Page:Laughing Boy-1929.djvu/219

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LauGgHING Boy 207 thing that she had ever suffered. In him she was revenging herself upon them all. Her kisses were weapons, her tendernesses were blows struck in the full heat of battle. She was revenging herself, znd she was acquiring the means to her perfect life. Bound by those hours of happiness, he could zot break away. These days, he gave her more money than he ever had before, more than he ould well afford, seeking to bind her to him, snowing that that was no way to arrive at truth, | -ut craving, if she were lying to him, to be lied to => well he would be convinced. He made many f :Zorts to improve her, feeling how remarkable a ~ voman she was. He wanted her to read books, | -=t her distaste for them was deep and sincere; he wanted to make a superior American out of her. | =: would have liked to raise her to a position in - vaich he could respect himself if he married her. | She was afraid always that he would ask her 1 =at, but he was not quite so lost. She kept him | :- tension, administering happiness and unhappi- | xs carefully, accepted his increased gifts, and in ® =~ mind shortened the time of waiting. But it | =: not make a smooth road to travel. ITI | She was beset by difficulties and entanglements, | x she was conquering them one by one, even

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