The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-07-01
Men Who Love
By BERTHA LEAH CROSS
GO by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
(WNU Servicel

THE woman stood at the edge of
= the wood, in the dying light of day,
her head lifted watching the blue bulk
OF the mountain, and the gilded orange
that arose from behind 1t. Her figure
was slim, and she might have been
a nigh priestess at her devotions so
stiii was she. With sigh, her gaze
dropped to the gloomy cavern of the
woods, and she peered, expectant,
down the path which stretched way
into the blackness where the pine
trunks snuggled closely together for
companionship.
Tins late!' she said aloud He's
been late lot lately" A shadow
seemed to fall on her heart; a sud-
den weight as she thought that per-
maps he was already growing tired of
these nightly trysts.
He hates mother; he won't come to
the house, and his mother hates me.
It's all so impossible and absurd. Tim
and l are both the victims Of our par
snts."
Her thoughts roved over the seem
Ing impasse. But her common sense
revealed the solution If only Tim
would see 1t.
His father and mother have each
other. He's not really needed at
i home not the way I am."
She sighed. 81 guess it's just because
I've given him too much" bitterly.
"Men are that way when women are
fools like mel''
"Oh, why can't he see things right?"
she said aloud. "And why does he
never consider n'e and my wishes?'
Her thoughts swept back to their
last discussion of the problem. Their
words were recorded on her memory.
Il can't marry you and your mother,
tool Your first duty should be to
yourself and to me- You owe every
thing to me to the man you
say you love. We should come first
our happiness together"
"But you don't understand Tim
Mothers sick and all alone but for
me. She's helpless with that arthritis
have TO help her. She can't even
dress herself alone. 1t would be In
human to leave her. Oh, If only you
would :"
Lets not talk about 1t any morer'
In his careless way he shunted the
subject and pulled her into demand
ing arms.
I'll never come there to live with
her, Carrie" as she still hung back
$50 Wen have to make the best Of
things till you get ready to come to
me Love me?" changing the
subject abruptly. "Going to be nice
to me3"
She capitulated. The evening end
ed as the many others had
After another interval of waiting
and OF thinking, she saw spark Of
light coming down the dark path, a
tiny glow. Footsteps approaching. The
cigarette was tossed carelessly aside.
Tim !" she cried, throwing herself
into his arms. II thought you were
never coming. I'm afraid In these
dark woodsl'
He laughed carelessly, drawing her
up to him with caressing arm.
Sorry, Carrie. You see, we were
pA0gih6 pun uON dL 1Uul anu i IOSL
track Of time" His careless words
struck her like blow In the face.
Lost track of time" she mentally re-
Dsated. How little he cares about
seeing mel"
Her silence seemed to vex him. He
pulled her down beside him on the
pine needles, and looked at her re-
proachfully.
Here | come mile to see you and
all you do is sulk !" Then he ex-
pressed penitence again, and the ten
sion was eased. She yielded herself
to his love making with sweet ardor.
II love you, Tim!' she whispered,
her hand against his smooth cheek.
"Oh, love you SO! If anything were
to part US, I should die. / want to be
married, Tim, and have things right
1 want to be your wife, and maybe
have children ;"
His kisses were hard and demand
ing on her lips. He drew her closer
to him, and caressed her more passion
ately.
"Well, then if you love me, prove it!
You know I'm ready when you say
the word. I'm not stuck on this bach
elor love making myself. I'm ready
when you are"
'But mother :"
"There you are" savagely. Back at
the same old stand. She's always in
your thoughts. I'm sick and tired of
hearing mother, mother! all the
time"
He pulled her to her feet
'rll never marry a woman who
doesn't put me first p he said. Sand
that's my last word I'll never go there
to live IL you ask me hundred years.
What're you going to do about it?"
She stood facing him suddenly an
CRY.
"You're cruel !" she sobbed You're
hard and ruthless and unfeeling You
know I can't leave that poor woman
alone and helpless You're selfish and
your love is nothing but passionl'
"All right" quietly. you've had
your say. Now I'm going. And you
need never come her again to meet
me. I'm done!'
Flinging aside her suddenly desper-
ate hands; ignoring her broken 81
didn't mean IT. he strobe off into the
woods which opened and received him.
"Oh oh Tim y,