OCR Text |
Show BEAR RIVER VALLEY LEADER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1929 rv , What would It matter a hundred years from now? Again I drank. How wonderfully strong 1 felt! 1 smashed my clenched fist against the bar. My knuckles were bruised and bleeding, but I felt no pain. I ached to fight some one. Then all at once came the thought of Berna. It came with tragical suddenness, with poignant force. Intensely it smote me as never before. I was drunk, deplorably drunk, and I was bound for the Tivoli. To the right as I entered the place was a palatial bar set off with bur nished brass, beveled mirrors and glit d tering, pyramids of costly liquors. Up to the bar men were belly ing, and the bartenders in white Jackets were mixing drinks with mas terly dexterity. To the left I had a Trrwn UU IU. fffERADIL hland .Rfiman vari-colore- y ! 6y ROBERT W. SERVICE I! Illustration by Irwin Myers Wru Service 7 Berna on the dance halls words cannot convey all that this simple phrase meant to me. For two months I had been living in a dull apathy of Va. but this Dews galvanized me into mediate action. . iFor although there were many de- depravity, at the V F ees of dance-hal- l t It meant a brand of ineffaceable 1 shame. She had lived with Locasto, v 'had been recognized as his mistress that was bad enough ; but the other to be at the mercy of all, to be classed j r !ilan with the Poke, the vampires of the gold camp. Berna Oh, it was unspeakable The thought maddened 1 me. to the big cabin, Bidding good-b- y with my two partners looking ruefully after me, I struck off down Bonanza. ;A11 I thought of was Dawson and Berna. I would make Berna marry me. I .cared nothing for what had happened to her. I might be a pariah, an out cast for the rest of my days ; at least I would save her, shield her, cherish her. The thought uplifted me, exalted I Tinated From Head to Foot With a me. What did it matter if physically "" Strange, Pleasing Warmth. 'they had wronged her? Was not the 'pure, virgin soul of her beyond their view of the gambling room, a glimpse reach? of green tables, of spinning balls, of I was just in time to see the last cool men, with shades over their eyes, boat go out impassively dealing. There were huge wheels of fortune, keno tables, crap As I strolled the streets I saw many outfits, faro layouts, and, above all. a familiar face. I went into the the dainty, fascinating roulette. Every' p'terisian restaurant, and there was thing was in full swing. In front of me was a double swing-doo- r y ttadam, harder looking and more painted in a creature of rapacity and white and gold, and, pushing through lust. I marched up to her and this, for the first time I found myself asked abruptly: in a Dawson dance hall. "Where's Berna?" I sat down on a seat at the very "Sfle gave a violent start. There was back of the audience. Before me were a quality of fear in her bold eyes. row after row of heads, mostly rough, Then she laughed, a hard, jarring Their faces rugged and unwashed. laugh. were eager, rapt as those of children, "In the Tivoli," she said. They were enjoying, with the deep sat Strange again ! Now that the worst isfaction of men who for many a had come to pass, and I had suffered weary month had been breathing the all that it was in my power to suffer, free, unbranded'air of the Wild. The a new sense of strength and mastery sight of a woman was thrillingly sweet ; had come to me. The greatest evil the sound of a song was ravishing. had be"fen me. Life could do no 'Lgoking at many of those more to tmlrni me. I had everything faces one could see that there was no to gain and nothing to lose. I cared iharm in their hearts. They were for no man. I despised them, and, to honest, uncouth, simple; they were back me in my bitterness, I had twenty-fjust like children, the children of the ive thousand dollars in the bank. Wild. I was still weak from my illness and A little girl was singing, a little, ,my long mush had wearied me, so I winsome with a sweet childish went into a saloon and called for voice and girl face. How ter an innocent ,'drinks. I felt the raw whisky burn my looked in that out she of place ribly throat I tingled from head to foot palace of sin. She sang a simple, old' with a strange, pleasing warmth. world song full of homely pathos and :Where was that bitter feeling now? As she sang she gentle feeling. !As I drank it all seemed to pass away. looked down on those furrowed faces, iMaglcal change! What a fool I was! and I saw that many eyes were Vhat was there to make such a fuss with tears. , dimmed aDonti a was an a larce anyway. As the last echo died away the audi ence rose as one man, and shower of J7 nuggets pelted on the stage. Here When You Think was something that touched their to. HARDWARE hearts, stirred in them strange mem ories of tenderness, brought before scenes of fireside them to Build "Everything Anything" happiness. Phone 11. The curtain fell. Men were clearing the floor for the dance, so I went downstairs, pressed my way to the door, and stood there staring and swaying, but whether with wine or weakness I knew not In the vociferous and flamboyant street I could hear the raucous voices of the spielers, the Jigging tunes of the orchestras, the click of ivory balls, the popping of corks, the hoarse, animal laughter of men, the shrill, inane giggles of women. And as I stood there wretchedly a Also all kinds of Fire and timid little hand touched my arm. vul-Lrris- h, i THINK WILSON half-forgott- Federal Farm Loans Interest Rate 5 Automobile Insurance CHAPTER XI Apply She was changed, desperately, pitifully changed. All the old sweetness was there, that pathetic sweetness which had made the miners call her the Madonna; but alas, forever gone from her was the fragrant flower of girlhood. Sorrow had kindled In her gray eyes a spiritual luster, a shining, tearless brightness. Ah me, sad, sad, indeed, was the change In her I Her lips moved: "How you have changed!" Tes, Berna, I have been ill. But you, yon too have changed." "Yes," she said very slowly. "I have JAMES BROUGH Secretary and Treasurer Garland National Farm Loan Association 'A UTAH GARLAND Garland Milling Company Manufacturers of the Famous TRADE OP UTAH" FLOUR Also all Kinds of Mill Stuff. The Best Mill in the Bear River Valley. Highest Cash Price Paid for WHEAT Near the Depot :: Utah :: Garland GOOD gold-gettin- oat of my life. To this day there most be many who remember my meteoric career In the firmament of fast life. It did not last long, but In less than a week I managed to squander a small fortune. I drink and I drink. It seems to me I am always drinking. Barely do I eat I am one of half a dozen spectacular "live ones." All the camp Is talking of us, but It seems to me I lead the bunch In the race to ruin. I wonder what Berna thinks of it alt. Was there ever such a sensitive creature? Where did she get that obstinate pride? Itemonstrantly the Prodigal speeds to town. "Are you crazy?" he cries. "I don't mind you making an ass of yourself, but lushing around all that coin the way you're doing It's wicked; it makes me sick. Come home at once.-"I won't" I say. "What If I am When crazy? Isn't it my money? the money's done I'll quit I'm having the time of my life. Don't come spoiling it with your precepts." He goes away shaking his head. I am in a bos' at the Palace Grand. The place Is packed with rowdy men passeth understanding. "Berna," I said, "it Is not too late. i ' weeks I was delirious, raving of yon, trying to get to yon, making myself a hundred times worse because of you. But what could I doT I was out of my mind, weak as a child, fighting for my life. That was why I did not come." When I began to speak she started. As I went on she drew a quick, choking breath. Then she listened ever so intently, and when I bad finished a great change came over ber. When she spoke her voice was a whisper. "And they lied to me. They told to me you were too eager think of me; that you were in love with some other woman out there; that you cared no more for me. They lied to me. Well, It's too late now." She laughed, and the once tuneful voice was harsh and grating. Still were her eyes blank with misery. I longer to comfort her, to kiss that fce so white and worn and weariful, to bring tears to those hopeless eyes. There seemed to grow in me a greater hunger for th&glr! than ever before, a longing to bring Joy to her again, to make her forget. What did It all matter? She was still my love. I yearned for her. We both had suffered, both been through the furnace. Surely from It would come the love that beendead." There was no faltering In her voice, never a throb of pathos. It was like the voice of one who has given up all hope, the voice of one who has arisen from the grave. "Come upstairs where we can talk," said she. So we sat down In one of the boxes, while a great .freezing shadow seemed to fall and wrap us around. We were like two pale ghosts meeting In the misty gulfs beyond the grave. , ." , O'.V; "And why did yon not come?" she asked. '.' ;'.(.;';'"I would have sold my bouI to com. I was 111, desperately ill, nigh to death. I was In the hospital For two We have both been miserably duped. Never mind, Derna, we will forget all. I love you. Let us forget and go away and be happy." It seemed as If my every word was like a stab to her. The sweet face was tragically wretched. "Oh no," she answered, "it can never be. You think it can, but it can't. You could not forget I could not forget We would both be thinking; always, always torturing each other. Our home would be a haunted one, a place of ghosts. $ Never again can there be joy between you and me. It's too late, too late 1" She was choking back the sobs now, but still the tears did not come. "Berna." I said gently. "I think I could forget Please give me a chance to prove It I know it was not your fault I know that spiritually you are the same pure girl you were before." "No, I was not to blame. When you failed to come I grew desperate. When I wrote you and still you failed to come I was almost distracted. Night and day he was persecuting me. The others gave me no peace. If ever a poor girl was hounded to dishonor I was. Yet I had made up my mind to die rather than yield. Oh, It's too horrible." "Never mind, dear, don't tell me about it." "When I awoke to life sick, sick for many days, I wanted to die, but I could not. I was so weak, so ill, so indifferent to everything that it did not seem to matter. That was where I should have I made my mistake. killed myself. Oh, there's something in us all that makes us cling to life in spite of shame! But I would never And let him come near me again though, when he went away, I've gone into this life, there's never been anyone else. I've danced with them, laughed with them, but that's all. You believe me?" "Yes, dear." "Thank God for that I And now we must say good-by- . I would not spoil your life. You know how proud I am, how sensitive. I would not give you such as I. Once I would have given myself to you gladly, but now please go away. Leave me, please." "Leave you to what?" "To death, ruin I don't know what If I'm strong enough I will die. If I am weak I will sink in the mire." "Berna, will you marry me?" "No! No! No!" "Berna, I will never leave you. Here I tell you frankly, plainly, I don't know whether or not you still love me you haven't said a word to show it but I know I love you, and I will love you as long as life lasts. I will never leave you. Listen to me, dear: let us go away, far, far away. forget I will forget. Come with me, O my love! Have pity on me, Berna, hare pity. Marry me. Be my wife." She merely shook her head, sitting there cold as a stone. "Then," I said, "if you call yourself dishonored, I, too, become dishonored. We will go down together, you and L Oh, I would rather sink with you, dear, than rise with the angels. You have chosen well, I, too, have chosen. You will see me steep myself in shame, then when I am a hundred shades blacker than you can ever hope to be, my angel, you will stoop and pity me. We'll go down together, dear. Hand In hand hellward we'll go down, we'll go down." She was looking at me In a frightened way. A madness seemed to have got ten Into me. "Berna, you're on the dance halls. Tou're at the mercy of the vilest wretch that's got an ounce of gold in his filthy poke. They can buy you as they buy white flesh everywhere on earth. Berna, I can buy you. Come, dance with me, drink with me. We'll live, live. We'll eat drink and be Oh, for merry. On with the dance the Joy of life! Since you'll not be my love you'll be my Come, Berna, cornel" I paused. With head lying on the cushioned edge of the box she was crying. "Will you come?" I asked again. Sbe did not move. "Then," said 1, "there are others, and J have money, lots of it I can buy them. I am going down into the vortex. Look on and watch me." You will 1 light-of-lov- I left her crying.- - ' It is with shame I write the follow ing pages. Would I could Mot them The Place Men Is Packed With Rowdy and Ribald Women. and ribald women. I am at the zenith of my shame. Right and left I am little piece of paper. Ob It was written: "Mother died this morning. Garry." Works Hard, Dancer Gains 3 Lbs. a Week , Where am IT "Here, with me." Low and sweet and tender was the voice. 1 was in bed and my bead was heavily bandaged, so that the cloths weighed upon my eyelids. By ray bedside some one was sitting, and a soft, gentle hand was holding mine. "Is that you, Berna?" "Yes, please don't talk." I thrilled with a sudden sweetness of joy. A flood of sunshine bathed me. It was all over, then, the turmoil, the storm, the shipwreck. I was drifting on a tranquil ocean of content Blissfully I closed my eyes. Yet there was something, some memory darker than the others, some shadow of shadows that baffled me. As I battled with a growing terror and suspense, it all came back to me, the A telegram, the news, my collapse. great grief welled up in me, and In my agony I spoke to the girl. "Berna, tell me, is it true? Is my mother dead?" "Yes, it's true, dear. You must try to bear It bravely." I could feel her bending over me, could feel her hand holding mine, could feel her hair brush my cheek, yet I forgot even her Just then. I thought only of mother, of her devotion and of how little I had done to deserve It So 'this was the end: a narrow grave, a rending grief and the haunting specter of reproach, My sobs were choking me, and Berna was holding my hand very tightly. Yet In a little I grew calmer. "Berna," I said, "I've only got you now, only you, little girl. So you must love me, you mustn't leave me." "I'll never leave youif you want me to stay." I can't "God bless you, dear. tell you the comfort you are to me. I'll try to be quiet now." I will always remember those days as I grew slowly well again. Berna left me much alone, alone with my 'thoughts. Often when all was quiet I knew she was sitting there beyond the curtain, sitting thinking, just as I was thinking. Quiet was the keynote of our life, quiet and sunshine. That little cabin might have been a hundred miles from the gold born city, it was so quiet How sweet she looked in her spotless home, attire, her neat waist, her white nprou with bib and sleeves, her general air of a little And never was there so housewife. devoted a nurse. (To Be Continued) buying wine. How I loathe myself! but I think of Berna, and the thought goads me It's the horn of plenty that starts to fresh excesses. I will go on till a man on at toot with a siren. many flesh and blood can stand It no longer, In till I drop my .tracks. I realize that Life isn't all that it's wise cracked somehow I must make her pity me, to be. up In must awake her that guardian in woman. which exists every angel There are those who seem to think Only in that way can I break down a doctor the barrier of her pride and arouse it is against the law to call before midnight. the love latent in her heart. Always amid that lurid carnival of sin floats the figure of Blossom, Blossom with her child-fac- e of dazzling eyes, her fairness, her china-blu- e round, smooth cheeks. How different from the pinched palid face of Berna ! Poor, poor Berna! I never see her. but amid all the saturnalia she haunts me. The thought of her is agony. I cannot bear to think of her. I know she watches me. If she would only stoop and save me now! Or have 1 I must go not fallen low enough? deeper yet Faster and faster must I swirl into the vortex. In all that fierce madness of debauch, thank God, I retained my honor. They beguiled, me, they tried to lure me Into their rooms; but at the moment I went, to enter I recoiled. It was as if an Invisible arm stretched across the doorway and barred me "I work hard, dance and have gained 3 pounds a week since taking' Vinol. My nervousness is almost all ; gone." Mrs. F. Lang. , . Vinol is a delicious compound of cod liver peptone, iron, etc Nervous, easily tired, anemic people are surprised how Vinol gives new pep, sound sleep and a BIG appetite. The very first bottle often adds several pounds weight to thin children or adults. Tastes delicious. Scott Drug Co. Adv Subscribe for The Leader. a year. $2.00 Only OUR MAKE GOOD OR WE DO Fronk Chevrolet Co. Tremonton, Utah Phone 20 Unlimited Money : tO ; LOAN on Irrigated Land. 6Vi per cent. No commissions. JOHN J.SHUMWAY Phones: B. R. V. 69.a-2- ; Bell. 129 Reliable Watches at SPECIAL PRICES Come In and See Them Tremonton - Utah. COAL - - NOW? COLD - LATER!! out And Blossom, she, too, tried so hard to lure me, and because I resisted It She would coax me Inflamed her. with the prettiest gestures, and cajole me with the sweetest endearments; then, when I steadfastly resisted her, she would fly Into a fury and flout me with the foulness of the stews. It was in one of the corridors of the dance hall In the early hours of the The place was deserted, morning. strewed with debris of the night's debauch. We were up there, Blossom and L I was In a strange state of mind, a state bordering on frenzy. Not much longer, I felt, could I keep up this pace. Something had to happen, and that soon. She put her arms around me. "Come," she said. She led me toward her room. No longer was I able to resist My foot was on the threshold and I was almost over when "Telegram, sir." If was a messenger. Confusedly I took the flimsy envelope and tore it open. Blankly I stared at the line of type. I stared Uke a man in a dream. I was sober enough now. "Ain't you coming?" snld Blossom, putting her arms round me. "No," I said hoarsely, "leave me, please leave me. Oh, my God!" Her face changed, became vindictive, the face of a fury. "Curse you!" she hissed. "Oh, I knew. It's that other, that white-face- d doll you care for. Look at me I Am I not better than her? And you scorn me. Oh, I hate you. I'll get even with you and her. Curse you, curse you" She snatched up an empty wine bottle. Swinging it by the neck she struck me square on the forehend. I felt a stunning blow, a warm rush of blood. Then I fell limply forward, and all the lights seemed to go out There I lay In a heap, and the blood spurting from my wound soaked the No possible chance for cheaper coal but a possibility of an advance. However, we are making special inducements for early supplies for winter of Castle Gate, Peerless and Zion Coal off stove and the cars screen stack lump the very best. Farmers Cash Union Phone 35 Tremonton, Utah Bigger, Better, Than Ever Box Elder County Fair and Rodeo Whoopee! Let 'er Buck! H. G. Scott Drug Go. DRUGS AND DRUGGISTS SUNDRIES PRESCRIPTION SPECIALISTS Phone 47 We Give Tremonton, Utah Green Trading Stamps |