It is their special privilege--they have enjoyed it always, even in the days when the Indian 'braves' beat their squaws out here in California, and killed them outright if they dared to complain of the beating! Women are busy just now trying to rule men--it's an experiment, but it won't do! Men are the masters of life! They expect to be obeyed by all the rest of creation.

_I_ expect to be obeyed!--and so, Manella, when I tell you to go home, you must go! Yes!--love, tempers and all!--you must go!" She met his eyes with a resolved look in her own.
"I am going!" she answered--"But I shall come again.

Oh, yes! And yet again! and very often! I shall come even if it is only to find you dead on this hill--killed by your own secret! Yes--I shall come!" He gave an involuntary movement of surprise and annoyance.

Had Mr.
Senator Gwent discussed his affairs with this beautiful foolish girl who, like some forest animal, cared for nothing but the satisfaction of mating where her wishes inclined.
"What do you mean, Manella ?" he demanded, imperatively--"Do you expect to find me dead ?" She nodded vehemently.

Tears were in her eyes and she turned her head away that he might not see them.
"What a cheerful prospect!" he exclaimed, gaily--"And I'm to be killed by my own secret, am I?
I wonder what it is! Ah, Manella, Manella! That stupid old Gwent has been at you, stuffing your mind with a lot of nonsense--don't you believe him! I've no 'secret' that will kill me--I don't want to be killed; No, Manella! Though you come 'again and yet again and ever so often' as you say, you will not find me dead! I'm too strong!" But Manella, yielding to her inward excitement, pointed a hand at him with a warning air of a tragedy queen.
"Do not boast!" she said--"God is always listening! No man is too strong for God! I am not clever--I have no knowledge of what you do--but this I will tell you surely! You may have a secret,--or you may not have it,--but if you play with the powers of God you will be punished! Yes!--of that I am quite certain! And this I will also say--if you were to pull all the clouds down upon you and the thunders and the lightnings and all the terrible things of destruction in the world, I would be there! And you would know what love is!--Yes!"-- her voice choked, and then pealed out like that of a Sybilline prophetess, "If God struck you down to hell, I would be there!" And with a wild, sobbing cry she rushed away from him down the hill before he could move or utter a word..