Nogales international., 1934-08-11
Nov 90 ON aWth the story.

He could keep her, he had right
to keep her. Then he saw her shak-
ing like leaf. By kind of violence
then, binding himself, he had married
c woman who did not love him, who
shrank from him now with terror and
repulsion. He turned away, without
q word, and began to walk to and
fro in the room.
If he looked at her he might yield
to the natural impulse of his own love
for her; he might take her to his
heart, and it would be against her
will. 1t would be actually an act of
violence rather than an embrace, for
she was afraid of him; he saw it!
Ii moved him, perhaps, more than
anything else. Then the turnult of
his feeling drowned even thought it.
sell.
He crossed the room quickly. In a
moment his arm was around her, his
hand on her shoulder.
Nancy" he said softly, my wife p
She tried to answer him, but her
white lips refused to move. She could
not even lift her eyes to his.
He felt ii, felt that she actually
shivered at his touch. He let her go,
his arms fell at his sides, and he stood
still, regarding her.
Il knew you didn't love me" he
said at last; Il gambled on the chance
that I could make you-I-God for
give me, | took advantage of you,
/" He turned away, and then at
last, hurriedly: 'Tm going to take
you home p
"You mean-l' her lips shook.
! ~ mean ! don't want you to hate
me, Nancy, this thing can't 60 on,
] see it I! This marriage he stop
ped, unable to go on.
Richard" she began family, TAX
ing a step toward him.
He looked around at her and their
eyes met. She was shaken again by
the power and passion of his glance.
She had never really known the man
and now, in the depths OF those
strange, green-brown eyes of his, She
saw love and passion and rage, not
untouched, too, by compassion, the
compassion a man might feel for a
spoiled child. Nancy's face burned
suddenly. She came nearer, holding
up her head.
Forgive me, Richard" she said
family, and give me little time"
Hisx face softened wonderfully.
"Nancy!" he gathered her trembling
hands into his, you don't know what
love is, you child, you" He drew a
little nearer Il wonder if you've ever
really been in love in your whole
lite ?"
She WINGED with such tremor of
feeling, that the red blood mounted
from her bosom to her throat.
"I've married you," she said in a
low voice, I'll try to do my best-l
will truly, if you'll give me little
time, Richard
And you take no thought OF me" ;"
He laughed strangely bitter laugh.
you've married me and you forget
I'm a man like other nlen-I have
feelings, too, Nancy; I'm not stone
and you can feel how I love you"
"Oh!" she gasped, Il was wrong
to do it I--you love me, and /"
She wrenched one hand free and,
reaching back behind her, caught at
the edge of heavy table and leaned
against it, weakly.
Her agony reached through even
his passionate emotion. She had re-
coiled from him with such terror
thai it struck him like blow, He
le. her hands drop with gesture CT
passionate rage.
u don't want a wife who doesn't
love mel" he cried with sudden fury.
The moment was primal the tornado
of his passion and his revulsion tore
Gown to his very heart
She shrank before it, clinging-
white e-taced-to the table against which
sn1 leaned
He did not heed it, I'm going to
take you home. You" he stopped
again, unable to go On, then, master
ing himself-"you're free-if you will,
yol, can keep this marriage secret
it 5 no marriage except in name. I'll
take you home now-tonight !"
She caught her breath, staring at
him wildly, but, instead OF relief, she
ielt the sting Of his rejection.
"You mean-?" her stiff lips re-
fused to frame the words in her mind
Il mean | don't want a woman who |
can't love me, that's what I mean!"
r. flung back at her like challenge.
She took it as such and faced him,
guivering from head to foot,
IL didn't pretend | did!' she said