The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-10-05
CHAPTER xIII-contlnued.

y
amt there?-isn't there-Mr Gael
Why. there's books about Iovin' an
sickness an about cattle an what-not
an about women an children" She
was Sinking the knowledge of her
cease" but at last she pressed her
lips together and opened the book
She fell to reading; growing anxiety
possessed her face; she sat down on
the nearest chair: she turned page
after page. Suddenly she gave him q
look Of anger.
81 amt none of this. Mr.. Gael" she
said. smote the page. rose with dig
nifty. and returned the book.
He laughed so long and heartily
that she was at last forced to join
him. you was-you were--jobbln'
me. wasn't you?" she said, signing
relief. "Did you know what that vol
ume said? 1t said like this-rll read
you about it" She took the volume
found the place and read in a low tone
of horror he helping her with the
hard words: lone of the most fire.
quent forms of phobia. common In
cases of psychic neurasthenia. is agro-
phohia in which patients the moment
they come into an open space are OPP
pressed by an exaggerated feeling of
anxiety. They may break into a pro-
fuse perspiration and assert that they
feel as If chained to the ground :
And here. listen to this. 'batophobia,
the fear that high things viii fall;
atrophobia, fear of thunder and light
ming; pantophobia, the fear of every
thing and everyone Well, now,
amt that too awful? An you mean
folks really get that way?"
Their talk was for some time of
nervous diseases. Joan's horror In
creasing.
"Well. sir" said she, lead me out
an shoot me If | get anyways like
that believe It's caused by all that
queer dressin' an what-not / feel like
real today In this shirt an
all. an when l get through some work
I'll feel a whole lot better. Don't you
say I'm one of those nervous break
downs again, though. will your" she |
pleaded.
mo. won't. Joan. But don't make
one of me, will your
Flows that?'
by wearing those clothes all day
and half the night. II you expect me
to teach you, youll have to do some
thing for me, to make up for running
iway. You might put on pretty things
'or dinner. don't you think7 Your
nervous system could stand that7'
MY nervous system" drawled Joan,
md added startlingly. for she did not
,ften swear, "G-dw II was an oath
II scorn, and again Prosper laughed.
But he heard with sort of terror
he sound of her "roan's work." to
which she energeticasly applied her.
elf 1t meant the return Of her
trength. of her Independence. 1t
meant the shortening of her captivity.
before long spring would rush up the
anyon in a wave OF melting snow.
rested with dazzling green. and the
alley would lie open to Joan. She
'ould go unless--had he really failed
0 utterly to touch her heart?
Was she without passion, this woman
18th the deep. savage eyes. the lips. so
ensuous and pure, the body so magnifi-
emily made for llving1 She was not
efended by any training, she had no
Ioral standards, no prejudices, none of
lie ideals She was completely open :
approach. a savage. If he failed. II I
as personal failure. Perhaps he :
nd been too subtle, too restrained. ,
he did not yet know. perhaps. what he I
esired of her. But he was afraid of I
,using her hatred. which would be q
lily as simple and as savage as her '
we.
That evening, after she had dressed A
please him, and sat in her chair, v
red, but with the beautiful, clean v
ok OF outdoor WEAKNESS on her face, o
Id tried, battling with drowsiness, TO n
We her mind to his reading and his r
TX, he came TO her and knelt down, s.
-awing down her hands to him, press a
& his forehead on them. b
For a moment she was stiff and still, s.
en-, what is II, Mr. Gael2" she asked W
a frightened half-voice. Il
He felt, through her body. the slight
coil of spirit and drew away. and &
ose to his feet n
You're angry?" h
He laughed. d
"Oh, no. I'm not angry; why should o
bef I'm superman. I'm made 81
Is say--of alabaster. Women with a
eat eyes and wonderful voices and g
e beauty of broad-browed nymphs
liking gravely down under forest 81