The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-13


in for-certain things he despiseS in
other mcn-and that's one of them"
He turned as if to leave. then he
halted at the tent door and battled
with himself. After moment. dur
ing which the Countess Courtcau
watched him fixedly, he whirled,
crying:
well. the damage is done. love
you. l can't 90 along without you.
Divorce that man. I'll wait"
I'm not sure have legal grounds
for a divorce. I'm not sure that l
care to put the matter to a test
as yet"
trying to understand. Say that
over again!"
you think you've found yourself,
but-have you? l know men pretty
we'll and l think l know you. You've
changed - yes. tremendously - but
what of a year. two years from
now? You've barely tasted life and
this is your first intoxication."
DO you love me. or do you nor7"
he demanded.
Il love you as you are now. I
may hate you as you will be to-
morrow. I've had my growth; I've
been through what you're just be-
glnning-we can't change together"
Then will you promise to marry
me afterward?"
The Countess shook her head.
ITS promise that would hold only
me. Why ask it,"
will you marry me?" he cried.
hoarsely. She made a silent refusal.
Then l can put but one interpre-
tation upon your actions"
Don't be too hasty in your judg-
ment. Can't you see? I was weak
was tired. Then you came, like
a draught of wine, and-I lost my
head. But I've regained it.
dreamed my dream, but it's daylight
now and I'm awake. l know tia,
you believe me a heartless, selfish
woman. Maybe l am, but I've triet
to think for you, and to act on thai
good impulse. tell you ! would
have been quite incapable of it be-
fore I knew you. A day, month
a year of happiness! Most wome.
of my age and experience woule
snatch at it, but I'm looking farther
ahead than that. l can't afford an
other mistake. Life fits me, but 70,
why. you're bursting your seams.
i You've puzzled me with a lot o
words" the young man said, will
ever-growing resentment, but wha
do they. all amount tos You amused
i'yoursei1 with me and you're lcauy
enough to continue so long as pou,
my devotion at your feet. Well,
won't do il. If you loved me truly
you wouldn't refuse to m. " me
Isn't that so? True love isn't afraid
it doesn't bubble and temporize and
split hairs the way you do. No
it steps out boldly and follows the
light. You've had your fun, you've
broken my heart" Phillips voice
shook and he swallowed hard. I'm
Through; I'm done. / shall nevel
love another woman as l love you
but if what you said about that sex
call is true-l-lll play the game as
you played it." He turned blindly
and with lowered head plunged GU,
of the tent into the night.
The Countess listened to the
sounds Of his departing footsteps
then. when they had ceased, she rose
YEARLY and flung out her arms
There was real and poignant dis.
tress in her eyes.
Boy! Boy! she whispered. III
wa: sweet. but-there had to be an
end"
Fo, a long time She stood staring
at nothing; then she reused herself
with. a shiver,creflled the stove, and
seated herself again, dropping hel
chin upon her knees as she did. in.
stinctively when in deep thought.
IF only ! were. sure" she KEEP,
repeating to herself. "But he ha.
the call and-1m too old"
CHAPTER XIII
Rouletta Kirby could not manags
to get warm. The longer she sal
beside the stove the colder she be.
came. This was not strange, for the
room was draughty, people were con.
stantly coming in and going out, and
when the door was opened the wind
caused the canvas walls of the saloon
to bulge and its roof to slap upon
the rafters. The patrons were
warmly clad in mackinaw. flannel
and fur. To them the place wa.
comfortable enough, but to the CIR
who sat swathed in sodden under.
garments it was like a refrigerator
More than once she regretted hel
needless refusal OF the Counties.
Courteau's offer of change; sew.
eral times. in fact, she was upon the
point of returning to claim it, but
she shrank from facing that wintry
wind. so low had her vitality fallen
Then, too, she. reasoned that il
would be no easy task to find the
Countess at this hour of the night
for the beach was lined with mile
of tents, all more or less alike. She
pictured the search, herself crop.
ing her way from one to another
and mumbling excuses to surprised
occupants. No, it was better to stay
here beside the fire until her clothe,
dried out.
She would have reminded her ia
Their of her discomfort and claimed
his assistance only for the certainty
that he would send her off TO- bed
which. was precisely what she sought
70 prevent. Her presence irritated
him: nevertheless, she knew that hi.
safety lay in her remaining. Sam
Kirby sober was in many ways the
best Of fathers; he was generous. hi
4hsg eq d, he was son,as :, s.
man. subject to vagarie5- Of tempel
that Ysre as mysteriouS to the girl
who Knew him So well 4. they were
dangerous to friend and tn pike
ITO be continued)