The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-09

scowling: "Take care! Nou may
flout me once too often"
"And what will you do then? Turn
me into the street? That's what ]
! want"
She went up the stairs whistling,
her head flung back Is though she
were tingling with joy. She stood
before the mirror taking long. gasp
ing breaths, fascinated BY the scar
let stains on her cheeks. the hard
brilliance Of her eyes.
She felt hard and brilliant-hard
with contempt; brilliant with def
ance. She thought: Il owe him
nothing. NOTHING! owe no one
xnythinR!"
She walked with = quick. firm
step about the room. shaking out .
drape ut the window: strengthening
| . row of books; busting off powder
| from the dressing table. She owed
no one anything! Life was rich and
sweet. It Offered her gifts--joyous
, gifts. She was taking them. She
had right to take them!
"Dearest-desrest--w will you
I tell me that you care? You will
| some time-how ! love you'll
Phrases from Raymon's letter
drifted to her mind. loitered like. =
caress.
She told herself presently, con-
scious Of an oppressive warmth:
I'm free Of all that! Free of con.
science! Free of restraint and the
old hankering scruples Isabel had
| grated to her spirit.
She was free to live: take bound
lessly of this exultant sweetness.
He was coming Saturday? Yes
let him cPme--Saturdays and Satur-
days!
There now entered into her atti-
tude a pathetic abandon. She had
nothing to lose; no sanctities in her
life that needed guarding. 1t was
shameful-made up of lies and in
dignities. Fling it away-all OF it-y
make it anew in flame and beauty
Murillo dared her to flout him
she to fear or to forfeit? She was
awaiting some terrible climax that
would end this ugly sham. Why
shouldn't she flout Murillo and
hasten it?
With flying pulse she now stole
through the back garden these
Saturday nights when Ramor
waited in the shadow down thu
road. Murillo was never home
| But then--ah---onc never knew. Sht
sped along till the hand reached GU
and caught hers warmly. Sh'
laughed when Ramon kissed her q
she had laughed in her girlhood =
Timmy's ardOr.
.AYou must care for me. Sandy
or you wouldn't put yourself out t.
meet me-"
Il like being loved" she answer
ed truthfully.
He frowned: "rm coming soutl
: the first Of the year. III be in Lo
Angeles all spring. | took the jo'
because Of YOU" The warmth Q
: his eyes. which she could clearly Sc
n a flush to her heart. "You won
: always be bound. Sandy
= 1T seems so. don't know ho'
:. I'll ever get Free"
J, "lf you could-Esten-if yo,
= could. would you come to me
= Would you marry me. Sandy
II She shut her eyes. liking tn
- touch Of his warm. sinewv hands
g would you marry me. Sandy"
II II don't know. Ramon, I'd wan
"Oh. wouldn't you feel sure abou
i
= She reached up her hand an
touched the tanned, intent faca
"YOu have been-yOu have been.
er You're glad I'll be nearer--nea
!, enough to come half dozen time
- in week."
~ "No-not that often Satul
'r :You look forward to Saturday
"Yes-yes" She sank dow
joyously whispering: II won't think
" don't need to think" and laughe
r. when he kissed her.
H.. But at midnight when she wen
U. padding about her room, her fee
chilled. her heart on fire, she aske
~ herself fearfvlly:
ID "What am | doing? How lon
ne can ] do this-I wonder how long
Re And in the company Of Alice an
n her mother. she thought: what
q they knew ] went to meet Ramon,
snealring out to ride with him? q
what would Alice say il l told her {
~ Ramon--that kiss him-that
!" fling my arms about him."
y. She felt hard. sophisticated-rutl
less. She listened to the girls VIII
= had been her friends before her mai
Ae riage-listened to their posing. thei
y, brsxen talk. She thought; II wa
3; like that once | thought ] knew!
She went around with them. keeE
ing these affairs secret from Murill'
re
It. Spring came-the sweet early day
u. of February. They were gathering ,
Edna Stacy's. Someone said: "Whs
= next" There was a silence.
ur Sandy answered: II guess it's m
turn"
ed EYES," said May Arliss. II gue'
he it u.s.
Is- "Then make it next Saturday
This was the first time Sandy hi
he invited the crowd to her house
ct the evening.
ly.| She was inwardly athrob with e.
re element. that rs the week advance
turned to alarm. What If Murill
he remained home this weekend? VIII