The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-05-14
WNU Service.

hind the closed doors of his library, he
always wanted somebody with him
She tried to remember the various Oc-
casions when he had found trivial ex-
cuses to take the butler or the chauf-
feur on some short excursion beyond
the %pretentious entrance of the apart
ment house she concluded that he did
not ask her to accompany him for the
pleasure of companionship. He seldom
conversed with her as he had once
done; If there WAS a choice between
going with her or in the limousine
with Paul, he chose the silent and
cynical chauffeur.
Nor was this all. She began to no.
tice frequent repetitlons of the fear
that had seized him within so short
a time of their odd marriage. He
never spoke of this, but she saw over
and over again his face, which had
become less youthful now, comfort, the
color leave it, his eyes grow restless
and fill with terror. She had observed
him in a theater, even at a moment
when a tense dramatic situation was
being enacted on the stage, turn
around as one turns who feels eyes
from behind, and search the faces of
those who sat in rows farther back.
She had known him to pause at the
doorway of a brilliantly lighted cafe
and, without paying attention to the
reckoning head waiter, who perhaps
was impressed by the distinction and
beauty and carriage of Brena, cos
TUNED as always with %colorings that
no other woman of her tints of hair
would dare to essay, look searchingly
at every party at the tables before
giving his hat TO the check girl. She
had seen him walk from end to end of
a limited train gazing from left to
right at those in the drawing-rOom
chairs, Just as one does to discover an
acquaintance, but with his c%ountenance
smeared YER with grOtesque apprehen-
sion. He was forever trying to scruti-
nize the faces Ticking by, whether the
afternoon sun shone on them on Fifth
e n or they peered out in white
patches from under the black of JOS
thing umbrellas in a rainy evening on
Broadway. Even Brena began to look
apprehensiyely into the worlds stream
of faces.
He who had ono consulted doctors
about his precious health who. when
she first had known him, followed the
trail of other rich men who amuse
themselves with their physical condi-
ton but with that passionate love of
his own well being and life which was
a characteristic developed in him as in
no other; who was steamed and
rubbed, manipulated, Illuminated by
various rays and baths Of light to add
days to his number, now had lost all
interest in health. Some external
menace had swallowed the fears of
those internal. He brooded alone. He
consulted no one.
Brena felt 1t her duty to interrogate
him she was met by the first burst of
rage he had ever projected at her.
Let me alone!" he said evilly, as he
thrust a vicious glance at her. Il have
problems that are my own. Keep your
hands off y
you forget that whatever it is that
is making you so strange affects my
life Also said Brena. Little by lit
tie it is isolating US both from normal
human beings. You glare into peo-
pies faces as if you expected to have
the next one fasten his or her teeth
in your throat"
$50 you are thinking at last of your
"Of course l am" she answered,
walking around the living-room table
and touching the books there with her
finger-tips. II might say that 1 was
above thinking of myself. But they
who say it always excite my suspicion.
I'm trying to think of both of us-as an
average human being should"
He said, you forget!' He was in a
towering anger.
mo, l don't" Brena replied quietly.
You bought me-"
She picked up a novel, read its title
and dropped it suddenly, as she said.
yes, you bought me-the bargain of
giving me a life for growth and in re-
turn l was to be your companion. You
asked for no more than that and to
have me help you come back to some
sweetness of spirit for which you
Well, I've given you nothing
more than you bought. And nothing
less. For I've tried"
He looked up quickly, turned his ear
her and then, having listened,
at the ceiling.
81 was wrong" he said. "A british
moment. 1 only meant that there is
something, of course-my nerves, no
doubt-a decay"
ut would be unfair for me not to
more" said Brena.
He folded his small, cold hands upon
the open book in his lap and stared.
You do not mean that some man.