The Coolidge examiner., 1932-06-03
Men Who Love
BY BERTHA LEAH CROSS

LIZ "OAitAAi GNOOu dl lAlI CbSC VI
l. 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 be-
hind it. Her figure was slim, and
she might have been high priestess
at her devOtionS so still was she.
With a 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 COM
paniOn.
Tins later' she said aloud.
Hes been late a lot lately" A
shadow seemed to fall on her heart;
sudden weight as she thought that
perhaps 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 alb
surd. Tim and | are both the vic
tins of our parents.
His father and mother have each
other. He's not really needed at
home not the way am"
She sighed. 81 guess it's just be-
cause I've given him too much!"
bitterly. Men are that way when
women are fools like me!
"Oh, why can't he see things
right?" she said aloud. "And why
does he never consider me and my
wishes?"
Her thoughts swept back to their
last discussion of the problem.
Their words were recorded on her
memory.
II can't marry you and your moth
er, too! Your first duty should be
to yourself and to me. You owe
everything to me to the man
you say you love. We should come
first our happiness together" ="
But you don't understand, Tim I!
Mothers sick and all alone but for
me. She's helpless with that ar
thrills. | have to help her. She
can't even dress herself alone. 1t
would be inhuman to leave her. Oh,
if only you would :"
Lets not talk about it any
more !" In his careless way he
shunted the subject and pulled her
! into demanding arms.
"Ill never come there to live with
her, Carrie" as she still hung back.
$50 well 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 me?"
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 her
self into his arms. 81 thought you
were never coming. I'm afraid in
these dark woods !"
He laughed carelessly, drawing
her up to him with a caressing arm.
Sorry, Carrie. You see, we were
playing pool down at Toni's and !
lost track of time" His careless
words struck her like a blow in the
face. lost track of time" she
mentally repeated. How little he
cares about seeing me"
Her silence seemed to vex him.
He pulled her down beside him on
the pine needles, and looked at her
reproachfully.
Here | come mile to see you
an. all you do is sulk ~ Then he
expressed penitence again, and the
tension was eased. She yielded her
self to his love making with sweet
ardor.
81 love you, Tim! !" she whispered,
her hand against his smooth cheek.
"Oh, love you so! If anything were
TO part us. | should die. want to
be married. Tim, and have things
right. want to be your wife, and
maybe have children
well, then if you love me, prove
it! You know I'm ready when you
say the word. I'm not stuck on this
bachelor love making Iyself. 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.
"I'll never marry a woman who
doesn't put me first ~ he said. "And
that's my last word. I'll never go
there to live if you ask me hun
dred years. Whatre you going to
do about it?"
She stood facing him suddenly an
g-y.
You're cruel {" she sobbed.
you're hard and ruthless and un-