The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-05-23

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 undresseC
in the dark. She could not see him
if he came now, her self-control al
gone! But she could not go to bed
She stood in her darkened tent, shaker
by her angry passions.
Suppose that he were only trifiinl
with her? What was that paper he had
| thrust in her hand? With candle
! she found the yellow paper. 1t was
u copy of a telegram to Godfrey's law
yer. start divorce proceedings al
once. Any grounds possible. Back
soon. Godfrey"
The frightened blood resumed its
normal flow. If he had done this for
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 man
age Godfrey! She would go with him.
| She remembered that she must go &c
| bed If she were TO have any looks in
| the morning.
When Godfrey came TO her next af-
| ternoOn. penitent, refreshed after Il
long mornings sleep, he found n
| 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 it 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"
Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow"
whispered Gerty, and then she man
aged n few tears and he was allowed
TO kiss her. 1t was 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 it in the
conventional way She would have
used rope ladders had they been
needed. The conventional note was
pinned to her bureau scarf.
Innes was with Tom when he found
it. 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 it was
all over. She had tried to stand it, TO
be true even through his cruelty, but
a feeling stronger than she was made
her true 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 it was worse than death.
He struck off her hand when it
touched his shoulder. Gerty's hand
had coerced him that way. He was
done with softness.
His silence oppressed her. This was
a man she did not know; inarticulate,
smitten. She told herself that even a
sister was an intruder-but she was
afraid to leave him alone. She took
a station by her own tent door. She
would not go down to dinner. For hours
she watched his tent. When it grew
dark she could no longer endure it.
She found him where she had left him.
She forced herself toward the vol
canOs edge; and the swift eruption
scOrched her. 1t was the pitiable wreck
of dignity. of pride. His words were
incoherent; his wrath involved his sis
ter, crouching in tears. Innes shrank
from him, the man she did not know.
The coarse streak was uncovered in all
its responsiveness. He turned on Innes
suddenly. She was crying. q huddled
heap on the couch.
I've had enough crying-between
you and Gerty. VIII you get out? I've
got to have some sleep"
Through her sobs he could make out
that she was afraid to leave him.
"Well, then, I'll go. I'm used to hav-
ing to leave my own tent. A dogs life"
He flung out into the night.