Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-12
:" She :
HUSBAND
! HAT
CHAPTER XIV
Tha pi6a EnY11 a
=. HAZEL OEYO SA7CHEZOR
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Jean, came to ner IN MARX
voice, with a sharp edge to 1t;
She did not answer, simply stooc
there looking at him.
He swung the reins over the horses
head and jumped down. AS he came
toward her she stood her ground
looking at him.
You're not hurt" he said brusque-
mo, thank you, I'm quite all right
she returned.
He turned toward the horse with
out another word.
VERY we'll, We'll see about get
ting home then" his voice was pitch
ed very low and it had an ominous
note in it that frightened Jean.
He swung lightly into the saddle
and stopped toward her. Put your
foot on mine," he ordered, land come
along"
I'VE can't ride that way"
do as I say" he ordered, and
without a word, Jean obeyed, put her
foot on his, and was lifted into the
saddle before him.
She was forced to lean against
him, and everything in her revolted
against the contact. She felt as II
her dignity were slipping away from
her. She could not keep him at a
distance while he held her this way
and Furthermore she knew that the
liberately disobeyed him and ne
would no doubt make her pay for it.
They rode a few minutes In ST.
lence, and then he spoke. ;,
"You see, I was right, after all.
She did not answer.
"You might have been forced to
stay out here all night"
Il should have preferred it, she
said icily./
He laughed then and holding the
reins with one hand he swept her
back against him with the other, SO
that her face was upturned against
his breast.
"You hate. me, don't you?" he said
unsteadily. "You made a bargain
with me, but you don't play fair.
Very we'll, you shall take the conse-
quences," and deliberately, hotly,. he
kissed her again and again, while
he held her helpless against him.
Hate surged up in Jeans heart.
hate and terrible revulsion. Never
before had she hated this man. AL
ways she had despised him and look
ed down on him, but never before
had she felt as she did now. Every
nerve in her quivered, and she was
forced to lie against his breast, while
she hated him with every drop of
blood there was in her.
After that first burst OF passion,
he did not kiss her again, but the
ride home seemed interminable. The
sight of the ranch looming up In the
distance seemed like heaven Itself
to Jean, and when they rode into the
corral and Mark lifted her down,
she fled into the house without stop
ping for anything.
Mana was putting some dishes on
the table and eyed her curlously. Jean
felt Indignantly that every one was
spying on her, but without speaking
to the Indian woman, she hurried into
her room where she closed and locked
the door.
A moment later there came an i'm
perative knock on the door, and
Marks voice said:
"Come out and eat your supper,
Jean, l want to talk to YOU"
She hesitated. Should she refuse
or would it be better to comply with
his wishes. There was no need OF
antagonizing him further, perhaps it
might be better to obey
CHAPTER XVI
You Are MY wife!
p Fan came out of her room
defiance in every line of her.
Mark stood by the table wait
- ing for her. There was nc
compromise in his face; it looked
stern and unforgiving, his features
dark and regular as though cut out
of bronze.
You must be hungry" he said
abruptly.
She Shook her head. =,
He pulled out a chair Tor her, anu
she sat down more for the reason
that she wished to avoid an argu-
ment than anything else.
He sat down opposite her ana
helped her to food, but she did not
eat. ,..,
Come" he said authoritatively;
you must eat something"
you wanted to speak to me" she
said coldly, ignoring his demand.
Thine enough for that afterWard,
he returned crisply, and Jean felt
somehow impelled to eat whether she
would or not. u-
She pushed her plate away finally
and rose from the table.
WELL" she said evenly, Il am
ready for the lecture"
He had risen, too, and they stood
facing each other.
What have to say to you Will not
1 married you, we made a bargain.
I was to ask nothing Of you II you
would marry me. Do you know why
I was willing to do this?"
She was silent, standing with her
face turned away from him: ,,,
DO you?" he persisted. We'll, III
You to marry me it was because I
thought it would be good expert
ment. It would solve your difficult
ties, and as for me, it didn't matter
much one way or another. Then'
when you defied me, there was some
thing in you that struck a spark IN
me somewhere. I have never knoWa
many women, never cared about
them in fact, but suddenly l wanted
YOU. You were different from any
one I had ever known, and I thought
you were thoroughbred. I even
hoped that some day I might make
you care, and SO 1 was willing to
you wouldn't even be friends; you
persisted in treating me like dirt be
meath your feet. Today you did
something that makes me doubt even
the fact that you are a thorough
bred. But, nevertheless you are my
and kissed you; you're mine' do you
hear me? Nine" \
He strobe across the room to her
and snatched her up as II she had
been a child, and she did not strug.-
gle. She felt his arms close around
She met her defeat like true North
rup, with her head held high and her
ewes defiant, but in her heart there
was hatred, hatred that she meant
him to feel and know and grunge un-
der, now and always.
In the days that followed Jean
was miserable, but she did not show
it. She went about as usual, Won
dering duly if life would go on like
this forever, turning about In her
mind ways of escaping, all or when
She knew were impossible. And then
one day the unexpected happened.
She was lounging in the swing. on
the veranda when she heard voices
coming toward the house, and in,
stantly sat erect, listening and
waiting. She recognized Marks
deep voice, and the lighter, more cul-
tivated. tones of another man. The
next minute they had stepped up on
the veranda and Mark was calling
her name.
The two men came across to where
Jean was sitting, and Jean was con-
scious of pair of merry dark eyes
smiling down at her.
nd I'll