The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-01-12

strength and determination. Every
woman prays to find strength In the
man she loves-but II isn't the kind
that you have. the kind that makes
your men grovel before you, and
makes me tremble when I'm talking
to you. It's big, calm strength-and
can't tell you what 1t Is. It's some
thing the pines have, maybe-strength
not to yield to the passions, but to re-
strain, not to be afraid Of, but to cling
toto stand upright and honorable
and manly, and make woman strong
just to see 1t In the man she loves
blazed. 1t was strange scene-tha
silent room, the implacable foes, the
breathless suspense, the prophecy and
inspiration in her tones.
Perhaps / should have been more
gentle" he admitted. II might have
forgotten-for little while-this surg
ing, Irresistible impulse In my muscles
and tried just to WOO you, gently
and humbly. But it's too late now.
I'm not fool. can't expect you to
begin at the beginning. I can only 20
on In my own way-my hard, remOrse-
less, ruthless way.
ut isn't every man who Is brave
enough. to see what he wants and
knock away all obstacles to get It," he
went on. Put that bravery to my
credit. To pay no attention to meth
DDS, only to look forward to the result.
That has been my creed. It Is my
creed now. Many less brave men
would fear your hatred-but l don't
fear 1t as long as I possess what 60
after and hope that. can get you
over 1t. Many Of my own brothers
hate me. but yet / don't care as long
as they do my will. No matter how
much you scorn It. this bravery has
always got me what / wanted, and II
will get me what i want now"
The high color died in her face. She
wondered IL the final emergency had
come at last.
i've come to make a bargain. You
can take IL or you can refuse. On one
side is the end of all this conflict, to be
my wife, to have what you want
bought by the rich return from my
thousands Of acres. And I love you,
Linda. You know that"
The man spoke the truth. His ter
rible, dark love was all over HMM
his glowing eyes, In his drawn. deeply
lined face.
I'm time, when you come around 10
my way of thinking, you'll love me.
If you refuse-this last time-Ive got
to take other ways. On that side Is
defeat for you-as sure as day. The
time Is almost up when the title to
those lands is secure. Bruce Is in
our hands"
She got up, whitefaced. "Bruce-r
"Yesl Did you think he could stand
against us? TIL show him to you In
the morning. Tonight he's paying the
price for ever daring to oppose my
WILL"
She turned imploring eyes. He saw
them, and perhaps--far distant-hs
saw the light Of triumph, too. A grim
smile came to his lips.
simon" she cried. "Have mercy"
The word surprised him. 1t was the
first time she had ever asked this man
for mercy. "Then you surrender-r
"Simon, listen to me-" she begged.
"Let him go--and won't even try to
fight you any more. I'll let you keep
those lands and never try any more to
make you give them up. You and
your brothers can keep them forever.
and we won't try to get revenge on
yo,, ofthar NJ orH I iii - n xyo ~ y
He gazed at her In deepening won
dernent. For the moment, his mind
refused to accept the truth. He had
known perfectly the call Of the, blood
In her. He had understood her hatred
Of the Turner's; he could hate In the
same way himself. He realized her
love for her fathers home and how
she had dreamed of sxpelling It's usurp-
ers. Yet she was willing to rsn4uncs
It all. The power that had come to
her was one that he, man whose code
Of life was no less cruel and remorse-
less than that of the Killer himself.
could not understand.
But whyr he demanded. + ~why
| are you willing to do all this for
himfr
"why" she echoed. Once more the
luster was In her dark eyes. X sup
pose II II because love him."
He looked at her with slowly dark
ening face. Passion welled within him.
An oath dropped from HIS nps, bias
phemous, more savage than any wildee-
ness voice. Then he raised his arm
and struck her tender flesh.
He struck her breast. The brutal
ity Of the man stood forth At last. Ne
picture that al the dreadful dramas
Of the wild could portray was more
terrible than this. The gir cried out,
reeled and fell fainting from the pain,
and with smoldering eyes he gassd st
her unmoved. Then he turned out Of
the door.