| Show i A MARY SCHUMANN a B ey j Irwin Mytr Myrre p I Jee r. r Se a pa nEB prEl YI VI 7 hi rather enjoyed enjoyed the tho bridge bridget s had unusual and Joan t He He after rubber Dor Dor- rubber Cd MO tolled ed absent minded and sevE sev sev- E made rather obvious eI till yap IT Late in the evening she she's ys with of dun s 's s heart bid one went Vent back to spades when wised ed his bIJ heart bid and was ua K doubled The spades A Filched hunched bUnched in Joans Joan's hand and andL ande L e double she drew she went I disastrously I lOUd you'd led clubs last you'd I saved laved ved two to t tricks said Cun a el elthe they w were high highT d Ii they were Sorry Cun I It t it like ft a a- he suggested It Its It s all your game is usually so soI I good youre you're entitled to to an ani anal roal i lapse 1 it looked at his watch Elev Eley at b he reminded them leer TIt ne on Hugh said Joan I jo to out and fix Ax up a nightcap cheese and crackers the crackers the 1 se the he winners li followed fallowed her to the kitchen 1 t i against the wall while Joan I segments of cheese J In to silver paper He lIe ad ad- ro her het deft movements as she EAT lorn om m cupboard to table quick lm it brisk light but sure He lIe HeR Heit lIeber R it her ber eyes were like those olf fasten asters on the dining table Ir b blue And her lashes a Tinge fringe of black Nice eyes as hi II d ventured a compliment U re II looking yourself tonight paused smiling trailing Meaning i ver very cry he said ore I kitchen was a shining place of H colored am-colored am colored walls and woodred wood wood- ad red tile file linoleum and red redro ro Ins aim He opened the door t porch perch Do you eat out here hereID GAB ID ell our breakfasts U If we wea wethe f a the shades on the left side pa J hidden bidden from our or neighbors tee eee our garden watch the mit the cement pool pool much much to ter r than the gloomy dining dining- il onder if I could build bund somei some some- like i this on our place Ive I've i wanted to eat outside e over and have breakfast e i some morning ill 1 some morning when Dort Dor Dor- t up and the maid Is to having Ilion lion Jit It b be soon loon then Not many weeks ki of summer Her Herth th 14 gleamed in her dark sh the she smiled this challenge et el so burningly alive linon Un lin- on m him with something land uland caressing something In their depths She way y stood still He was con con- something different in unwilling response tini tin tin- gh i him Shall I J crack I lOW cowl J he asked calmly J Joan loan was standing close Slum h I dangerously close nervously you Jonny Jonay He kissed W 1 on oo the cheek his hla arm JM her with a little L Then wen he be pushed her away me m back RUh ith the swift of a bird Her Herc c eye yei ea burned with tender tender- ouid I 1 be so 10 hard to love lover acne ourse ur not nota I why T h 7 a of reasons Donny Jonny You em elD M as well as I do da Be a astep 1 Mhp step tep back to the table 5 S t the crackers crackers do do some iome- still and very close dose to said laid in a small distinct here er are no good rea rea- at her A hollow some some- t tin In his brain like Uke bee tle blow 1 LOne One ne two crack track One two l He lIe wet his lips Ups Suddenly conscious of the fill 10 In la his hia mouth you OU know I d Ids know heavy gaze on her ow lIe He paused stu stu- ent nd t With to the 6 kitchen cup eup- trembling hands set t out some me glasses classes o owed d her ber er seized her arm arm- o OU meant mean I You'll e e. e have eback back back from him No J I asheld beld he bera and In n their r f C Depths H he be read theJa the thed led lede Ja open e a b gall au the swinging The pi soft lOft chenille co 1 t I If I sound be e und were of his hll footsteps o t I t a H a Soldier goI eoa go- go destined bullet The lights were dim in the living room living room the card table was vacated lie He sto stood d in the door for a moment then went back very quietly lie He leaned up against the wall of the kitchen Iris His face was swept with agony It burned like acid and it froze like ice lie He had seen It with his own eyes If It someone had told him he would have explained it away to meet the desirous need of his soul to believe in her But nut he had seen it It-Dorrie It Dorrie and Cun were lov lav- ers Joan looked at him compassion compassion- Poor Hugh she mur mur- It came upon him in black waves that this knowledge was the thing he had been fleeing from He lie had turned his face away denied the possibility to his soul lout A secret voice had whispered that her coldness cold ness had a reason He had re refused reo re- fused to listen Finally he said in a croaking foggy voice You knew it that night at Freeland Farms When I cried Yes I 1 was so sorry for us both I hoped when he was working things would be different different different- How long I dont don't know It must have started early last winter winter Janu January ary perhaps I wasn't sure who it was until that week week the the day or two before But I thought you must know by this time Ume they're so very they dont don't care any more She had known about It it yet had been able to entertain them them them-at at Cuns Cun's insistence probably probably come come cometo to their house act a part livIng living liv ing for the day tier Her courage was beyond him He lie took out his handkerchief hand kerchief to wipe his dripping fore fore- head His hand trembled lIe He slumped Into a kitchen chair A groan escaped him Joan poured something in a glass Here lIere drink this It will do you good Youre You're so white He lifted it to his lips and theodor the theodor theodor odor of the liquor sent a violent and uncontrollable nausea shuddering shuddering shudder shudder- ing Ine through him He rose and plunged toward the back door Sick Joan tick sick lick going out out In a a. a few minutes she heard his hiscar hiscar hiscar car drive awa away CHAPTER VII Hugh fumbled through the fog to the street and climbed into his car ear He lie drove automatically stopped at through streets shifted gears rolled into his own driveway and garage He shut off the engine sat humped over the wheel his head on his arms If H death would come now suddenly end this chaotic desolation I The agony was more terrific than any physical pain He went into the house dragged two suitcases from a closet lIe He reeled as he deposited them on the bedroom floor He sat down on the bed shaking with weakness Presently Presently Pres Pres- he got up opened a drawer of the chiffonier lifted a pile pUe of shirts A car ear stopped In front of the house he be beard heard light footsteps on the porch Dorrie came running up the stairs Her lIer hair was blown a little her blue scarf trailed over one der I must say that was a queer thing to do go do-go go off without saying a word she said angry excitement excitement excite excite- ment in her eyes What was the matter Her voice had a raw edge unlike her usual tone When he did not answer she went to the dresser and picked up a acomb acomb comb ran It through her ber hair Even if you were sick Joan sick Joan said you 0 were why were why did you go off with the car carT How do you suppose 1 I felt before Joan JoanY She was thinking he was the same same person as before go dinner tag ing to carry it off as if U she were the offended one Now Now even even now That was what she had been doIng doing do ing right along making him feel ai as fault because she was so horribly at fault herself He was beginning to understand Everything that had him And the under understanding understanding understanding standing poisoned his soul She must have seen his white whiteface whiteface whiteface face in the mirror for she turned suddenly She saw the suitcases the open drawers the expression on his face Arrested she scarce scarce- scarcely ly Iy breathed as she stared at him Comprehension blanched her face What does this mean When he did not speak she said laid In quivering low voice Hugh HughT She caught the dresser behind her with both hands Her tone curled and lashed Presently she were spying on onus said laid You YOU you us l I He gave a laugh taugh that was like a sob Do you call it that than what of Well now you know of 01 it It ItT she flung nung out What Am I 1 any worse wone wan man a hundred women you can A hundred name plying there women She was Waa Implying Im Im- Was no such thing as virtue fidelity AU in In the same 1611 treacherous their business friends Flimsy defense And you you what what was about you ouY She smiling scornfully You cant can't make me believe youre you're as a. lily while as youre you're painted What bat about that Stenographer youve you've had so long And you ou and Joan getting clubby And that El EI ten len Pendleton whom hom you kiss each time you see her at your our moth ers er's And Youre lying and you know w it It She looked sullen She began I again heaping blame up upon n him Even if you haven't met anyone anon you care for I 1 should think you'd be understanding and sorry for me u if I havel navel Do you think I we could help it Dont Don't you OU suppose suppose we struggled against it Tried not to see each other hoping wed we'd get over it And didn't I try ry to make moke you leave this town townY But nut you wouldn't go gob gol So you care for r him Hugh pealed repealed re re- dully Her lIer long green eyes looked at him with h cruelty and contempt She threw back her head with a little gesture and the words came out with a passionate ringing stress Care for him I love him love him love him himl A sword ran through him two with swords the agonizing knife knie thrust of her repeated words She loved Cun not Cum not him Love The word was hideous He put his arm weakly across his eyes Please Please no no more more Just Just now lIe He fumbled at a drawer drawer- fumbled without will or power They had struggled against it he ic should be sorry for them I Iove love ove him But Dorrie was not finished She went on in a tangential torrent of I reproach Im sick of all your relatives and thousand cousins tell tell- in In me what a prize Ive I've won in you their haired fair-haired boy boyl boyl-as boyl I-as I as If lf I were nothing I And youve you've humiliated ed me yes me-yes yes you havel Its It's your fault yours fault yours only I I meant to tobe tobe toe be e a good wife to you you Intended Intended to toe but be-but e but all aU you think of is la that old business I You never understood under stood stood stood- Shut up he thundered sudden sudden- ly Iy y A vein was livid across his tem pIe She stared at him Then threw herself into a chair and began to cry long tearing sobs that set his raw nerves quivering Grimly he emptied the drawers throwing browing things to the floor then crowding them into the cases He snapped them shut lifted them and started out She flew fiew to the door barred it with her outspread arms Hugh dont don't go Stand away he ordered Not tonight Hugh Hugh Hugh-don't don don't dont t go Tomorrow Im going Where can you go goT Dont Don't leave me not me-not not tonight Theres There's no need to be hasty Her voice fal fal- cred He looked at her with set face There is no place for me In this house house house-haven't haven't you told me meT I 1 said wild things That have been in tn your mind Waiting to be said I didn't realize realize realize- You talk about understanding understanding- well I 1 didn't I thought of you as asI I something special rare and en I t tr r i l r 1 Hugh DoD Hugh Don't Dont Go Co Tomorrow chanting My life JIle revolved around you you-you knew it-I it told you I 1 really are- are never saw you as you common vulgar and selfish When you said things that disturbed me I 1 thought it was caprice I worked hard nard to make more money to give it to you because I loved you No Noone Noone Noone one could have made me believe this thing if I hadn't seen seeD you in his hll hi arms seen your filthy caresses caresse lie He choked turned his hi head aside Now lot me gol gob golNot golNot Not tonight I 1 wont won't let you you I cant can't stay here talk things thing Yes you can Let us what is besto best bes over quietly decide to be doie done Best to be done What was besin best bes to in be done f fItl will wW go eo go where you Its Its It's so 0 late where late at this ea hour hou Get your mother r up or Publish the whole hotel or or a thing I IThe The roots roots of habit r and of home mighty in their strength sturdy see lire in resisting an attempt to break breakaway laway way away But he be e could not occupy the b bed ed d so close dose to her lb mother What explanation could he offer It would have to 0 be a hotel hotell He ne reached for the tho knob of the door behind her back But Dut she had read his wavering of a second The other room toom the ugh guest room I You can sleep there I Sleep She thought he could sleep At length he gave lae ave an Unwilling unwilling un willing gesture of assent Dorrie hurried In to turn on the lights remove remove re reo re- re move the silken She hated hat hat- ed cd the idea of change he thought wanted to go on without definitely facing acing the issue Something would have lave to be done What What What-he he did not know mow Perhaps the morrow would bring some clarity Dorrie turned at the door before leaving Does Doea Joan know He nodded She does She bit her lip Up Then I suppose she told you rou He lie did not answer She said with a curious venom Im sure she did did and and it was Will pretty pret pret- ty y mean of her when she knew how it would hurt you youl Hugh stared at her Her door closed dosed The darkness folded the room round an aching evil darkness An Iron ron band tightened lightened around Hughs Hugh's skull kull and his mouth seemed tilled IDled with the taste of brass The second sec ond and time that night that taste Odd tl thing ng He had never had it before I His heart pounded until his hla chest ached and his nerves were as tense as fiddle strings Over and over the scenes scene the words repeated themselves Joan themselves Joan Dorrie and Cun Dorrie They would not let him alone And each tach time lime the act was played he became aware of sinister implications Implies Implies- I Ions ghastly ogre faces that leered and mocked at him suggested sug aug Bested details detail whispered Dont you remember that time time Ume Joan had said they dont don't care any more Then she meant that others must know and he like the fool in the snickering fable was the thelast thelast last ast to learn what was going on under his own roof Then like an imperious flood It came over him distaste and long lone Ing ng mingled in its waves his hll desire desire de- de sire for this woman who had betrayed be be- rayed him for the sweet dear flesh which had seemed so Inalienably Inalienably Inalien abl ably his own lie He despiser himself him self sell for his passion but he could not quell it or master it At length the chattering of robIns rob rob- Ins ns and sparrows the crescendo and md diminuendo of passing cars ears the he sound of the maid going out outto outto outto to early church warned him that no matter how calamitous he must take up the burden of the day Dorrie had loved Hugh when she married narried him but she had never been een in love with him He offered a mode of life We much pleasanter and more nore dignified than her wanderings wander wander- ings with her mother before she ahe met Hugh Her marriage pleased her at first She rejoiced in the background background back back- ground of the Marsh family in Corinth Cor Cor- nth faintly boasted of it In letters let let- ers to friends liked the novelty of having laving a home of her own and an indulgent husband who could not do enough for her Later when she became Became bored with the conventionalities convention of Corinth which was so much like the Harrisville of her youth she sternly told herself she was lucky lucky lucky-lucky lucky that Hugh was far too good for her |
