The Arvada enterprise., 1924-03-27

Hcr husband IN learning, IN certain
sort Of mental and social development
Pierre was filed with doubt and with
dread. with an almost unbearable self
| depreciation. And at the same time
he WAS filled with namelcss fear OF
what .Ionn might herself have become.
He stood with his hand on the knob
Of that half-opcned door, bent his
head, and drew some deep. uneven
| brcaths. He thought of Holllwcll us
| though the man were standing beside
him. He stepped in quietly, shut the
| door. and walked without hesitation
down the passagcway into the little
sunny sitting-room. There. before the
cracking open fire, sat Prosper Gael.
Prosper, it 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 II veil of cigarette
smoke before his eyes. lie 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 n muscle, merely lounged there.
his head against the side of the cush-
ioned chair, the brilliant, surprised
gaze changing slowly to amused con
tempt. His cigarette hung between
the long fingers Of one hand, It's blue
spiral of smokc rising TRANQUILITY into
n bar of sunshine from the window.
"The doctor told me to come up"
said Pierre grayely. He was aware of
the insult of this strangers attitude,
but he was too deeply stirred. too
deeply suspenseful. to be irritated by
ii. lie seemed to be moving in some
rare. disconnected atmosphere. ~
have his permission to scc-to see Miss
West, If she is willing to see me"
Prosper ilicked on an ash with his
she is willing to see you. Pierre Lam
disE' he asked slowly.
Pierre gave him n startled look
"lou know my name?"
"ies. | believe that four years ago.
on an especially cold and snowy night,
| interrupted you in II rather extraor-
dinary occupation and gave myself the
pleasure of shooting you" With that
he got to his feet and stood before
the mantel. negllgently enough, but
ready to his iingcriips.
Pierre came nearer by stride. He
had been stripped ut once of his air
Of high detachment. He was pale and
quIvering. He looked at Prosper with
eyes of incrcdulous dread.
"Werc you-that manI" A tide of
shamcd scarlet cngulfcd him and he
dropped his eyes.
Il thought that would take the as
Surnnce out Of you" said Prosper.
AS a matter Of fact. shooting was too
good for you. On that night you for
icltrd every claim to the consideration
of any decent citizen to turn you out
Of here. DO you still maintain your
Intention Of asking for nn interview
with Miss Jane Wcstt"
Pierre. hall-bllnd with humiliation.
turned without n word and made his
AWAY and kill himself. The purpose
was like iron In his mind. That he
| should have to stand and. because of
! his own cownrdly fault. to endure in.
suit from this contemptuous stranger
made of life II garment too stained
4. 4, a 4.
haste TO be rid OF 1t. Something how.
ever. barred his exit. lie stumbled
| back to avoid It. There. holding
aside the curtain In the doorway. stood
| Joan.
This time there was no possible
doubt OF her Identity. She was wrapped
In "A long blue gown, her hair had
fallen In braided loops on either side
Of her face and neck. The unchanged
eyes OF Joan under her broad bruws
looked up Mt him. She was thin and
! wan, unbrlicvnbly broken and tired
| and hurt. but she was Joan. Pierre
could not but forget death ut Sigh,
| Of her. He staggered forward. and
she. putting mp her arms, drew hin
l hungrily and let fail her head upon
| his shoulder.
My gel! My joan" Pierre sobhcd
rroSpcr'S voice sawed Into thcli
trcmuluus silence.
80, after all. the branding iron Il
the proper instrument" lie said. -
man can always rccognz" his cstrny
and when she Is recognized she vii
come To- heel"
Joan pushed Pierre from her vic
lcntly md turned upon Prosper Gncl
Her voice broke over him In ,umul
OF soft sCorn.
"lou know nothing OF loving, Pros
per Gael. not the first letter Of loving
Nobody has learned that nbout you n,
well Ms have Now. listen and
viii teach you something This Il
something that ! have learned. Their,
are wors. wounds than had IRON
Pierre. and II is by tn. hands OF sue.
| 81,