White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-11-28
by Evelyn Campbell
Copyright by Evelyn Campbell.)
WNU Service
CHAPTER x-Continued

that life had played me an ugly trlck.
l was beginning to doubt and ques-
ton what was real and true. was
ready to throw 1t all away because
of pride that would not let me take
from another man. And then l was
made ashamed when they gave me
you. When found that out learned
how to be grateful and humble.
knew that one gift was but the prep
aration for another. l knew that l
had to win If had YOU"
She laid her fan against her lips
to conceal that she had bitten them
deeply. Now she had to be cruel, so
cruel that she dared not plan words
but must let them come as they would,
impelled by the bitterness of her soul.
And he must never know that this
hatred was for herself and not for
him.
"Are you trying to tell me that you
love me?" she cried, and burst out
laughing.
He drew back, hard hit. "You have
always known that" he said quietly.
| n
for it was that. Men and women are
so close to hatred when they love
She was trying to MAIN md kill his
love with all the weapons at her COM
mand. 1t was a thing that must die
here and now, If all that was good in
her died with it.
slave I? wonder" She appeared
to search her mind for proofs. But
how could | believe you meant it?
Young men-like you-are always
falling in love with women like me-"
AS If by accident she lifted the string
of pearls and held it before her like
a little swaying bridge of beauty to
her white breast. The movement was
symbolical; she needed to say moth
ing more, but she could not stop
there.
LET me get all this right. First, l
have come to Washington because of
you-because l love you, to be exact.
And then, as If that we're not enough,
l have been given to you by an over
generous diety as special inducement
to success! Good heavens, could
youth go further than that" She
laughed at him again, letting her cool
unlaughing eyes mock him for mo-
ment. go on. You had reached the
point where the world was at your
finger tips! Oh, this is fun. Better
than dancing in that hot room. Or
do all young men feel like that when
they gain good appointment"
But she had gone too far. He
suddenly freed her hands and leaned
back studying her white face from
which the delicate rouge stood starkly
out revealing its falsity. She shiv-
cred beneath that scrutiny but man.
aged in some way to preserve her
shield of scornful calm.
81 cannot believe YOU" he said.
you could not have changed in a
day to-this."
She made a gesture of WEAKNESS.
"What? That l am not an idealist?'
Some Of her pain found it's way to her
tired voice. "After all, what do you
know of me? What right have you to
choose for me?"
1.-THE right of love-" he said stub
bornly, and then he told her what
she had known all along she would
hear. All about his swift love for her
and the wonder she was to him and
the dreams he had had for them both
ALI the foolery that men believe when
they speak 1t to the one woman and
forget so easily. But as Brian told
it, 1t was very true and real and Linda
had to shut Her eyes tightly to hide
her tears and her lips more tightly
still to keep from saying that she be
lieved it all and would take her chance
like any other woman. That was
what she had meant to say few
hours ago-but not nowl
"Well, then" she cried desperate
ly, for she was nearly to the end
what must say-that you amused
me for little while and that it Il
all over? l cannot laugh at you any
longer. 1t is all too absurd. Because
have been kind to you. Try to SCI
how ridiculous 1t is. Could you give
me anything like this?" She lifted
the pearls and held them before him
For so long they had been a part Of
her play that the gesture came nat
urally. The pearls were defense
She could hide behind them as sht
had before.
He stopped her with look. III
was stupefied by the situation which
was developing into tragedy for him
1t seemed impossible that she coult
be saying these things that were hur
rying them apart. The whole scene
began to be nightmarish to him. TIL,
pale woman who was insulting hin
so determinedly could not be the Lin
da who yesterday had blushed ant
smiled under his eyes. There mus
be something that would explain thi'
madness and make 1t clear.
Linda" he said softly, won't yol
tell me what it means?"
He thought her lips quivered; h
thought she was about to speak ant
tnen the swiftest change of all came