, 1923-10-03

told me your name. Haven't you my
curiosity about me?"
YES" said Joan; I've thought a
great deal about you" She wrinkled
her wide brows. you must have been
gu after game, though twas out of
season. And you must have heard me
a-cryin' out an come in. That was
right courageous, stranger. 1 would
surely like you to know why I come
away with you" she went on, wistful
and weak, but I don't know as how
l can make 1t plain to you" She
paused. turning the blue jar in her
hand. You're very strange to me-"
she said, AN yet, someways, you
takin' care of me so well an $3.50
awful kind her voice gave forth its
tremolo of feeling-"seems like I
knowed you better han any other per-
son In the world"
A flush came into his face.
Il wouldn't like you to be think
in" She stopped, a little breathless.
He took the jar, sat down on the
bed, and laid a hand firmly over both
OF hers. II won't be thinking any,
thing" he said, "only what you would
k me to think. Listen-when a man
finds n wounded bird out in the win.
ter woods, he'll bring 1t home to care
for 1t. And he won't be thinking the
worse of its helplessness and tame
ness. OF course l know-but tell me
your name, please"
Joan Landis."
AT the name, given painfully, Joan
drew a weighted breath, another, then,
pushing herself up as though oppressed
beyond endurance, she caught at
Prosper's arm, clenched her fingers
upon it, and bent her black head in a
terrible paroxysm of grief. 1t was like
a tempest. Prosper thought of storm
driven, rain-wet trees wild in a wind
of music. the prelude to Ellie
gende Hollander." Joan's weeping
bent and rocked her. He put his arm
about her, tried to soothe her. At her
cry of "Pierre! Pierre ~ he whitened,
but suddenly she broke from him and
threw herself back amongst the pill
lows.
Twas you that killed him." she
iouhth Will new 10 40 WlIn
your"
1t was not the last time that bitter
exclamation was to rise between
them; more and more fercely 1t came
to wiring his peace and hers. This time
he bore ii with a certain philosophy,
Gained her patiently.
How could l help it. Joan?' he
pleaded. you saw how It was?" AS
she grew quieter, he talked. 81 heard
you scream like a person being tor
tured to death-twice-a grewsome
enough sound. let me tell you, to hear
in the dead of a white, still night. I
didn't altogether want to break into
your house. I've heard some Ugly
stories about men venturing to dis
turb the work of murderers. But. you
see, Joan. I've a fear of myself. I've
a cruel brain. I can use it on my own
failures. I've been through some self
punishment-nol of course, you don't
understand all that. . Anyway,
I came in. in great fear of my life,
and saw what l saw-a woman tied
up and devilishly tortured, a man
gloating over her helplessness. Natural
ly. before l spoke my mind, as a man
was bound to speak 1t, under the pain
and fury of such a spectacle, I got
ready to defend myself. Your
Pierre"-there was a biting contempt
in his tone-"saw my gesture, whipped
out his gun, and fred. My shot was
more readily have LOCI ny life than
taken his. If he had lived, Joan, could
yoS have forgiven hlm?7
NO" sobbed Joan; 81 think not"
She trembled. HE said terrible hard
words to me. He didn't love me like
l loved him. He planned to put n
brand on me SOS l cd be his own like
as If l was n beast belongin' to him.
Mr.. Holliwel. said right, l don't be-
long to no man. l belong to my own
self"
The storm had passed into this
troubled after-tosslng of thought.
"Can you tell me about 1t ALI"
asked Prosper. would 1t helpf"
II couldn't" she moaned; mo, I
couldn't. Only-if 1 hadn't "a left
Pierre a-lyin' there alone. A dog that
had onct loved HIN wouldn't "a done
that" She sat up again. white and
wild. THAT'S why ! must so back. l
must surely go. l mustl oh, / must? y
"Go back thirty miles through wet
snow when you can't walk across the
room, Joan?" He smiled p~ltylngly.
Cant you go backf" She turned
desolate, haunted eyes upon him. "Oh,
can't you7-to do some kindness TO
him? Can you eve stop thinkln' Of
him lynn there?"
P~rosper's face was hard through Its
gentleness. i've seen too many dead
men, less deserving Of death. But,
hush l-you lie down and go to sleep.
I'll try TO manage 1t. I'll try TO get
back and show him some kindness, us