New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-05-30

for her resentment. Nine, ten, eleven
How dared he treat her so? She blew
out the lamps when she found that she
was shaking with anger and undressed
If he came now. her ~self-contrOl all
gone! But she could not go to bed.
She stood In her darkened tent, shaken
by her angry passions.
Suppose that he were only trifiing
with herr What was that paper he had
thrust in her hand? With a candle
she found the yellow paper. 1t was
a copy of a telegram to Godfrey's law
yer. Start divorce proceedings at
once. Any grounds possible. Back
soon. Godfrey"
The frightened blood resumed its
her then she had not lost him. An ap-
parent elopement, why had she never
thought of that before? That would
cement their bond. Her scruples could
grow on the road. Oh, she could nan
Z Godfrey. She would 60 with him.
She remembered that she must go tc
bed If she were t. have any looks in
the morning.
When Godfrey came to her next af-
ternoon, penltent, refreshed after a
long mornings sleep, he found a
charming hostess. She was shy about
his telegram. Enchantingly distant
when he tried to reach her hand!
Il can't go without you" he cried.
He had discovered her Interpretation of
his telegram and 1t delighted him he
began to believe in his own intention.
Il know. You shrink from it all. You
dread the steps that will free you. You
need me beside you to help you. Let's
cut the knot. Tonight !"
mot tonight. Maybe tomorrow"
whispered Gerty. and then she man
aged n few tears and he was allowed
to kiss her. 1t vas all arranged before
he left the ramada. They were 10
leave together the next day. Her OBJ
ject would be accomplished by their
leaving together. He would feel that
he owed her his name.
OF course Gerty must do 1t In the
conventional way! She would have
Used rope ladders had they been
needed. The conventional note vas
pinned to her bureau scarf.
lines was with Tom when he found
1t. They came in together from the
river. Neither had noticed the odd
looks from the men as they passed
through the encampment. A dozen
men had seen Hardin's wife leave for
the North with Godfrey.
Gerty's letter told Tom that 1t was
all over. She Had tried to stand 1t, to
be true even through his cruelty, but
q feeling stronger than she was made
her r to herself, and so true at last
to him.
lines revulsion lacked speech. The
common batter sickened her. She
could offer no comfort. His eyes told
her 1t was worse than death.
He struck off her hand when II
touched his shoulder. Gerty's hand
had coerced him that way. lie was
done with softness.
His silence oppressed her. This was
n man she did not know; i%narticulate.
smltten. She told herself that even a
sister was an intruder-but she was
afraid to leave him alone. She took
Il station by her own tent door. She
would not 90 down TO dinner. For hours
she watched his tent. When II grew
dark she could no longer endure 1t.
She found him where she had left him.
She forced herself toward the vol
cano's edge; aud the swift eruption
scorched her. Ii was the pltiable wreck
of dignity, Of pride. His words were
incoherent; his wrath involved his SIS
ter. crouching in tears. lnnes shrank
from him, the man she did not know.
The coarse streak vas uncovered In all
its responsiveness. He turned on Innes
suddenly. She was crying, a huddled
heap on the couch.
1--WE had er Dugh crying-between
you and Gerry. VIII you get outf I've
got to have some sleep"
Through her sobs he could make out
that she was afraid TO leave him.
swell. then, I'll go. I'm used to hav-
ing to leave my OWL tent. A dogs life"
He flung out into the night.
1