The Little River news., 1922-11-08
The Long Trail
By JUSTIN WENTWOOD
@. 1922, Western Newspaper Union.

John Lucas had found the woman who had betrayed him. and whom he had sworn to kill.
 It had been a long chase and a stern one. From the seaport of Massachu- setts they had gone to Florida, thence to Texas, thence to California, then to Oregon; then they had recrossed the continent, and he had located them fn Savannah. -' e Lucas was flfty-flve, his wife, Ade. line, was thirty. Jim Progson, Lucas farm laborer, was young man with a. bullet head and suggestion of un- derbred and undeveloped power. Just the man to attract some: servant wench, but-Adeline ..-.te.
 It was horrible. Lucas was de- scended from the Pilgrims, he was still called Squire" in the township, and Adeline, his second wife of two years, was well-bred woman. Prog son! If 1t had been a gentleman he would have stayed quietly at home and divorced her, .but-Progse1!
 He was not going to touch .Progson. The fellow was not worthy of atten- tion. But because of Progson he was going to kill Adeline who had wound ed him past redemption
 Nevertheless, as he walked up the white, palmetto-bOrdered road toward the villa where she lived, he was aware with his acute New England conscience, that he had not been en- tirely guiltleSS. There had been a time, after their marriage, when Ade line would put her arms about his neck and kiss him. Lucas had been rather too busy for kisses. Besides. restraint was in his nature that same restraint, bred of q hundred harsh forbears. which had now broken down into grim, elemental determination to avenge the slight on his honor.
 Adeline had been proud, but not so proud as Lucas. That had been the stumbling block, that clash of wills; Adeline would not be dominated as Lucas had dominated his first wife, a timid, shrinking little. thing who had been given to him in youth. and had obeyed him meekly. There had been scenes of violence. Adeline had want ed an allowance. Lucas had paid her bills and told her to ask for what she wanted Then her uncle had left her money, and she had become lndepend- ent She had told him that she would break that everweening pride of his.
 Broken it? Nc, because of 1t he meant to kill her. And gripping the pistol more tightly in his hand, he strode up to the villa and rapped on the door.
 He had often pictured that encoun- ter in his mind, but when he saw Ade- line standing before him, surprise changing into that cold hardness he knew so we'll, he gasped involuntar- fly, and felt his heart begin to ham, mer in his breast
 Adeline's eyes fell on the pistol in his hand, and a proud smile curved her lips.
 "Come in, John,' she said, and led the way into the llving-room.
 It was we'll furnished, with Ade- lines fine taste; that had been an other bone of contention between them, he remembered. There were books and magazines strewn about everywhere Adeline turned and faced him.
 "Well?' she asked contemptuously.
 You abandoned woman---".
 "Oh, spare me those New England hersics,' she begged. him. q am not in the mood for them. You've conc to shoot me, have youW
 "Where's that-ProgsonT'
 Adeline laughed. Want to shoot him, too?" she asked.
 He felt his resolution failing him. He was aware that she was spiritually stronger than himself, and that was incredible, because he had been wronged so deeply.
 Well, shoot, shoot!" she jeered, standing in front of him. "You had long chase, didn't you, John! It was who put you on the trail. learned that you were coming to look for me. We'll shoot if you think I'm worth it."
 He laid the pistol down upon the table. He bent his head. "I-can't," he said. 'I never knew it before, but I love you, Adeline."
 "Shoot for your brides sake, then"
 My brides gone. It's broken. I've been fool. But-Progson
 Her face softened. Then I can tell you, John," she said. "There never was any Progson. Progson was go- ing West, and I paid him to pretend he was going away with me. chose him as the instrument with which to break that pride of yours which had always stood between us, between you and what had been my love for you
 "Now go home and-forgive me-"
 "Adeline!" He took her hands in his. You've broken me, and you've you've saved my soul. I deserved 1t all. You've opened my eyes. but went ycs come home too, Adeline? Just give me the ,chance to care for you--I don't want your love"