Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-02-11
What a Liar
: She Was
BY IONA DAVIDSON
CCopyrtght.)

E,IZARETH MOORE turned impa
l. tien3ty at the call Of weak voac'
that eaAae from an inner room. Sne
had hAAn watching the tall. vlriia f0rm
of uoaeDs Gresham as b. passed
,broskh tAe gate and entered the car
wa@ihx q good-by to her. and her eyea
vera haayy with the memory OF the
k,ss she had permitted him to give her
whils the Man slept In the darkened
So%An.
Now the Man, had awakened and
his call had taken the sunshine 0uf
at her eyes and the eager youthfutness
Prem her face. Yet, when she entered
thn sick room. she smiled and softly
asked:
rs there something can do for
You DEAR"
what did the doctor sayT' the Man
asked, weakly. "You two seen TO have
:, lot Of secrets; could scarcely hear
your voices" Suddenly he said
"Gresham loves you, Elizabeth"
The color flooded EIizabeth's faca
and she turned quickly away. 1t was
true. And 1t was sweet. Gresham old
love her and only thiS-thls mistake
stood between her and happiness
"You-yOu-love hlm7" the Man
asked, timidly, his voice weak with
fear. "You don't love him, Elizabeth Z
mo, dear, mo, no." she said, and
pressed her soft mouth against his
wasted throat Il only love you, only
you, dear"
Sometimes, Elizabeth" he said'
with a pathoS that hurt her. some
times | think Of the terrible price you
have paid for your little happiness,
When we did 1t"
He stopped moment, then Went
on
when we ran away / believed
could make you happy. Always re-
mrlah4r that I believed I could make
You happy, won't You, dear? But you
were eighteen and Il was forty"
"Husb," She said, soofhin2ly, hush,
You van only excite Yourself. J saori-
fiood nolbjng and l have nothing to
regret You have made me happy al
ways Tt was YOU who paid the price
You gave up your home ana your chill
siren, your business ana your friends,
you even diSgraced the name you were
so proud of, for my sake, and all !
have given you has been my foolish
love. Yet | did do love YOU"
DO you really love me?" he asked,
eagerly.
For moment Elizabeth's eyes
closed and her face was drawn and
old, then she silently answered by
pressing the Man still closer to her
breast; she kissed him and crooned
over him, calling him a thousand en-
dearing names, until he fell asleep.
When she arose TO her feet and gen
thy placed his head back on the pillow,
her lips were as white as her cheeks.
God! What liar am. What a
farce life is" she whispered. tive
years ago / asked only the right to
bear his name, TO tell the world | was
his wife; to forget the shame Of being
Just the other woman, and then
she died ! was glad. 1t meant that
he was all mine and we need never
hide any more"
She tried TO count the few months
that the ecstasy Of possession had
thrilled her and was conscious that
though the fire had swiftly burned out
there had always been feeling OF
inelfable peace until she met Gresham
che
heard his step on the walk and sprang
forward to meet him. In the moon
light she searched his face and Its
peculiar expression chilled her
GLOW Is he?" he asked, terSeIy.
ABOUT the SAME" she answered
''What is the matter? Is anything
Wrong2y4
''Yes,' he said 81 don't know how
Go tell you this, Elizabeth, but l have
been fighting with myself ever since
since this afternoon and even before
love you, dear" He paused.
''Wellr' she questioned.
"You viii have to get another docto
for him. am afraid to trust myself
can't help hopIng-don't shrink Xix,
that, am not murderer, but hat,
him because he dared wreck your lie,
with his selfish passion and hate hin
because. l love you. The temptation |!
terrihlei A little negligence, the wrons
mediipe-God! can't face 1t, girl
Don't hstAn to me, the temptation Il
damnable. l cannot attend him an,
longer"
Elizabeth stood silently facing the
clear sky. and the expression in hel
eyes startled Gresham.
He tried to take her in his arms, but
she fought herself free.
Tell me-" she commanded, ant
grasped bis wrist until her finger:
seemed y press the bone. "Tell me
have yoH-do you mean"
Elizabeth" Gresham said, sharply
81 have At least little honor. l am
not a rpurderer. l simply asked yoy
TO take the temptation from me-"
Elizabeth suddenly sObbed and
pushed him aside.
Deaf touch me-" she said, "dOnV
dare tsSch me. Pm going to get an
other dDctOr. I want him TO live, ]
want htm TO Live. didn't lie, l love
hiea, Oh, how love him!"
Ind Gresham watched her stumble
iu&n the house