Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/69

 pleaded with God to strike him dead. But as usual God was not moved.

In Chicago Mary and Monty Camp rented a furnished flat in a small wooden house not too far from the centre of the town. She decided to take on the name of Louella Leota again. For professional reasons it was better. Mary Blaine once more ceased to exist.

Monty made no objection to her switch in names.

"Your body is as soft as ever," he said, "and your cheeks are as fresh. Until you change the contour of your figure I shall not complain."

She did not care particularly for Monty Camp but the place was good enough to live in until she could make definite plans for the future. At least he was away most of the time. She could please and amuse herself.

It was good to be in the glamour of a large city once more. Farm life was stultifying. It made one small and mean. It dwarfed one's vision. She was through with that sort of life forever. Actually she rebelled against it because it made her think. The eternal silence did something to her. It made her restless, sombre, even sad. She breathed freely now that she was away from the farm—because she was afraid of it.

Chicago was kind to Monty Camp. He was having a streak of luck. Money flowed in and out again because Monty was a free-spender. He bought Louella everything she wanted, hats, dresses, jewels. Sometimes they dined at the Palmer House and Louella was thrilled by the elegance about her. But there was no woman in the dining room who was more beautiful, nor more tastefully attired. It was not until her later years when she grew stout and took snuff that Louella commenced to dress atrociously. In her Chicago days with Monty Camp her beauty was at its most perfect blooming.

"You are a stunner," he told her frankly, "and were it not for the fact that I am already married I would ask you to be my wife. All I've got is yours anyway and I'll look after you always."

"Don't say that," she said. "I'd hate to think that my future was all planned and settled. I like the thought that adventure may be just around the corner. An easy-going, carefree, happy,