New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-02-20


woman's rights. and all that crank
talk in your paper every night"
Miss Parkins smiled pleasantly.
Then | haven't disappointed you"
she said.
lie took a step forward.
Print t." he screamed. his little
eyes afiame With anger. Print It..
And I'll sue you for libel! I'll close
out your cheap. little Sheet"
Maybe" replied Miss Parkins
calmly. but would that put you back
in the good graces of the town."
He sat down and weakly stared at
the woman's fine. brave face. In his
heart he knew that it was not to his
credit that such a woman as this was
not on his side.
Why do you dislike me so, Ann"
he asked, and it was almost a whine.
Why shouldn't | dislike you?" she
inquired, her face very serious now.
You crushed the life out of Mary.
That in itself is enough-for | loved
her, always, But-there are other
reasons She turned her face away.
Mary wasn't the only one who be-
lieved in YOU" she added. more
gently.
What do you mean" he asked.
Don't you remember. Henry?"
He only stared at her, dumbly.
Il see you don't" she went on.
But do. 1t was a night In August.
Henry-a night like this. You put
your arms around me-you kissed me
there under the trees"
He shuddered
why bring that back now?"
because ! want you to understand.
No man had ever kissed me before.
No man has kissed me since. ! be-
lieved In you them thought you
were wonderful-I-I guess | must
have been in love. And then-when
Mary came to me and told me that
you and she were TO be married.
tried to he brave. | told myself it
was for the best. ! wished her every
happiness. ! even helped her pick
her wedding dress. She never
dreamed"
NO" he said, 'she never dreamed"
Il told myself that | must rejoice in
her happiness. And | really believe
! did. | had the memory of that kiss.
that moment under the trees. II you
had been what | thought you it would
have been a happy memory. But you
weren't. The years passed, and the
r~ottenness ami meanness that were in
you began TO show. And | realized
that | had been cheated. thai YOU
weren't what | thought after all.
| got to be ashamed of that kiss.
horribly ashamed" She turned on
him ~fiercely, accusingly
1T wasn't only Mary you robbed
You robbed me, too! You robbed me
of tie only m of a | ever
had"
He shrank from her for he had
never seen this mild, little woman in
such a mood before.
And in revenge" he cried, you'll
print that editorial?"
She shook her head.
No. ! can't expect you 10 under
But il won't be for revenge if
! print it. | say if | print it. For |
don't believe you're going to let me.
all"
And how can | stop you?"
Easily enough. by keeping your
last promise to Mary by sending
away to c%ollege!"
His little eyes became crafty.
II won't" he snarled. Moneys
tight, I've got too much expense
The stained.glass window. | sup.
she cried.
Yes-the sta~ined-glass window. for
thing"
Miss Parkins laughed, a wild. mirth-
.ess laugh.
so it's Mary's window, is IT," she
'ried, that's to keep her daughter at
AT home, where she belongs" he
said.
And you1l break your word to
I'm not send Ina to college, If
hats what you mean" lie rose TO
lis feet, %sullen. bitter. I'm not go.
ng to be blackmailed by you, Ann
'arkins. Print that editorial. If you
,hoose-I1l make you pay. and pay
Calmly Miss Parkins walked over
the nearest linotype machine, and
hrust the editorial and the news
on the hook beside it.
"All right. Henry" she said. It'll
,e there for John to set up in the
guess that's all Good
He moved slowly to the door. his
eet dragging after him. Miss Parkins
ollowed. A party Of young people
iassed in the street. singing in the
moonlight Up above. the courthouse
lock doomed ten
Where all the town can see Miss
said. so that's where Mary's
window is to be put up. is IT? Well
where my editorial will be. too
where all the town can seel"
Out of Henry Bradford's throat
anne a strange. broken cry. He turned
n her trembling. dazed. beaten.
Go get IL. Ann" he begged. II
ever could stand it-never. Tear it =
PIN do what you wish"
Miss Parkins' heart gave a bound.
he stepped to the linotype again.
hen. coming back to the front of the {
flee. swung open the door of a great
afe 8
Il won't tear 1t up. Henry" she G
aid. I'll put IL here. No n shall $
It but me-unless something )
honld hannen-mnnev shnuld he [