The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-07-10
By HOLWORTHY HALL

can't GET away from it. It's on m,
heels every minute. It's what | am
now but if | went much furthe
back than that, you and the docto
would both think just what do abou
myself II and I'd have to say good
by to you anyway . just rs I'm do
ing tonight. | hope you can see tina
m not telling all this to you from any
other motive except to be quite homes
with you. Quite honest-for once.
care too much about you to let you
live another day without knowing thai
L can't go on-it's over. I'm not
Mt to be even your friend. That's
ALL"
She sat motionless. billiard had
turned back to the fireplace.
Were you as bad as that?" she
whispered.
Once" he said bitterly, over his
shoulder, Il used to be a gentleman
But that was a long time ago"
She raised her head. Nothing
could ever make me believe she said
that you haven't always been just as
I've known you-since July. Nothing
can. and nothing will. What you may
think about yourself makes no differ
ence to me- L"
'Don't!' he said, and his tone was
agonized. Don't you see"
81 don't believe you" she said stead
lily.
billiards. voice was unstable with
his great bitterness Of failure you
Halter me, he said harshly. and be-
| SALES.--FUTURE wrong
| She was up, and beside him, smiling
| bravcty into his eyes. and he was fog
| ging his will to keep his hungry arms
from snatching her, from sweeping her
| close to him. and =.
what do you think women areY"
she demanded, with sweet imperious-
ness. Nothing but marble statues
or putty ones? Just made to stand
around and let the world go past,
without having anything to say about
itY
He retreated to the wall in self-de-
Tense. Don't! Don't I'm the one
who's driven myself into this corner
not your
"But you don't have to stay in it
always, do your"
He stared at her in mystification.
Don't be silly" she said, land don't
be unreasonable; I'm not She
touched his sleeve; his expression was
unchanged. Don't make me think you
are unreasonable !" she said compass
siOnately. "If you're not satisfied, why
can't you make yourself what you
want to be? Instead Of brooding over
the past, that you can't help, why don't
you think about things you can help?
Living is about all there is to live for.
isn't it?"
He drew in his breath perilously.
"But I'm letting you CO." he said,
daZed.
She stamped her foot in tremulous
severity. mo. you're not; l won't al
low I'll Can't you see why? Do l
have to tell you that? Well
because l want you for a friend even
If you don't want me-"
want your, he cried, and remem-
bered himself, and fr0ze to immobility
"Oh--as a friend"
Surely, as friend-what else did
you think l meant?"
The young man shook hts head.
II don't know. Only came up here
to tell you haven't any right to your
l can't tell you why :.
/ haven't as much callousness as all
that but if did tell you, your
last atom of faith in me would be
gone. And you can't afford to have me
even for friend-now that I've said
that, can your"
EYES," she said steadfastly, Il can
afford it,
when :. when I've told you |
)" His lips were parted in |
his eyes roved duly. II
can't under I'm telling you
I'm not worth the powder to blow me
20 hades." He laughed oddly. "That's
proved already, over and over again.
Don't you understand? i
Carol :" His voice broke. "Why,
Carol I'm not fit to talk to you
That's proved. too. /. I'm proving
t now! I'm saying it-don't you hear
ne? I'm saying it now. And you"
lie put his hand to his forehead, and
crushed back his hair, which was
strangely wet. II can't make it any
,lainer." he said, with helpless finality.
mo matter what's happened" she
aid earnestly, 81 can't believe it isn't
oming out all right. So If you'll just
eep on living. and working, and try
ng and -. :" Here her
yes were so appealing that his. own
immed to behold them. And you
avent been so very dreadful after ALL
ave your"
billiard retreated once again. not
rusting those hungry, lawless arms of
is.
"I'nf Just wondering" he said, with
terrible smile, which was entirely
evod Of mirth. "if a man happens to
e in sort of transition
eriod you know-half-way between
(. I wonder what's coming to him.
wonder what Is coming to him.
woiI,ler If The whirlwind doesn't gel
Inn both ways"
After the street door had closed be-
-1r -