
drifting intoG You married me under
more or less compulsion-- compulsion
Of circumstance gradually
you're beginning to get dissatisfied.
TO pity yourself. You'll precipitate
things you maybe don't dream OF
now. IL you keep on. Damn II.
didn't create the circumstances.
only showed you a way out You
took it. II satisfied you for a while:
you can't deny II did. But It doesn't
any more. You're nursing lot of
Illusions. Stella. that are going to
make your life full OF misery"
I'm not" she sobbed IT'S be.
cause ] haven't any illusions that
that oh. what's the use OF talking.
JACKIE I'm not complaining. | don't
even know what gave me this black
mood, just now. | suppose that
queer miracle OF my voice coming
back upset me. / feei-well. as II
were a different person. somehow. as
IL | had forfeited any right to have
II. oh, it's silly. you'll say. But it's
there. | can't help my feeling or
my lack OF IT,"
F'yfe's face whitened little. His
hands dropped from her shoulders.
Now you're talking to the point"
he said quietly. Especially that
last. We've been married some little
time now. and II anything. we're
farther apart in the essentials of
mating than we were at the begin.
ming. You've committed yourself TO
an undertaking. yet more and more
you encourage yourself to wish for
the moon. II you don't stop dream.
ing and try real living. don't yoL
see a lot of trouble ahead for your
self? It's simple. You're slowly
hardening yourself against me. be-
ginning 10 resent my being factor
in your life. It's only matter of
time. IL you keep on. until your emo
tons center about some other man"
why do you talk like that?" she
said bitterly. "Do you think I've got
neither pride nor self respect"
Yes. Both a-plenty." he an
swered. But you're a woman, with
a rather complex nature even for
yer sex. II your heart and your
head ever clash over anything like
that. you'li be in perfect hell until
one or the other gets the upper
hand. You're q thorobred. and high.
strung as thorubreds are. II takes
something besides three meals a day
and plenty OF good clothes to com.
plete your existence. II can't make
1t complete. some other man win
make you think he can. why don't
you try? Haven't I got any posi-.
bilities as a lover7 Can't you throw
little halo of romance about me. for
your own sake--if not for mine?'
He drew her up close TO him. strok-
ing tenderly the glossy brown hair
that flowed about her shoulders.
TRY IT. Stella" he whispered pas
sionately. Try wanting to like me.
for a change. | can't make love by
myself. Shake off that Internal ap.
athy that's taking possession OF you
where I'm concerned. If you can't
love me. for Gods sake fight with
me. Do something"