There is yellow fever in Brazil."
"I know it," was the careless reply.
"What excuse have you for going?"
"Business complications have arisen there, and I promptly
volunteered to go. My employers were kind enough to hesitate and
warn me, and to say that they could send a man less valuable to
them, but I soon overcame their objections."
"That is your excuse for going. The reason I see in your eyes. You
are reckless, Will."
"I have reason to be."
"I can't agree with you, but I feel for you all the same. Tell me
all about it, for this is sad news to me. I had hoped to join you
on the beach in a few days, and to spend August with you and my
cousin. I confess I am beginning to feel exceedingly vindictive
toward this pretty little monster, and if any harm comes to you I
shall be savage enough to scalp her."
"The harm has come already, Jack. I'm hit hard. She showed me a
mirage of happiness that has made my present world a desert. I am
reckless; I'm desperate. You may think it is weak and unmanly, but
you don't know anything about it.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322