The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-11-30

cerlalnly, she nau gone Idr dnedu
her husband In learning, In certai
: sort of mental and social development
, Pierre was filed with doubt and wit
| dread, with an almost unbearable sell
depreciation. And at the same tim
he was filed with a nameless fear o
what Joan might herself have become
He stood with his hand on the kno
Of that half-opened door. bent hi
head, and drew some deep, unevel
breaths. He thought of Holliwell a
though the man were standing besid'
him. He stepped In quietly. shut tn
door. and walked without hesitation
down the passageway into the LITTLE
sunny sitting-room. There, before tn,
cracking open fire, sat Prosper Gael
Prosper, 1t seemed, was alone In
the small. silent place. He was sit
ting ON the middle of his spine, as
usual. with his long. thin legs stretched
out before him and a veil of cigarette
smoke before his eyes. He turned his
head idly, expecting, no doubt, to see
| the nurse
Pierre, white and grim, stood look
ing down at him.
The older man recognized him at
once, but he did not change his posi-
| ton by muscle, merely lounged there,
his head against the side Of the cush-
Toned chair, the brilliant, surprised
gaze changing slowly to amused con-
tempt. His cigarette hung between
the long fingers of one hand, its blue
spiral of smoke rising TRANQUILITY into
bar of sunshine from the window.
1.-The doctor told me to come up"
said Pierre gravely. He was aware of
the insult of this strangers attitude,
but he was too deeply stirred, too
deeply suspenseful, to be irritated by
it. He seemed to be moving in some
rare, disconnected atmosphere. 81
have his permission to see-to see Miss
West, if she is willing TO see me-"
Prosper fiicked off an ash with his
little finger. "And you believe that
she is willing to see you, Pierre Lam
disY' he asked slowly.
Pierre gave him a startled lock.
you know my manner"
YES believe that four years ago,
on an especially cold and snowy night,
l interrupted you in rather extraor-
binary occupation and gave myself the
pleasure of shooting you" With that
he got to his feet and stood before
the mantel, negligently enough, but
ready to his fingertips.
Pierre came nearer by stride. He
had been stripped at once of his air
of high detachment. BE was pale and
quivering. He looked at Prosper with
eyes of incredulous dread.
Were you-that manY A tide of
shamed scarlet engulfed him and he
dropped his eyes.
II thought that would take the as
surance out Of you" said Prosper.
"As a matter of fact, shooting was too
good for you. On that night you for
feited every claim to the consideration
Of man or woman. l have the right
Of any decent citizen to turn you out
Of here. Do you still maintain your
intention of asking for an interview
with Miss Jane WestY'
Pierre, half-blind with humiliation,
turned without word and made his
way to the door. He meant to 90 |
away and kill himself. The purpose
was like iron in his mind. That he |
should have TO stand and, because of |
MS own cowardly fault, to endure in
suit from this contemptuous stranger, |
made of life a garment too stained,
90 shameful to be worn. He was in |
taste to be rid Of 1t. Something, how /
,ver, barred his exit. He stumbled
,ack to avoid 1t. There, holding
lside the curtain in the doorway, stood
loan.
This time there was no possible
Ioubt of her identity. She was wrapped
allen in braided loops on either side
# her face and neck. The unchanged
yes of Joan under her broad brows
ooked up at him. She was thin and
van. unbelievably broken and tired
nd hurt, but she was Joan. Pierre
f her He staggered forward, and
he, putting up her arms, drew him
ungrily and let fall her head upon
is shoulder.
my gel My Joan !" Pierre sobbed
Prosper's voice sawed into their
remulous silence.
$50, after all, the branding iron is
ne proper instrument" he said. "As
ian can always recognize his estray.
nd when she is recognized she will
ONE to heel"
Joan pushed Pierre from her vio-
'ntly and turned upon Prosper Gael. !
Ter voice broke over him in a tumult I
T soft scorn.
"You know nothing of loving, Pros ,
err Gael, not the first letter of loving. {
obody has learned that about you as
ell as | have. Now. listen and I
Ill teach you something. This is {
,mething that have learned. There
e worse wounds than | had from q
lerre, and it is by the hands of such !
en- as you are that they are given. q
ha hurt vnt, oaf from, lovo thov baa1 | q