The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-05-20
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w 7y: Mary lnloy 1aylorA&nSM1

ry you today and carry you off!
She chung to him, sobbing. III
go-tomorrow, if you're going,
she said, "I'll show them thai
1 believe in you'll"
ooh, you angel! You'd ruin
your life, marry an ex-convict-
just to show your faith in him.!
"Just because I love him! Pam
said bravely. ooh, Mark, I was
so miserable just HOW'LL be
:; happy battling for you"
( He took her hands genly from
his neck and held them in both
his, looking at her with haggaro
eyes.
Because I love you so much
can't let you do it, Pam. I'd be
a coward to let you do it,"
"Why? I've a right to marry
anyone I pleased" She was gal
liant little thing, ready to battle
for him.
NO." he said gently, mot q
convict! You don't know what
it would be. We couldn't keep
that record back. It'll follow me
look at Landon."
"Oh, Landon!" she cried con-
temptuously.
"There are many Landons
They'll point at me. I've got tc
face that, but I'd never ask the
woman I love to face it. Pam
you'd be brave at first, but il
would break you. Oh, I know
They'll call me a murderer, they
will talk of it. Because I adore
you, won't make you bear that
an ex-convict's wife, a man who
isn't cleared; it would wear you
down, break your heart!
I'm not afraid!" she sobbed
clinging to him, II mean it'll
go!"
He took her in his arms again
and kissed her solemnly.
cts good-by," he said firmly
II won't take you. At least, Tn
man enough not to ruin your life
|-because love you. It's good
by, PAM"
She could not speak; she lei
him go, but she stood still, tears
binding her. He would not take
her to fight his battle, there was
a tumult in he rheart, she want
ed to run after him to tell him
she would face anything for him
but he didn't want her to go! The
hot blood rushed to her face;
then she remembered the an
guish in his eyes-and he was GO
ing! She stood holding her
breath, listening to his footsteps
going away down the long hall
and, at last, the closing of the
door.
The closing of that door left
her helpless; there was apparent
ly nothing she could do. She had
offered to go the whole length for
him. to share his disgrace and
fight his battles. It was the one
thing that love could do, she
thought, and he had refused it!
1t was incredible that he could
refuse it, but he had.
She sank down on the cushion
ed bench in the alcove and bur-
led her head in her hands. There
was nothing to do now but to be
miserable! She tried to resent
his going without her, but she
could not; she had seen his face
and she dimly understood the
things he would have to meet
a man who had served a prison
term for murder, who could not
clear himself. If she had been a
man she would not have let a
woman share it! So that was that
She lifted her face from her
clenched hands and tried to wink
back the tears. If there was
something that she could do;
wasn't there something? Sud
denly her heart leaped-the jade
god! She would make Burleson
tell her everything he knew. She
rose weakly, pushing her short
soft hair out of her eyes; then
SUDDENLY, she laughed historically
the idea of making Uncle Herbert
do anything! She remembered
that terrible red streak that came
between his eyes when he was
angry; she would hate to be the
cause of it; Aunt Lynn always
declared he was on the point of
having a fit! But Mark mattered
more than Burleson's anger.
She went softly across the hall.
She wanted to be sure that Lam
don had gone before she
went back to the library. Mys-
teriously, as it seemed, lights
sprang up on the staircase from