Show I I I I 1111 I I II I I III tIll II I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I II I I I I I II I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I H I I lii Ig IT HE COMMON LAWI I BY ROBERT W. W CHAMBERS I 11 I 1 I I m nun mi i I INSTALMENT 33 He had encircled her waist with one ar arm and they were slowly pacing the floor before the hearth she with her charming young head bent eyes downcast down down- cast measuring her steps to his She said Bald thoughtfully I have my myown myown myown own Ideas concerning life lite One of ot them is to go through it without givIng giving giving ing pain to others To me the only I real wickedness is the wilful l infliction of unhappiness That covers all guilt Other matters seem so trivial in comparison I I mean the forms torms and obI observances ob ob- ob- ob I the the formalism of lf sect and andI cre creed To me they mean rhean nothing nothing- I these petty laws designed to govern those who are willing to endure them So I ignore them she concluded smilingly and touched her lips Ups to his hand IDo IDo I IDo Do you include the ma marriage law he asked curiously In our case yes 1 I dont don't think it would do for tor everybody to to ignore it You think we may safely Dont you Louls she asked flushing It leaves you free in your own world S How would it leave you She looked up smiling smil adorably athi at athi hi of ot her Free as 1 I am now dearest of ot men menfree menfree tree free free to be with you ou when you wish for tor me tree free to relieve you of ot myself I when you need that relief free freeto to come I and go and earn earil my living as Independently Inde inde- p as you gain yours ours It would leave m me absolutely tranquil in inbody body and mind She laid her flushed face ag against his Only my heart would would remain remain fettered And that Isnow is isnow isnow now inevitable He kissed her and anddrew drew her closer You are so very veo very wrong dear The girl who gives herself herselt without benefit of ot clergy walks the earth with her lover in heavier chains than ever were forged at any e earthly al altar altar al- al tar tar She bent her head thoughtfully they p paced ced the floor for tor a while In silence Presently she look looked d up You once said that love comes comes unmasked and goes unbidden Do vows at an altar help matters Is divorce more more d decent cent because lawful Is love love more decent when it has been officially and den cleri clerically cally aUy catalogued It is safer sater For whom For Far the community Perhaps She considered as she timed her slow pace pate t 1 hs his But Louis I cant can't marry you and andI andr r I lo e you What am I do dodo do Live out life lite without you Let you jou ou live out life lite without me When my loving I you would not harm you or 01 me When i I r love loe you vou dearly more dearly more dearly more deeply every every minute When life liCe itself Is Is-Is Is Is beginning to be nothing in inthis inthis inthis this world except you Wh What t are vie we to 10 do And as he made no answer Dear she said hesitating a little I 1 am perfectly unconscious of ot any I guilt in loving you I am gl glad d I love I you you I 1 wish to be pat part of you before I die dlE I wish it more than an anything thing in the world How can an unselfish I girl w who o loves you harm you or herself herself her her- I self or the world If she gives gl herself to you you without without asking asking- benefit of clergy and the bureau of ot licenses I Standing before the fire tire her head resting against his s shoulder they heY watched the fading embers for a awhile while in silence Then irresistibly drawn by the he same impulse they turned toward one another trembling Ill marry you that tha t way way way-If if Its It's the only way Nay he said It Is the the only only way She She laida soft Sort hand and in his he bent and kissed It then touched her mouth with his lips Do you du give yourself to to me Vale Va Va- le lerie lenie Yes S f From om this t he whispered red Her ter race face p paled led She Sie stood resting her cheek 1 ee on on his sh shoulder eyes eyE'S distrait dis ella trait thinking Then in m a voice oice so low and tremulous s he scarce could un un- S 'S der ta d c V Tag she lie said r now I my m i my myself self He drew her closer cloper she relaxed In I his his' embrace embra e her white aa 8 a flow flow- J d 4 er upturned to his her dark eyes looking blindly into his There was no so sound nd save the feathery feathery feath feath- ery cry rush of snow against the tle panes pane the fall faU of ot an ember amid whitening ashes ashes ashes-a a sigh sigh silence Twice logs fell tell from the andirons showering the chimney with sparks presently a little flame broke out out amid mid the debris lighting up the studio with witha a fitful ra radiance and the single shadow cast by them wavered high on i wall and ceiling i j His arms were around her her his Ups Ups' lips rested on lIn n her face where it lay against his shoulder The JUddy resurgence of firelight stole Bunder under the Jash lashes s on on oit her cheeks and and- her her e eyes ees es slowly unI un un- un- un closed I Standing there gathered close in his embrace sh she her turn turned her head and watched the the flame growing brighter among the cinders Thought which had ceas ceased d when her lips lips' met his In Inthe the first quick throb of ot passi passion stirred vaguely and awoke And far i her somewhere in confused obscurity stunned half senses began groping again toward reason Louis Louls Dearest OnE one I ought to go Will you take take me Ime home It is realize real real- morning morning morning-do do you ize it S I She lifted her head cleared her with one slender lender wrist pushing back the disordered hair Then gentl gently disengaging dis dis- dis disengaging disengaging engaging herself hersell from his arms and still busy with her tumbled hair she looked up at the dial of ot the ancient clock which glimmered red in t the 6 fire fire- tire tire-I light Ii I and Morning anc and a. a strange new nei year e r I she said sal aloud to herself hersel She he ie moved nearer nearer to the clock cl watching the stiff Jerking revolution of ot the second hand I around its lesser dial I Hearing him come come forward behind he her she dropped her head back a I i I I I I him without turning Do you ou see what Time is doing for forus us us Time Time t th the Incurable killing us by seconds Louis Louls Louis eating eating steadily into the New Tear Year devouring evo xing ith it'd 1 r rby by hour the hour the hours that belonged be be- we e thought be belonged belonged longed to us us She added musingly I wonder how ma many y hours of ot the future future future fu- fu ture rem remain in iJ for or us s. s He lie answered in a low vOice That is for tor YO you o. o I know It sh she Ired Sh She lifted d one hand without without with with- out looking at hin him pressed the finger backward against hi hs lips So much for for- forthe the betrothal slI she said My ly ring finger Is consecrated d Will Swill you not wear any ring he i asked I No Your kiss is enough I Yet Yet it if we 6 are are are S 1 Engaged she suggested calmly Yes es call it that I r really am engaged I to give myself to yo you ex ex t cathedra i extra muros J I j When he s said id under his breath S I dont don't know 1 I must think A girl who is going to break all conventions conventions' conven conven- ought to have time to consider the c consequences consequences- She smiled faint faint- Jy a jy a little time tim to prepare herself for tor th the the the g great t. t chan change 1 I think think we ought to remain engaged for a awhile I while while while-don't don't dont you I Dearest he broke broke- ou out t pleadingly 1 the old way is the best way I cannot cannot can can- i not bear to o take you you you-to to have you promise y yourself ursel without t formality or i sanction sanction- sanction I But I have already consented I Louis Volenti non fit Injuria she added with a a. faint smile I dearest cogl of ot non protest cogl- cogl dearest dearest lovers I l love ve ve YO dearly dearly- arlY for what hat you offer me me-I me I adore you for tor it And how how long do you think you ought to wait walt for or me She disengaged herself herselt from r his arm walked slowly toward the tall old clock turned her back to It and faced him with clear cleat level eyes After a moment she laugh lightly I Did ever lan engaged gentleman face the prospect of imp Impending n ing happiness with such a long face tace as this suitor of ot mine Is wearing Ills His voice broke in the protest wrung his lis lips You must be my wife wiCe I tell you you Foe Fot Gods God's sake me i and Jet t tle the future take tako care of ot itself You Iou say so many sweet confusing and foolish things to me mc Louis that while you ou ar are saying saving a ing them themI I almost t 1 believe them hem And th then n that clear Ear pitiless reasoning ning power r of or mine awakens e me the e and nd I I turn my my gaze ir- ir in w ward rd and re read d written n on my that le law of or mine t ti unhappiness shall ever come through me me H Her r face sweetly serious ened to a s smile mile ow N I am going home nome m home hone to to think over yer my mad credible to you vou a w wondering whether hether Ill I'll wake up up pt p- p J t to d atti ath J c Daylight s a chill chilly bath No doubt at all tl that at pretty well weli tr frightened over wJ wIt said sald and done tonight Loul yo you simply must take me hon hoc very vary minute She came dame u up- up uit t t placed both hands bands on his sh she shi 1 killed lightly looked at l hi hii m. m humorously mEnt grave I ISome 1 I Some day al she said a bIg will hit this la law la ridd ridden n. n man re earth earth or or the earth will slip sUp a ago a ago JD go w o out t of its orbit inti Int stellar spa space and nd lid Jpe pl planet planet planet-Or net net- or r it will ultimate ultimately ir fri fra like the moon And who will ca cahow cal how Valerie West lov loved d Lou LouI LuJ or ville-or or what letters letter in a. a a alo lo I language spelled wife and w lers spelled mistress After fter a aj not ot afraid of ot words Nor do tic what hat is in my heart God fod od re ret I stand here and He can seed see In it So If merely Jov to all my my life and life and proving it it Js 1st thing to do I I shall be punish Im I'm going to do It and find a 0 ou Justice really think It To be continued |