The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-09-29

sudden resolution, she made her way
quickly In the direction of the port
age.
There was rig with two horses be-
fore the factors door. Inside the door
Tom Bowyer was standing. and Molly
faced him, white to the lips, and rigid.
"Pve given you your answer many
times" said Molly.
Bowyer smiled. mo decision that
was ever made can't be changed" he
retorted. us 1t a crime to love you
to want to make you my wife?"
mo: but 1t Is a crime to persecute
me when you know you have no right
to ask me at ALL"
Tom Bowyer, who had cultivated his
RACES until they had mastered him,
could never refrain from falling into
the bully's pose when he met opposi-
tion. He slammed his fist down fierce
ly on the counter.
''Tll change your answer. Molly" he
cried. Before I leave this store to-
night. I'll have you at my feet, for all
your pride. D-n 1t. It's your pride
want as much as you. / want to hum
BILE you, because there's never been
man or woman 1 couldn't tame sooner
or later. I'm making you an honorable
proposal. Your fathers a dying man.
Anyone can see that. want you, and
want to take care Of him for your
sake, the rest Of his days. l ask you
to be my wife. to come to Cold juno
tion with me and marry me. D'you sup
pose he could hold his job here an
other day If the company knew he's
paralyzed7 I'll drive him from the
portage unless you marry me and let
him take his pension and live with
u.s."
81 tell you mo- againl" cried Molly.
"How many times am to answer your
VIII you 60 nowf'
He caught her by the wrists, thrust
ing his face forward into hers.
She screamed In fear, and they heard
the dragging footsteps Of the factor in
his room above. The old man felt his
way slowly down the stairs and edged
along the counter. There was fear In
his sunken eyes; but 1t was anger
made him tremble.
aye go too far, Mr.. Bowyerw he
In my own houseW
"Get back to bed, you old foolp
sneered Bowyer. didn't you do your
own love-makingT
IF she Wilma have ye l Wilma sell
herl Leave the house and do your
worstv
IF do" answered Bowyer, "Ill do
1t. D'you mean that? Answer me,
| Mcdonald"
The factor sank back against the
counter and glared at him with hag-
gard eyes, his gray beard brushing his
breast. Bowyer smiled triumphantly.
speak for me, Mcdonald" he
jeered. "Tell her why she'd better
change her mind"
The factor raised his head. "Molly,
lass" he whimpered, "it's a grand op-
portunity he's offering ye. Have ye no
thocht of that? It'll be hame for ye
in my old age, when Gamma care for
ye"
Molly fixed her eyes In horror upon
Mcdonald. But Bowyer strode between
them.
you're fine love-makerl" he
sneered. "Get out Of the wayw
And, infiamed almost to madness, he
seized Molly in his arms and pressed
his lips to her cheek and throat again
and again.
81 guess you're not so coy as you pre-
| tend, Molly" he cried. "You women
/ are all alike, after all. I never knew
one yet that wasn't in hurry to get
hitched up, however much she pretend
ed to dislike it,"
The opening Of the door behind him
made him start. Kitty stood there, and
1t was quite clear that she had been a
spectator Of the scene. With stran-
gled cry Molly broke from Bowyer's
grasp and ran into her room. She
dragged her bed against the door and
stood behind 1t, sobbing with terror
and anger. The factor leaned against
the counter, a look of dull apathy on
his face. Bowyer turned sheepishly to
Kitty.
"Well, I guess you caught me this
time Mrs. Bostock," he said. "But, be-
Ing a woman, yor'l understand"
Kitty's disgust for Bowyer held her
silent. She made the slightest gesture
of her head to him and went out of the
store. Bowyer followed her.
"What does 1t 2" asked Kitty.
| "It means that want Molly McDon-
aid, and I've never wanted any man. or
woman yet that didn't get" said
Bowyer. MAKE the most of It," he
clustered. ''Pve as much right as Car
ruthers, haven't II"
NO" said Kitty.
"why haven't I?'
"Mr. Carruthers was first. They are
engaged"
whats to stop her breaking itT'
As his agitation subsidized, Bowyer, a
keen Judge, noticed that Kitty's poise
was unnatural; she seemed laboring
under some suppressed emotion. He
looked quickly into her eyes and saw
that she had been crying. And then he
| knew.
A slow smile spread over his face.
Kitty Bostock had not made Big Mus
keg her home so long out Of devotion
i