New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-15
OUT OF STEP.
XII.
THAT LITTLE RIFT"


For answer Moore put his hands on salomes
shoulders and looked down at her. She met
the gaze with CLEAR. questioning eyes that might
have helped to disarm even n stern Judge and
this man was lover and not judge. His face
grew more and more wistful and puzzled.
Finally he dropped his hands and turned
away.
81 cannot understand It," he said as If to him
self
Salome's lips set themselves little. She was
afraid but she was only vaguely and indeh
nitely afraid. When one is happy fear is never
far away She walked quickly to a chair and
sat down. She managed to control her voice
as she asked
What is it that you cannot understand? Is
it anything about me?'
Yes it Is all about you. l suppose that 1t
isn't to be expected that women should have the
same regard for truth that men have" Here
Salome became n degree paler. women are
very different They have their faults, and their
virtues. You can't judge them by the same
standard as you use in judging men. Isn't that
the way it is?'
Moore was walking about the room. He was
continually glancng at his wife. who returned
his glance He seemed to be trying to arrive at
something: struggling for some light that should
disspate "A darkness that was about him. Ills
face showed suffering and an intolerable per-
pexity.
Isn't that the way it is?" he repeated. stop
ping I'm front Of his companion. IT'S just be-
cause Won are a woman, isn't it, that you don't
that YOU can't-tell the truth always"
He felt that his last words were brutal but
he had To speak them
saIomc.s white face was still turned steadily
toward him.
There have been two or three little thihes
about which you haven't been truthful-but I'm
not going to talk about them Perhaps IL WAS
a kind Of inaccurate feminine way
He paused here, but he evidently mad much
more in his mind which he must express
Salome was still silent Moore walked to
the end Of the room and came back. lie
stood over Salome; then he put MS manu- VIII"
tendcrcst touch on her hair
IT'S Just because you're woman, isn't II!
he asked again. Then he whispered Dearest
and dropped down on his knee beside her. rest
ing his face on her shoulder as he had done be-
rora when some suffering was between them
| A. last he said still with his head on her
shoulder:
something happened to-day so that had 10
sneak Of these things. And you must forgive
me. And don't you think it's best to talk Things
over and have the air cleared?'
| Now he rose and began walking again.
| "yes. I think it's best" answered Salofne'
speaking quickly. And 1t is not just pecause
I'm a woman Randolph. You mustn't Try 'c
think that / can't hide behind mat
Then what Is II?
Salome pressed her hand to her chest
"Oh, it's all coming true, she exc!aiiheu VIII"
! apparent irrclevancc.
What IS coming true?
..rhe had omen-the bad sign-when the crows
would fly over us In Florida
"salome-my Darlington really must ho'
yield to any such folly as that"
Moore spoke imperatively. Salome was lean
inc far hack in her chair. her head resting
against the dark velvet. her strained eyes In
tensclv fixed upon her husbands face
"Tve tried not to speak Of this" now went or
| Moore in his gentlest way, but with certain
armness which showed that he was resolved
~ say n few things. but want TO understand
better II can
"You can't understand" said Saiome. doh
care for the truth, because 1t Is the 'ru'h'
told YOU that long ago. Perhaps you 'hous"
YOU could teach me to care. You could 90 1t
any one could | do try. But, somehow
,sr,, &, mo Falsehood doesn't shock me. ]
IFS plcasanter, II it's going to be more COM
fortable-sometimcs il doesn't seem as II Puiu
realized that had perverted the truth. On II
not because I am woman. Randolph. lhi''
Of my mother, DO You think my mother ""u
Ito randolph? No. she wouldn't lie. even t
save me-
Al this there came such look Of agony Of
solome's face that Moore suddenly stopped an
took her I'm his arms. He sat down in the chai
oil har holding
closev lie bowed his head over her, murmur
ing indistngushable words OF tenderness
She seemed to wish to say more
",y. tried SO hard" she said. "no-you nee
ma, ston me now-I must talk or | shall not ID
ohIo 10 bear It, tell you don't have what IN
minister used TO call II realizing sense te
,ou 7 don't have II. one might think low
,ou we'll enough TO do differently | love 20
v.i,b all nv heart DO you think you know ho'
| love your
She mt her arm about his neck as she weI
on. So, .
"Randolph. do you suppose il Is possible
nncl out "A trait bodily. as II were, ana cast
from YOU az you might take out tooth OF CT
off YOUR hand? Just pluck it out? Sometime
think I'VE done IT. and then when nave COZ
graduated myself. | find all at once that nav
moi done It, And II does seem as II | love Eo
enough TO make my whole character over
= please YOU"
"IIush, Salome, not TO please me. But yo
r know that truth is the foundation OF ever
, thing"
, "Oh. | know II. That's what my mother a
, ways says. So know 1t is true. But OH
!. ! know il Intellectually, you see. don KNOW
. ox,.rimentally. as they say about religion.
I Salome sighed deeply. She Kept her race CLOS
y ly hidden.
+ After a silence. during which Moores count
. nance showed his keen suffering ana perpIeNi'
p. Salomc spoke again
what made you think particularly OF all IN
:, and of how wicked | am, just to-day
9 .'I am not calling you wicked he reSpohu
y hastily. II can't make you seem wicheu'