Evening star., 1932-09-06
The Runaway Wife
By VERNE CONNELLY

is something have to tell you wnen
man loves woman, he wants her
for his wife. jean want you to b
my wife. But am going to ask some
thing that may seem strange to you
. would you consent to be my wife
and not have children?"
Jean never forgot that moment
Something went through her body like
cold steel. She tried to speak, but no
| words came.
you are hurt" he said, 'and have
no way of explaining-it is just an
idiosyncrasy of mine"
II thought that if q man loved a
woman he wanted her to have children
for him to found a family"
Martin WINGED, for this was what he
desired more than all else. but how
could he tell her that he did not dare
subject their children to possible
hereditary taint in her? She was so
childlike, so trusting. so lovable. Yet
| it was the only way out, and the sacri-
| flee he was making meant more to him.
he honestly believed than 1t ever could
to her. He must not weaken: be must
convince her by some strategy. So, he
resorted to one of the Oldest, perhaps
most fundamental, of all human weak
nesses-he lied.
Jean, I think our love is beautiful,
complete in itself We don't need chill
dren to make 1t more perfect. should
/ be jealous of them, I think. They take
so much Of a mothers time and
I want you for myself alone. We will
be palS-travel all over the world and
do all the things you've always wanted
to do. have all the things you have
ever wanted"
Martin. ever since I was old enough
a. sl4II- 1t,,t !,
| forward to the day when I would have
real live baby in my arms. You must
not ask me to give this up-it is part
of woman's very life, her soul. With
out children, she is frustrated. And you
would love them, too, dear-you would
never think of being jealous. Instead,
you would be so proud of them and
| love me ever so much more :"
Martin was overcome by her sweet
pleading. But he was New Englander
in his rigorous adherence to principles,
and now he determinedly fought down
his emotions, his deep love for this
girl in his arms. He had compromised
his heritage of family and fortune in
order to offer Jean marriage. Now, he
must win his point. for Jeans sacrifice
would be no greater than his own.
Jean, dear, promise me before you
go that you will marry me, on the basis
have asked you. I can't say any more
to make you realize that I am not just
being selfish; it is something beyond
explanation, but I believe you care
enough for me to let us have our hap
piness :"
Martin, what do you suppose your
mother would say if she knew what
you propose?"
"A man must follow his own i'm
pulses, Jean. can't discuss it from
any viewpoint but my own. I want you
more than I ever wanted anything in
my life, and I want you to know that
didn't come to my decision hastily-I
have loved you ever since that time
you were i'll in my house, and I would
have asked you to marry me long ago
had 1t not been for this"
Jean was too calm now. Had Martin
known much about women he would
have realized then that he had lost,
for when a woman of jeans emotional
nature arrives at calmness on a por-
tentous subject that is signal she has
found resource in the depths of her
soul, and she is invincible to persua-
sion. She sat up facing him. She
placed a hand on either shoulder and
looked direct into his eyes.
Mdl L u 1dLtlCl
Hill and have children than to marry
you and not!"
That was a cruel blow. HAS Hill
asked you to marry him?"
Time and again, without stipulations
or reservations"
I'D like to pick you UP, carry you
down to my car. and drive somewhere
that We could be married and have it
over with now. That would settle the
main question, and I believe we'd work
the other out"
Its too late for cave man stuff, Mar
tin"
I'm not so sure-I imagine 1t might
work occasionally now, just as 1t did
in ancient times. But I think you'd
be little tiger II tried to carry you
off, and I'd hate to bash your pretty
head in"
(To he confinuedl