New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-20
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
Copyright; 1925: By the Tribune Association.
COMING TO PREACHING.

persistence or she could not have held out during
the two interrnnable hours which followed. But
even interminable hours come TO an end.
The two in that boat did not row any: the
craft Just drifted slowly, very slowly down the
stream, and they played their violins almost
every moment.
The woman left her place among the rhodo-
dendrons and followed few rods along the shore
But she was right in her conclusion that they
would come back that Temple might land at the
long trunk of a tree which. fallen into the river
made sort of wharf.
When the girl did step upon the tree Miss
I)rowdy walked firmly down to meet her She
felt very firm. indeed; in fact. quite rigid. She
did not smile in the least when Temple came
close to her and held out her hand, saying in her
melodious. slightly drawing voice.
Good mawnin Amt it lurvly outdoors to-
day."
IF that young man wants to see you. Temple
Crawford. why don't he come TO the house,"
asked Almina
"Oh he does come" the answer
''Do you know went ON the elder woman
~do you know you've been out with him more
than two mortal hours. alone?"
Eyes. ma'am"
The girl looked in surprise at her companion
Then she smiled brightly as she said:
II was feared you'd get most bawdaciously
tired"
"You seen NE. them
ooh, yes. of course. And finally l begun to
think you must be going to stay till come back
Queer about it. What did you do 1t for? For
long time 1 thought you'd just come to look at
the mountains
II knew your father. Temple Crawford, and
wanted to take Of his child"
, The girl laughed as If greatly amused.
e sMy father" she exclaimed 1--WE been Won
dering II you were in love with him. He never
took the slightest care Of me in his life. I've al
ways done what 1 pleased every hour of the
twenty-four. Were you in love with him?'
She said 'lurv' instead of love- She seemed
greatly interested in this question. But she saw
that her companion hestated about replying.
you needn't be afraid to tell me-" she con-
sinued shut as for father, don't believe he ever
loved anything in his life
Miss Drowdy was trying TO discover how she
had so suddenly and completely lost control Of
the situation. She wondered If it were because
she had had no breakfast and was so faint.
IL was interested in your father" she be-
gan.
Temple suddenly put her arms about the
woman who walked by her side. and whom in
her young vigor she had impulse to protect
Then I'm sorry for you," said the youthful.
attractive voice.
Bewldered invinciby drawn to this girl, Miss
Drowdy tried to get herself in hand. II 1t had
only been so that she could have had a cup OF
coffee IT seemed 10 her that she could have done
better.
"You amt respectful" she began.
'Oh, don't bother about that" said Temple
81 respect you, any way. Anybody's got TO re-
spect you"
Almna drew long breath.
II want to speak to you about that young
man." she said. I've got to; it's my duty, you
see. Be you engaged to him.?
"Oh, no." with laugh.
"Are you goin' to be engaged to him?"
81 reckon not. | reckon I'm not the kind OF
girl to be in love. And s'pose girls got TO oe
in love TO be engaged. hasn't she?'
"She ought to be-"
Miss Drowdy very positive on this sub
ject Like most old maids, she believed in love-
and could not reconcile herself to thinking OF
marriage a bargain
1.-TWO or three times I've kind Of had a
tion." said Temple. that l was in love with Yale
Boynton; but generally speaking, I'm plumb sure
i amt"
ooh, dear" said Miss Drowdy then wish
you'd stop goin out in boat like that with him.
Is he likely young man."
Eyes: respectable nm scrabblin'; can he git
a good living: N would he be good provider.
do you Think?
II don't know"
HAS he got religion? Is he pious?"
81 don't know.
what do you know about him.
"Not a thing" was the frank answer
''Merciful sakes. How'd you git acquainted
with him."
'Why, had my violin down by the Broad one
day last summer, and this fellow came along in
his boat; and he had violin and was playing
It. And he stopped and spoke TO me. After we
had talked little he came ashore. / found he
could play lot better than l could so asked
him to teach me. He came to the house some
times But it's ever much nicer to be on the
river OF course l didn't see him In the winter.
He went away somewhere"
Here the girl paused.
Again Almna was shocked because she was
not more shocked.
'And he makes love to you?
'Sometimes At least, that is what you'd call
1t. reckon
Then the end of it'll be that you'll love him
n he don't give up.
Temple paused in her walk; her companion
stopped also.
love hm?' repeated the girl with a just per-
ceptible emphasis the pronoun.
She gazed off at the mountains her face becom-
ing softly Illuminated: her lips closed with an
almost passionate curve.
Looking at her now, Almina was dimly con-
scious. woman though she was Of that strange
and subtle attraction OF mere sex which Is In
some women greatly developed
1t Is a mistake 10 assume that only men are
aware OF this attraction. this mystery for which
there seems no explanation. That woman child
who Is born into the world possessing this power
draws to her unconsciously II she be good
yield INCREASINGLY; il che be bad we make a
fight, but We generally yield all the same In the
end: unless run away