The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-06-13
CHAPTER V-Continued

"Undress and get in bed," said Will.
~'What do you mean, sitting here, with
out more clothes on, in this icy room?
DO you wish to harm yourself?"
She laughed. you are concerned
about my welfare, aren't your she
tainted him, and for answer he seized
her shoulders and gave her quick
little shake.
"Ernestine," he demanded, twill you
do as I say?"
She stood trembling, fighting down
the stupid well of tears, reaching out
after her departing anger.
"Will,'-her voice. was as low, as
vital as his own-"Im in such a rage
that / have got to talk to you. You
can't treat me this way. You can't
leave me to the courtesy of strangers.
You can't take me to such places
where there's drunkenness and i'm
morality. You have got to be bet
ter husband to me than that. have
given up everything for you-every-
thing
WINK SOu arc Ill OCd3 l IL Tain "
you," he answered, as he threw off his
coat and went to the wardrobe and
brought her her warm dressing gown,
nightgown and fur-lined moccasins.
He undid the fastening of her dress
and before she could arm herself
against him, he lifted it off over her
head. The satin slip, the silken un-
derthings-her body was like cold
marble. In moment, it seemed, she
was in nightgown and dressing gown,
in bed, and he was drawing off her
gossamer hose and chatting her feet in
his own cold hands until the notified
skin showed red with blood. Then he
tucked her under the covers and
brought chair and sat down beside
her, not touching her. Ernestine
laughed again.
''If you really cared" she said, her
eyes dark with anger and pain,
whether I were warmly in bed you
might have come with me to see."
He was silent. He was very pale.
Small beads of perspiration stood upon
his forehead in the cold room.
II am not likely to be ILL.," she said
scornfully. Don't be afraid Of that"
Still he did not speak, but looked at
her as though he were trying to ar
range some momentous decision in
bis mind. He took cigarette from
his pocket with hands trembling so
that when he lighted it he burned him.
self, and flung the match away with
an angry exclamation.
"Ernestine," he said, turning to her,
~'there is one thing that l will never
take from you. You are hysterical
now. but no matter how angry, how
sick or upset you are, there is one
thing that you must never say to me.
Never again. I won't take it from
you"
He drew the smoke into his lungs
with an effort at self-control, while
she stared up at the blur Of him, her
dark eyes swimming with tears.
II didn't know that you gave up
anything for me-" he said 81 thought
this marriage was on both sides the
Satisfying Of strong need. 1 never
asked you to make a sacrifice for me.
At least, that is not the way thought
of it, and don't think you did either.
But if you made one, will never ask
you to continue it. Any time you
want what you left you have only to
put on your hat and go back and get
1T. This must be understood between
us. You are under no compulsion to
stay with me. If you gave up other
things, it was because this was some.
thing you wanted more. Either our
marriage was gain for both of us
or 1t was a mistake"
"Why don't you so ahead and re.
mind me that proposed to your" she
said, too helpless in her own emotions
to be sensible.
aid you?" he asked coldly. 81
thought the matter was spontaneous
/ thought it was inevitable. Don't
cheaper yourself with such a thought
But however it happened, it was not a
sacrifice. / will not be sacrificed for
i don't want anybody to give up any
thing for ME. Understand"
There was moment of silence, and
he went on swiftly:
1T may be that before we are
through with this business of marriage
1t will be really hard for us. 1 don't
know that I'll ever be what your fam
lily considers essential in husband
a good provlder. may never make
more than a small living for us
Sometimes, like now. I feel such power
in me that l could go out and take
life BY the throat. ! feel at times thai