Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-05-22

Joyce Fights a Good Fight

Joyce let RathWay lead her INSIDE
the log house without offering any
resistance. She moved like an autOm-
atom under the pressure of his arm.
Inside the large room he released her.
"Put down my pack!' he ordered
Shorty, who was attending him.
Light some candles and pin some
thing over the window, and then get
out"
In minute Railway and Joyce
were alone. The girl shuddered as the
candle light revealed the mans face
to her She had seen it so many times
in fearful Dreams and all the way up
through the range. When she had
married Railway she had hoped
against hope that something would
intervene to save her; but now the
blow had fallen. And she stood quite
still, her hands crossed on her breast,
waiting for what was to come.
Then Railway seized her in his
arms. He kissed her ice-cold lips,
cheeks, eyes, and throat. His hands
went paving over her. And as she
still stood unresistant and unrespon-
sive, his passion grew the f1ercer, and
mingled with fury at the realization
that this girl, so submissive in his
arms, was his in body alone.
He released her and, in his rage,
began to growl out jeers and curses.
"a different honeymoon from what
you were expecting Joyce girl" he
cried. mo, no, the same honeymoon,
but different husband. A better one,
eh, my girl? Well, can't you speak?
Which of your two men do you pre-
fer?"
But Joyce made no reply.
you've answered me, you drab"
Railway shouted. $50 you've been
living with him on the trail these two
weeks past! By heaven, was fool
to take you back from him without
killing him You thought I'd swallow
that lie about your having forgotten
you were a married woman, did you?
Did you ever hear Of a woman forget
ting that she was marriedT
Joyce only watched him with
uAcu gaze IHdL Iuhuc Allu ullCdoS.
you won't pretend to me that your
relations with him were innocent, l
suppose?"
Still Joyce said nothing, and Rath-
way grasped her by the wrists.
Answer me! We're theyW
Yes, they were innocent" The
words issued mechanically from her
lips. He glared at her, incredulous,
wanting to be convinced, unable to be.
OF course the girl was lying. He
would rather have known the worst
than remain in that state of uncer-
tainty. He didn't understand her. 1t
was barely possible, no more. He was
choking at the sight of her-his, yet
in spirit a world away And suddenly
he fell upon his knees, seized her
hands, and began impressing kisses
upon them.
"Forgive met" he stammered. I'm
mad with jealousy. l know you were
unconscious and at his mercy when he
took you away. You weren't to blame.
I love you, Joyce. I've always been
mad about you, you know that. Once,
when l lost my head, your father shot
me- Won't you forget this other man,
this Anderson? He means no good to
you He's after that mine, no doubt,
and that's why he forced his company
upon you in the range.
Forget him, Joyce. I love you. I'll
make you a good husband, and you
shall be rich woman. Well give up
this life here and go south, where
people know how to live. Can you love
me, Joyce"
NO." she answered, II don't love
you. I have always hated you"
by heaven, I'll show you!"
He was hqarse with passion. But as
he tried to seize her in his arms again,
she drew away suddenly, stopped
and then he saw that she had hunt
ing knife in her hand.
Listen to me now, James Rath-
way" she said, still speaking in the
same strained monotonous tone. II
shall never be yours. l shall kill my
self first. I would have fulfilled my
compact In the spirit and the letter.
had you fulfilled yours. But 1 didn't
trust you. 1 suspected that you were
tricking meas you were"
'SThat's a lie. l didn't trick you.
Put down that knife!'
TITS not a lie. You tricked me
twice. The first time you forced me
into maria 0e with vou hy the thraot