The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-11
THREATS
CHAPTER Sc

Chapter So
Il hope you would leave me if you
ever grew tired of me" Jane answered
Only | can't bear Tn, idea of you
growing tired of me. That's why |
said just now / wouldn't marry you"
Ihls was a curious sort of love
making. Mrs. Talbot watched these
two with utter lack of comprehension
First of all, ii seemed so odd that she,
Amy Talbot, should sit in a room and
near this conversation going On be-
tween her daughter and this man. She
had to stay, for when in confusion she
rose TO go out, Donald held her back.
How strange young people were
nowadays! The love-making of Amy's
courtship period was always carried on
in some quiet moonlit spot, or sitting
cozily before winter fire-there new
er was an audience! Moreover, the
girl hesitated and blushed Mrs Tai
bot was sure she had blushed when
Jordan proposed to her. And the man
was anxious, diffident, little awkward
in asking the important question.
This man was threatening to leave
Jane if he grew tired of her, before
they were even engaged, And they
would not let the mother go away,
where she could settle down to think
over the strange ways of the new
generation
But this was not all
There's such a thing as taking a
chance" Donald went on to say. a
little humorous CLEAN coming into his
eyes. Il don't think I would grow
tired of you. Jane. You're different
from other women. You might tire of
me-
"Of you," James incredulous laugh
and glowing eyes as she faced Donald
said all the words she left unspoken.
This was better, thought Mrs. Tai
bot--this was more as love affair
should go.
y 1T would be all right for a year,
or for the time you were in the min
ing camp" Jane said after a pause
You probably would be glad to have me
then. because there would be so few
intelligent people to talk to- But after
ward
we would come back and be poor
and have all the struggle YOU began
this winter to go through again
worse, because | would be making my
career too. You say you don't think
you'll like the life there, it would be
rather a bore, hundreds of miles from
civilization, so even if the mines did
pay. you wouldn't stay more than q
few years"
Eyes wide and serious, Jane was
trying to look into the future and see
what it might hold for both of them
Meantime, We would be comfortably
off in the camp. And we would be
tempted 10 have children We've al
ways agreed there's no use for two
intelligent people to be married if they
don't have children. Then coming back
and being frightfully poor would be
impossible and-and you would grow
TO hate me and the child too"
This left Mrs. Talbot gasping. Ir
her day two people never discussed
having children-much less the posi-
bility of not having them-before they
were married, certainly not before
they were even engaged. And afte1
marriage the subject was untouched
in novels the young wife confessed he
great secret with many bushes anC
downcast face, and there were usual!
three little stars in row to denot,
the awe-stricken feelings of the father
to-be. or else the book appropriated,
ended at that point.
But here sat Jane and Donald calm
" discussing whether or not the,
: could afford a family. if they married
y Amv's head was running around again
as it used to in the summer when nev
ideas were brought out and discussed
IL I'm not afraid Of being poor
Why should you be-" Donald urged
You are as brave about things lik
tlat as I am. and much less tempers
mental. Or haven't you the courag
to face the prospect Of poverty wit
me-" Donald's steel blue eyes neve
left the girls face.
do you think | would ever gro'
tired of you? Or that poverty, or diI
comforts. or loneliness. or anythin
else would matter, if l had just you ?
Jane had forgotten her mothers pre-!
ence as she talked. She rose an
walked across the room toward Dor
aid. and stood facing him.
He was leaning back against b
mantel piece. arms crossed in fror
OF him. He did not move. He mad
no effort to touch the girl or take hol
of her. He simply stood there. leal
ing back a trife. holding her with HI
eyes.
The only thing that matters is you
love-" Jane went on, in low, earneS
voice That's everything in life (
me- Being your wife does not matte
befnu with Won dOpS NOT r,attcr h.