Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-02
with the raper against his stone. headed

with the rapier against his stone headed
bludgeun.
He walked beside her in moody silence
for while. Cherry triumphant tina,
she had cluded him SO easily. She
knew that h" couldn't sell her ear for
her at any kind of price that would he
acceptable. But she meant still further
To intimidatr him. 1t was her duty.
Having parried. She now thrust.
''Thcre's no Use in your talking 10
me about marriage. Bruce" she cut in
cruelty. as he began again. "You
couldn't afford girl like me. I'm cx-
pensive--luXuruus. I've been brought
up lever 10 think about the cost Of any
thing. When wanted something
just went out and got il. | couldn't
60 and live in a Eruhby little apartment
on the north sid" Of Nowhere. And !
won't. You'd want to turn mo into
a cook and housemaid for you. Why. l
cant even boil an egg. And as for
washing dishes-can YOU see mc-!''
She laughed unpleasantly. "And yo,,
ont joy-riding in Magniiirents all day
with your Maisies? I guess not"
Damn it. Cherry" he said explo-
sirely. you've no right 70 talk I" mo
like that. I'm not going to stand for
it"
What are you going to do?" she
asked sweetly.
"I'll show you." he muttered saw.
asely. "iou wouldn't have stuck out
for mo against all your friends il you
hadn't thought was the man you
wanted. You wouldn't have trusted
yourself with me in the places you have
If you hadn't believed in me. l never
did anything to make you regret it,
did II"
"No." But her sbrug and rising in.
tonation still challenged him.
Then you've Eot no right TO believe
! wouldn't play fair and square. You re
just quibbling-just trying to play safe
TO let ME down so that il you want you
can marry for money-sell yourself"
Bruce. You have no right to speak
to me like that she broke in cx-
citedy.
II mean it. That's what it would
be If I'm the man 20. want
You're not she said furously.
II am. If I had John Chlchaster's
money and position. you'd marry me
fast enough" he finished.
This was unjust Of hm--ungcnerous
She had never given him the right 70
talk to her like this. Never. Even ii
there had been any truth in what he
said--and now there wash t-not n par.
t!ce Of truth.
II wouldn't she replied II
wouldn't marry you ii you were the last
man in the world
Bruce Cowan looked at her flaming
profile for long moment, and then
limo had II nlanr kot hn ly' ',
believe her.
"Oh say, Cherry"
IL mean il.
NO. If you meant it, you wouldn't
dare to say it,
She glanced around at him, but said
nothing.
oh, what's the use:" he went on
more calmly. "You're just talking
But know what you re thinking about.
You think you owe your family more
than you owe to me.
This startled her little. but she
made no sign. And then in moment
she replied,
"What I'm thinking about, Bruce,
is that we haven't met for weeks with :
ont Quareling. We always do. We're
too much alike. What hell it would be
ii We were chained together
lie only laughed again 1t was Il
deep laugh now, rough and careless.
YOU'D have mighty little use for any
man who agreed with you nll the time.
lou don't want man you can tame.
You'd get tired Of him In week You
can't tame me any more than ! can
tame you, We're always Mt each
Others throats--you tantalizng--lne,
ugly, brutal sometimes. But there s
fire in you that can arouse-iire In me
too--that ! have to fight. But by God .
It's worth while Icing stirred up !!k.