Part 29 (2/2)
”You've a duty to yourself--as a woman!” he rejoined, pa.s.sionately.
”Belllounds is wrapped up in his son. He's blind to the shame of such a marriage. But you're not.”
”Shame?” faltered Columbine.
”Yes. The shame of marrying one man when you love another. You can't love two men.... You'll give yourself. You'll be his _wife_! Do you understand what that means?”
”I--I think--I do,” replied Columbine, faintly. Where had vanished all her wonderful spirit? This fire-eyed boy was breaking her heart with his reproach.
”But you'll bear his children,” cried Wilson. ”Mother of--them--when you love me!... Didn't you think of that?”
”Oh no--I never did--I never did!” wailed Columbine.
”Then you'll think before it's too late?” he implored, wildly. ”Dearest Collie, think! You won't ruin yourself! You won't? Say you won't!”
”But--Oh, Wilson, what can I say? I've got to marry him.”
”Collie, I'll kill him before he gets you.”
”You mustn't talk so. If you fought again--if anything terrible happened, it'd kill me.”
”You'd be better off!” he flashed, white as a sheet.
Columbine leaned against Wade for support. She was fast weakening in strength, although her spirit held. She knew what was inevitable. But Wilson's agony was rending her.
”Listen,” began the cowboy again. ”It's your life--your happiness--your soul.... Belllounds is crazy over that spoiled boy. He thinks the sun rises and sets in him.... But Jack Belllounds is no good on this earth!
Collie dearest, don't think that's my jealousy. I am horribly jealous.
But I know him. He's not worth you! No man is--and he the least. He'll break your heart, drag you down, ruin your health--kill you, as sure as you stand there. I want you to know I could prove to you what he is. But don't make me. Trust me, Collie. Believe me.”
”Wilson, I do believe you,” cried Columbine. ”But it doesn't make any difference. It only makes my duty harder.”
”He'll treat you like he treats a horse or a dog. He'll beat you--”
”He never will! If he ever lays a hand on me--”
”If not that, he'll tire of you. Jack Belllounds never stuck to anything in his life, and never will. It's not in him. He wants what he can't have. If he gets it, then right off he doesn't want it. Oh, I've known him since he was a kid.... Columbine, you've a mistaken sense of duty.
No girl need sacrifice her all because some man found her a lost baby and gave her a home. A woman owes more to herself than to any one.”
”Oh, that's true, Wilson. I've thought it all.... But you're unjust--hard. You make no allowance for--for some possible good in every one. Dad swears I can reform Jack. Maybe I can. I'll pray for it.”
”Reform Jack Belllounds! How can you save a bad egg? That d.a.m.ned coward!
Didn't he prove to you what he was when he jumped on me and kicked my broken foot till I fainted?... What do you want?”
”Don't say any more--please,” cried Columbine. ”Oh, I'm so sorry.... I oughtn't have come.... Ben, take me home.”
”But, Collie, I love you,” frantically urged Wilson. ”And he--he may love you--but he's--Collie--he's been--”
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