AND MANY TIMES AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT, I SIT IN THE DARK AND THINK, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, TO ACCEPT. WHAT EVIL GODDESS LOOKED UPON ME AT BIRTH, DOOMED ME NOT ONLY TO THIS TWILIGHT WORLD, BUT TO THE LOVE OF ONE STRANGE TO IT? I LOOK DOWN THE ROAD OF THE FUTURE, AND I ACHE FOR YOUR HAND FOREVER IN MINE.

OTHERS WHO HAVE WALKED THIS ROAD BEFORE ME TELL ME THE WAY OUT. THEY COUNSEL, "GIVE HER UP. "GIVE HER UP. SHE IS NOT TRULY OF US. DO NOT LET YOUR LIFE BE TORN INTO BITS BY THIS WOMAN, THIS OUTLAW, HERE FOR A FEW HOURS OF FORBIDDEN PLEASURE." AND I HAVE TRIED. TRIED

AND FAILED, FOR I LOVE YOU.

EACH TIME YOU LEAVE MY ARMS, THE KNIFE OF DOUBT TWISTS IN MY HEART. WILL YOU RETURN? OR WILL MY WORLD SEEM DARKER, LESS REAL EACH TIME. YOU LEAVE IT? WILL A TIME COME WHEN YOU BREAK THE FRAGILE TIE BETWEEN US FOREVER? SOMETIMES WHEN | SEE YOUR THOUGHTS TURN TO THE OTHER WORLD, I WONDER, "WHY HAVE YOU COME? WHAT DESIRES BRING YOU HERE TO TORTURE BOTH OF US?" AND THERE ARE NO ANSWERS. JUST TWO VOICES: MINE AND A CHILD'S.

WE HAVE PRESENTED "THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FABLE" AS A COROLLARY TO "THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND" BY MIRIAM GARDNER, WHICH APPEARED IN THE MAY, 1960 ISSUE OF THE LADDER. WE WISH ALSO TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO READERS RESPOND (PAGE 26) AND "LETTER TO MEREDITH" BY JODY SHOTWELL WHICH FOLLOWS ON PAGE 17.

FUR-

THERE IS ALL TOO LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE "MARRIED" LESBIAN, AND IT IS APPARENT THE SUBJECT NEEDS SOME AIRING. THER CONTRIBUTIONS OR COMMENT WILL BE WELCOME.

-EDITOR

TO A GIRL WITH SIX CATS

I LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES SO BLUE AND FELT AT LAST MY LOVE WAS TRUE. NOW, MY DEAR, I FIND THAT

CAN LIVE WITH YOU BUT NOT YOUR ZOO.

16

MORGEN FITZGERALD