The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-01-19

getting married, Mark? As things are, We can quite well wait bit. We can't aff-we can't spare time for a honeymoon, anyway"
 "Postponement of sentence? I'd rather get it over, my dear"
 She was goaded, in spite of the long, patient years, into a flash of pride.
 "If you're even remotely serious in what you say, let's call it off. We can go on being close friends and"
 Thank youw Oh, thank you for those kind words"
 nothing need be changed. But, after all, it was your-your sug- gestion, originally. You-asked me to marry you"
 He lit another cigarette. But, beautiful Barbara-solemn hard-working, sensible Barbara-I always ask women to marry me l WllCil III III lOFC WlIu IllcIl. ouI, generally, they refuse"
 She felt the blood scorch her face. She was not jealous. It was not that. It was that there were so many rumors in this little town about Mark and his affairs; there was very, nearly substantiated story about Mark and Leila Cane and somehow Barbara coud not bear that curious coarseness in Mark, that laid these things bare ... She regained her control , with an effort
 There is still time for me to fall in line with the others" she said quietly. Say what is in your mind instead of-of batting me in- to saying it. That's-vulgar"
 She knew, as she used the word, that it was the wrong one. To accuse him of vulgarity was to strike home, and under the smart of a deserved blow. he could be devilish. She stumbled on and made things worse.
 T think we shall have to decide tonight, one way or the other because if you don't want to live in Texteer I ought to close the shop there and accept that Lon don contract"
 He giggled
 Beautiful Barbara, how could the whims of a foolish, coy crea- ture like me be allowed to inter fere with Big Business? And, by the way, how was business today? Isn't that the question that every loving helpmeet hurls of the weary wage-earner before helm sorry she falls upon the evening bone?"
 She said nothing. She need not, surely help him to torture her. The mouse need not stay alive to amuse the cat. She wondered dag ledly for. she was tired and sick at heart, whether Mark would kill her one day. .. He had shifted over to one side and was watching the fire. Only Mark could make a silence so frightful.
 She found herself breaking it, after all. She told him how busi- ness was and how she hoped it would be. Forgetting him, for moment, she stepped into the fu- ture, calculating, planning. So much for their living expenses in Texeter, so much to pay off the mortgage on the little house she had taken there, so much for hol- idays and health. And your leg acy for absolute emergencies, Mark. It's blessed to know that that will always be here"
 "Oh, didn't I tell you? I spent it."
 She bit off her exclamation. IQuite useless-worse than useless to exclaim over Mark! She sat helpless, the mouse waiting for the claws to strike again. '. Mark was drawing something from un- der the pillow. He tossed it into her lap.
 Gift of the bridegroom to the bride. Open it, beautiful Bar bara. It cost such a lot and it is so extremely out of place" She opened the case. A very fine emel aid lay on pale jade vel vet and a platinum chain was coiled round it. The setting was platinum, too, and unusual = a spiders web, fine but strong, in which the jewel was invisiblly held. With unsteady fingers she closed the case. She did not like emer- aids. He knew she did not like emeralds. It was Leila Cane who liked them. Three hundred pounds for an unwanted emerald when it was going to be struggle to find enough for rent and food! She felt, for the first time in her life, the desire to strike the