The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-20

Rhoua Barr had been distinctly injurious
to character easily moulded by exteriofs.
A mans ego, or self, or whatever else it
may be called, Is always in a state Of
transition. Character, like matter, is in
constant process of change. A man is
either better or worse one day than he was
the preceding. Unfortunately for the race
1t is much easier to go down than up and
what may be called the ethical formation
bears strong resemblance to toboggan-
side.
Pardon me, gentle reader, for this seem.
ingly irrelevant disquisition on a subject
that should be left to more learned pens
than mine. There was a time when a
writer OF fiction was permitted by Gus
tom to have little confidential chat with
his readers now and then on almost any
topic remotely connected with his story.
Those good old days have passed, howev-
er and now the novelist is compelled to
let his characters do all the talking. Con-
forming therefore, to contemporary usage
will subdue my inclination to prose about
ethics, and if you will kindly replace the
ear-pieces to your tympanum, | will turn
on the monograph, and you may find in
harian's last conversation with Alice be-
fore they left the ship on their return voy
beSO oOLAObuluS l4OlO O1tOl eLAo4
the above observations on the formation OF
character.
They were leaning against the rail and
looking out upon the moon-lit sea. The
steamer had made quick run and the
morning would find her off Sandy Hook.
This last evening of the passage was an
ideal summer night. The smiling ocean
seemed to throb with pleasure as the
moonbeams tickled her heaving breast
The air was warm and soft and the voy-
ayers happy at the morrow's prospect,
laughed and talked and sang utterly for
getful how they had suffered the first day
out
Why are you so quiet% Alice asked
after long silence, during which Harlan
had pulled cigarette and gazed dreamily
out upon the silvery sea.
Because ! am happy, l suppose.
have been thinking how changed 1 am
since crossed this sea before. 1 look at
life in such different way
Yes" she remarked mischievously,
"Travel does do great deal for one."
He glanced at her searchingly and
smiled as he caught the CLEAN of playful
ness in her eyes.
You are very beautiful" he remarked,
somewhat irrelevantly.
She blushed and half turned away.
Don't be angry, Alice. Why should
not tell you so? Have we not been fellow
travellers for weeks? Have you been hap
py during that time? Tell me?"
Yes" she murmured in a low voice
and playing nervously with the fringe Of
her wrap.
Il am very glad. I have tried to be
good"
She laughed at the earnest way in which
he said this.
Il mean," he continued, "that I have
held myself in check, have not worried
you with the burning words that came to
my lips, have not told you what was In my
heart, have been"
Yes, yes. l know" she interrupted.
You nave Deen perIecJ saint. L nope you
aren't weary Of the role"
Il think l am. II my saintship entails
upon me absolute silence regarding the
one thing in the world that care to talk
about | shall begin to regret that I was
ever canonized."
Poor fellow" she sighed sympathetic
cally.
They both laughed He had taken her
hand and it's clasp was very cordial
Alice" he said impressively, we have
got longer journey TO take together than
the one we are now ending"
"Yes?"
YES the journey of life. You say you
have been happy during the last few
weeks. Do you think | can make you hap
Ply to the end?"
81 hope so, Harlan" she said simply,
giving him her other hand and looking up
into his face lovingly.
know don't deserve you" he con-
tinued, but l shall try to become more
worthy of you as the years go by. Oh,
Alice, you have saved me from-mysef
You have shown me your heart and | have
seen here promise that will make me a
new man. Kiss me- Tell me that you
love me. Tell me that you will try to
make me what l should be. Now l know
that have been weak, selfish thoughtless,
but l promise you that your love shall be
the lodestar that shall save me from moral
shipwreck"
Harlan Otis remembered these words as
he strobe down town about half after
eight on the evening following his recep-
ton of Rhoda Barr's enigmatic note. He
was nervous and distraught The longer
he had pondered her words the more he
had been inclined to think that unless he
went to her at once she would take her re-
venge in some subtle, womansh way
against which he would have no defence.
When young man goes into a contest
with a woman a few years his elder he is
pretty certain to find himself hors dit COM
bat before the battle is well begun Harlan
was keen-witted enough to know this, and
he was rather frightened at his temerity
in refusing to answer her note.
Would it not be best to cali on her at nine
and come, if possible, to some modlts uiUsn-
d.? Perhaps he would be able to discover
during their confGb what course she in
tended to take if he persisted in his deser-
ton. She had said that she would not
stand in the way Of his happiness. had
hor love for him become less unselfsh dur
ing the lonely months that she had spent?
1t looked so.
Was there nothing more than a desire to
discover her plans in his half-formed pur-
pose to go to her? Had the memoryo of past
joys nothing to do with his hesitation as
he fingered at the corner of a street and
searched his heart? One road led to Alice
Inman, the other to Rhoda Barr Which
should he take2