The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-08-04


have loved you. and have wished dcs.
peately that Peter would dio and
leave you free-but they haven't
loved you cnough-thcy didn't have
tho courage 10 make their wish come
true You know your Christian
teaching that there r. no dlstinc.
ton drawn between him who wants
To do evil and him who really does Il.
The thing did many men would
have been glad 90 do. II they had
dared 10 take tho risk"
Ito paused. and tho giri started 10
turn away. Ivan held her gently.
his hands at her arms Just below her
shoulders. II don't want TO talk
about It" she told him.
Blu, you must hear me. Dorothy.
have wanted you. and I have you
l loved you enough to risk my rcpu.
tation. TO do evil to respected
friend, in order % win you. Don't
you realize that this showed love
Of which your Anglo-saxon men
would be wholly incapahic7 Poor
Peter was tho yictlm-but he has
gone now. and you must seek your
happiness in me. your huaband.'
MY husbandr' the girl echoed. an
Il the thought were incredible TO her.
Yes. You are my wife. You don't
owe any more loyalty to Peter--only
10 me. when you married me you
took mo for better for worse-and
that means you take my past crimes
on your head. You share every.
thing with me. and that means you
share my past. too. IL viii 20 hard
at first. and you win be bitter. but /
want you TO put II out OF your mind.
You've got TO be my partner now.
even in my evil deeds. Dorothy. l
want you 10 respect. rather thah
scorn that quality OF unconquerablc
purpose In me that won't let me
forcgo the things that | want: and
particularly ! want you TO remember
that It was all for you. The thing Is
closed and done. part OF the dead
past. and / want you to put II out
of your mind"
The girl Strengthened and sighed
II wish you'd 20 away" she said
duly. Il can't forget Il. and never
can. and / can't forgive II. Every
thing is over between US. Now let
me go-I'm going into my tent"
His hand pressed more tightly al
her shoulders. and he looked mean.
ingly into her eyes. Into our tent. .
he corrected easily.
The girl shook her head. but her
expression did not change. NO. ]
renounce our marriage. Ny door Is
closed to you forever" At this point
her slim body Strengthened. and her
voice-tho II did not increase in vol
ume--took on n hushed. unmIstak
able tone OF emphasis. Understand
everything clearly, Ivan, now as well
as later. l don't consider myself
your wife from now on. I'm going ia
my tent--you must go TO yours. Your
hands have no longer any right "a
hold me. Tomorrow the guides and
| will go away in the dory. In search
for the settlements. II you want Ia
come you may. but IT won't be as my
husband, and you must never ap
pear in the United States again
You've asked me to choose between
my husbands honor and you. my
husbands murderer. don't see
how can you wonder at my answer
When get home ! win tell the
whole truth and try TO clear
Peters name, and take the smirch
off his memory"
At this point she paused, falter
ing; and for one brief instant she did
not know the cause OF tho sudden
wind OF terror that blew thru her
being, closing her throat and chol
ing back her brave words. In that
instant VANS attitude had changed
Outwardly there was little sign; pos
sibly certain lines docponcd on his
white face and his VIVID eyes looked
dull rcd. like glowing, dying Goals.
under his fine browa. a wan smile
determined rather than cruel, curlcd
ut his lips.
II was not that ho had msundcr
stood her words. Ho was not such
n fool as TO think this merely burst
OF temporary indignation, soon Ia
pass away. Dorothy had meant OK
nctly what sho said. Yet her opposI
ton only made her moro desirable
to him, heightened tho fro OF hls
madness His strong armS went