The herald., 1922-10-26
The
Long Trail
By JUSTIN WENTWOOD
GO. 1922. Western Newspaper Union. }

t@, 1917, western Newspaper Union-)
John Lucas had found the woman
who had betrayed him, and whom he
had sworn to kill.
1t had been long chase and a stern
one. From the seaport of Massachu-
sets 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
in Savannah
Lucas was fifty-fve, his wife, Ade-
line. was thirty. Jim Progson, Lucas
farm laborer, was u young man with
a bullet head and Il suggestion of I'M
derbred and undeveloped power. Just
the man TO attract some servant
wench, but-Adelinel
1t 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 gentleman he
would have stayed quietly at home
and divorced her, but-Progson
He was not going to touch Progson.
The fellow was not worthy of atten-
ton. 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
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 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 independ
ent. She had told him that she would
break that overweening pride of his.
Broken 1t? No, because of 1t he
meant to kill her. And gripping the
pistol more tightly in his hand, he
strobe up to the villa and raped or
| the door.
He had often pictured that encoun
ter in his mind, but when he saw AIDE
line standing before him, surprise
changing into that cold hardness hi
knew so well, he gasped involuntar
lily, and felt his heart begin to ham
mer in his breast
Adeline's eyes fell on the pistol II
his hand, and a proud smile curved
her lips.
"Come in, John" she said, and LEI
4, the way into the living-room.
1t was well furnished, with AIDE
lines fine taste; that had been an
other bone Of contention between
them. he remembered. There wer
books and magazines strewn abou
everywhere Adeline turned and face,
him.
"Well? she asked CONTEMPORARY
"You abandoned woman"
"Oh, spare me those New Englan,
heroics," she begged him. Il am no
in the mood for them. You've com
to shoot me, have your
"Where's that-ProgsonT
Adeline laughed. want to shoe
him. toof" she asked.
He felt his resolution failing him
He was aware that she was SPIRITUAL
stronger than himself, and that wa
Incredible, because he had bee
wronged so deeply.
swell, shoot, shootw she jeerei
standing in front Of him. "You had
long chase, didn't you, John! II wa
I who plt you on the trail learne
that you were coming to look for mt
Well, shoot II you think I'm wort
It."
He laid the pistol down upon tn
table. He bent his head. "T-can't,
he said. II never knew It before, bu
love you, Adeline."
"Shoot for your pride's sake, then.
''My pride's gone. It's broken. Tv
been a fool. But-PrOgsOn"
Her face softened. Then l can te
you, John" she said. "There neve
was any progson. Progson was g
ing West, and I paid him to preten
he was going away with me. chos
him as the instrument with which {
break that pride Of yours which Ia
always stood between us, between 70
and what had been my love for y0'
"Now 60 home and-fOrgive me-"
"Adelinei" He took her hands
his you've broken me, and you've
you've saved my soul. deserved
all. You've opened my eyes, but
won't you come home, too, Adeline
Just give me the chance to care fc
you-I don't want your love"
my dear. you've always had tina
Oh, John, can you forgive as well Q
is possible? II I go back It will B
harder for me. But I'll face II IL YOU