The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-25
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FROM HERE
Chapter 50.

the tongs up. His features were
obliteratcd--a white flash of rage.
She cried: God! Ben, don't"
and flung her head back, waiting, |
wide-eyed, motionless, almost in q
fains
His face thrust toward her. He
said frightful things. Suddenly he
turned. The tongs went flying !
against the wall. He dashed out.
siammine the door.
Silence rose, beat over her in bill
lows. She put out her arms, going
blindly across the room. Pictures
and broken glass strewn on the
floor. She knelt, gathering the frag-
praying and sobbing.
At Z o'clock, Ida, the cook, knocked:
DINNERS spoiling." She looked at
Sandy compassionatcly: lis Mr.. ,Mu-
rillo gone out? Shall / wait longer?"
"He may not return till late. He
was called out on business"
Ida nodded. Afterwards Sandy
remembered the peculiar angry ex-
preston on her face. ~
When it grew dark. she was a'littlc
afraid in this empty house. She heard
| echoes. She fancicd someone stealing
behind, clubbing her over the head.
He might come back and do in cold
frenzy what he had failed to do in
boiling. inscnsate anger. She had
read OF such things.
If he returned in this mood he
would kill her. She considered this.
frightened breath: "I'm not afraid
/ nf You,
here. Why should stay?"
Several times she put on her hat,
intending to visit her mother or
one of her married sisters. In inn.
agination she saw herself walking
j into the living room-the questions
they would fire at her--the breezy
lies she would tell. She threw the
hat back to the chair An ominous
reluctance holding her ;dumbly to this
room.
But at 10 o'clock when it was too
late; when the house and the sky
and the hills were swallowed in q
dark, moonless quiet. her hesitancc
appeared madness. What was she
waiting for? That he might come
and beat her to death2 Take up
those t0ngs and swing them down
ON her head?
1
them up quickly, flew toward the
bed, was about to thrust them UNI
der the mattress. A step in the hall
lat her door.
Her voice and the power of mo-
ton vanished. She crouched, glazed
with terror.
| Tho door pushed open.
"Oh.' she cried, dropping the
tongs and fell against the pillows,
screaming with laughter.
Ida entered with a. tray: "You
didn't eat your dinner. dearic. I've
brought little sandwich. What's
the matter?"
"Friehtened me! Might 'have
4 Ida picked up the tongs, stared at
them curiously.
. ! Sandy tried to bring smile over
white: "You sce+-I'm afraid. Be-
tongs handy in case burglar came
Are you afraid, Ida?"
Ida put the tongs under her copi-
Gus arms: "I'll take these, dearic
I'll watch out for the burglars
! There won't be any. Just you loci
your door and get good rest"
4 She was awake nearly all the night
No question now as to her future
Anyone could see this
! She covered her ears against the
/ clash of accusation. Everyone would
not see her side! Three months OF
| joy and she had Come homo and in.
! suited him! They would sec that!
No matter--no matter She would
be free Of him now. They couldn',
stop he:.
She lay rigid, her hands over hel
face. Was it hard to get divorce
If he. fought, might she lose it
Could. the law compel her to renair
with him:
She saw herself rknning away,
pushing off her mothers soft, warn
hands, shutting out her mothers
voice
She grew weak with emotion.
All morning; all afternoon she
waited. Breathlcss and stifled witt
suspense He would release her
She became certain of this. He woult
get the div0rce-perhaps was alread!
getting it. He would cut her Of
without q penny and think, he wa
rcvenginc hei.
She became light-hearted~ imagin
Ing InlS. WuAt clSe COOlU u0 10
Even a mailman would: realize it
The third day she was in tn
garden. M t III
He came. 1anguidl assured 9s
though nothing had happened. TIL
formal, half sneerin0 quiet Of hi
manner disarmed her.
"Good morningy he said coldly
eve come to talk over importan
matters. Would you mind coming
to the living room! You needn't b
afraid"
She answered haughtily: "pm no
afraid" and followed him.
He sat at the oblong table, mo
TIMED for her to sit opposite. H
SMILED, tried to pull HIS coat Slew
over his cuff.
Watching, she could hardly kee
!. from crying. Once-slfe had locke
At this man ropantically. She ha
! faRcied him knaeiing at her fee,
kissing her hand. pleading with po
etic fervor for her love. And final
i his dreamy eyes would move he
because Of their tenderness In,
!. beautiful pity she world 1t last yfef
!. to him.
She shrank from these .tsrribl
memories IS from Shames. She turn
ed her face SO that she wouldn't Sc
his red, parted lips and the lank hal
falling over his forehead.
!. You want to be free!"
"l'd like to hear your demands.
~ II ask you to free me. You ca