The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-15

don't think I'm eookoo-and knocked 'w me dizzy. haven't come to yet, and
 when l do know the wounds are going to hurt, so want to say what I've got to say while I'm still able to say it.
 "Mr, Stsllman, I'm 80 wild, mad about you that ! can't see, can't hear, can't think, I@"
 "Why=-Miss Dean-I-please, please@"
 Don't. see it in your eyes. Don't say 1t. TheFe isn't anything ever said by man to a woman since time was born that I'd rather hear, but ] mnstn't-I won't I believe you. And I know. I've been loved before, even If I've never loved before, and know. Women always know But don't tell me. Let me always have that one remote fighting doubt that maybe you didn't. See7 I'm different from most women. They want to be told and told again, even if there's no hope; I don't don't ever want to forget, but mustn't have too much to remember. I can't carry it. alone"
 "But-Ehy2 You aay--n
 T >say-alene. Mir stellnaa, perhaps you've noticed that I'm not talking like did last night. Well, I'm not the same girl you listened to last night. That Geo'gia drool was the goldbrick. I'm not Southern society girl, I'm the daughter of Brooklyn bricklayer and was raised in"
 "That dassn't matter. Nothing matters now ex- eept that--"
 soh, yes 1t does. I'm not going to tell you much about myself. But I'll tell you this rnuch: I'm not for yeu. I'd be yours without flicker, any way you wanted me, guess. But you can't be mine no, never.
 q don't want te embitter your memories of me any more than have to. don't want to have to tell you, and if don't, maybe you'll never find out. But If daily around here any longer you must find out everything. So I'm going away"
 'No-"
 "Yes. It's set. Nothing, not even you, can switch mes I've tossed off my right to this-this great and beautiful thing that wouldn't even have to reach cut for ifI could take 1t. I've sold the earth li%e on and the heaven was born to find for counterfeit nickes. But Its too late to cancel the deal.
 My GadI Why can't all the preachers and all the writers and all the teachers and all the moth- CTS and all the wise and good hrains>and hearts in this world make girls understand what they're pay ingf But they can't. They roll crooked dice for their souls against plugged pennies, for their hearts red blood against pink pop.
 'sfhey lose. And they can't welch their pitiful bets. can't wipe off the score now and never can again. q
 sT'm not what leok I'm not what act I'm sn alias. I'm somebody you never met-til maybe right Rew. l couldn't be on the level with you l couldn't be on the level with anyone I've taught my eyes to cheat and lie so long can't control lem . when want to tell the truth. It took lot of %4SS6AAG " kidAS AHS CORHo aS CIean W1Cn you as I'm deing now. It's been long, long time since l even tried 1t on myself. I've got so I think in con lsnguage-with Geo'gia dialect.
 ''Yeu deA't get the angle? know it. And it hurts. It hurts right like nothing ever burned me before. But what's the use of kidding myself? I'll fight it cut somehow, somewhere. I've got pretty fair leverage over Dix-over Daisy Dean. Leave Aer to me-Pll manage her or I'll kill her. But that's nay own private affair. I can't hook you in, can't even let you in And that's that
 "Geedhye, Mir Stellman. You're a champ. You wouldn't believe what men and how many would take off their hats to you if they knew Goodbye, I won't cry. Daisy's trick eyes still deA't do that without orders from headquarters. I brought this on myself and I'll take it .. I'll take it smiling see?"
 She put out her hand. On her lovely face was smile such as brave women show the surgeon when they are trundled to the operating table
 Guy StellmaR leaped forward. His hand started to seize hers, te hold it, to grasp and drag her into his arms. But something in her face changed that imPulsve intent. His hand down slow ly, haltingly, and it met hers in clasp that clasp which says farewell and Daisy Dean, alias Dixie Daisy, staggered cut of his office, out of his life, numb but for heart that pounded madly, brain that whirled, and two big brown eyes fixed straight ahead.