Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-06-26
The Planters Wife =

probate Brent's voice trembled with
anger You and know Il isn't pos
Abie there was another win. Jose has
always been heel and waster. Father
would never have left him the lands
mo-. even II he had been his own flesh
and blood. But the law is the law, and
I the living earth I've done everything
but bleed for is his to lay waste If they
I say so"
What about the cash payment you
"Blackmail. Doris. He doesn't want
q reasonable sum. He wants to bleed
US white"
She was silent for q long time caught
IN the web Of her secret thoughts. There
were faint human noises from the dis
tant mulatto quarters and the shrtll
chorus Of cicadas. but under them q
profound bottomless silence. Far away
so far away that they might be on
another planet, there were lighted Gin
emas and theaters, dance orchestras
and dancing feet, restaurants filled
with white faces like her own, English
speech and happy laughter. 1t would
not be q sword In her heart II they
had to leave ManZana. She put O slim
white hand over Brent's Sinewy brown
one. Would it matter to you 50 very
much If you woke up one day to find
the plantation gomez"
Eyes, Doris. You did not see the
place when I came back to take 1t
over. had been away for years. Father
was too old to care and the estate
was a ruin. I learned to love 1t while
I raised it from the dead with my own
two hands There IS no love like love
of the land you have labored for-land
that sustains you. Through all vicis-
STUDIES, its entegrity remains"
But it's so very lonely here, Brent.
Don't you think in time you would
Never. I'd be less than half man
If ever went back. to the emptiness
He saw a hopeless despair shine
markedly out OF her eyes. My poor
Doris, I was a mad. selfish fool to marry
you and bring you here. Do you want
me to release you and let you go back
to New York;"
Her eyelids fell and yelled her eyes
from him She lifted his hand and
held it against her cheek. Not without
you, Brent. suffer to live with you,
but I can't live without you. I love
you"
They sat in silence charged with
feeling. Brent took her hand and
pressed her fingers to his lips. She
Said-"then what are you going to do
about de Jerez? Wait for something
to happen?"
hand. told him I saw through his
bluff, and would get my attorney
on his tail right away. Wen make the
trip to Havana the day after tomor-
row"
Doris frightened at once. She could
do some shopping, see the movies and
a theater and dance a few nights away |
at the night clubs. for surely Brent
would arrange to stay away for few
days.
But when Brent woke her early on
the day of departure, Doris sat up 1
with a binding headache. The weather /
had been unusually trying for week, |
the atmosphere sultry and humid, al |
most smouldering with the heavy sullen /
heat. She looked at him through leaden |
half-open eyelids. Couldn't you post |
pone 1t, Brent? feel worse than / |
did yesterday. I couldn't possibly face I
she long drive today"
"Then I'll take you another time |
soon, darling. I'm worried. III come /
back to you tomorrow. But feel there's |
no time to be lost" He kissed her
.enderly, bathed her hot forehead with
cologne and brought her the aspirin.
Doris doSed herself generously after
ne had gone, and when the pain re-
,eded, got up and roamed the house,
)ored and miserable, feeling limp, dtz-
" and heavy-eyed. 1t was dreadful
lay with a sky like brass-no air NOV
ne anywhere except where the fans
we're running in the house. The fringed
caves Of the palm trees hung down
Is stiff and still as II they were cut
rom metal Rectangular CULTS Of
,hadow grew larger In the fields as
he mulattos worked steadily cutting
Town the canes. The horizon was
Danking up with thick slow gathering
LIQUIDS.
Restless and nervous, Doris went out