New-York tribune., 1895-02-17
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL.
Copyright: 1895: BY the Tribune As'oeidtfon.
XII
"MCTUAL REGARD"


her his head thrown back against the chair
Though his features were remotely cold and
calm as usual there was yet on his face some
thing that made it different. There some
extraordinary force working in him.
This Mrs. Ammidown felt rather than saw. But
she was still thinking OF Mrs. Crawford's letter.
II call it crime for dead woman to leave
commands on the living"
She spoke with bitter emphasis. She folded
the letter. When she had spoken she looked again
at her brother and perceived that he had not
noticed in the least what she had said.
After a moment she asked: well, what Is 1t
now?"
There was not very much sympathy in her
voice. She was thinking OF what Temple had
told her.
Mercer leaned forward toward his sister. She
noticed that his hands were not quite steady
She remembered him from his boyhood and she
knew that his ordinary appearance was not In
dicative Of his temperament that 1t was only
veneering he had built about himself. And an
excellent vcneering It was.
You heard that girl pray?" he inquired
This was so entirely unexpected that Mrs.
Ammidown could not at first reply. But she
rallied and made the satirical remark that she
supposed that Temple was what is called gifted
in prayer"
Gifted? Yes, God has given her this wonder
full power that she might use 1t for Him. She
would melt the hardest heart"
Has she melted your hearth" Mercer did not
reply.
He left his seat suddenly. He walked the
length Of the room and when he came back he
paused Just behind his sister that she could
not see him.
Laura" he said don't jeer at me-
hat In made
woman turn quickly She stretched out her
hand and seized his; his cold fingers closed
tightly over hers She pulled him down to the
footstool close to her. She was five years older
than he and was liable at any time to go back
IN her attitude Of mind to that time when as an
older sister, she had been his tender friend and
confidant. At thirty even an iron-willed man
has moments when he is not quite all iron; par
ticularly with beloved sister
'Ts it possble?"
This exclamation from Mrs. Ammidown could
not have reference to anything that had been
put into words
With a movement OF abandon that was In
fnitey touching in such man. Mercer put his
head down in his sisters lap.
but you don't know her." she almost whs-
pered these words.
She was stroking his hair. Her eyes had sud
denly filled. And there was faint resentment
against Temple in her heart.
you are not in the least what is called ac-
quainted with her." she went on.
No matter. 1t is written that must love her.
God has willed 1t. I'm convinced OF that. !
can't fight against that From the moment l
saw her. met her glance. heard her speak. felt
that strange sweetness Of her presence, l knew
could make no fight against this. Everything
else could fight. but not this. Oh, not this
Mercer had suddenly gone back to himself as
he had been as a boy and youth His nature.
his temperament, arbitrarily asserted themselves
In this great moment in spite of all the bonds Of
years.
He was now gazing into his sisters face. And
she with a curious mingling Of fear and admira-
ton, was responding to his gaze And she was
irving to Danish that unreasonable emotion Of
anger toward Temple.
"And she?'
She did not Just then dare to say any more.
lest he should suspect the existence OF this anger
II don't know what she thinks or feels" was
the answer. "Only I'm quite sure she does not
love me- Why should she? How could she, and
IN this little time, too? There is nothing about
me to draw her to me as she draws me to her;
nothing. And I'm afraid to hope
He paused. his words showing the humility Of
the true lover
His blazing eyes, MS tTeInulouS iilOuti, tHe
strange transfguring efugence on his face
made his sisters heart ache more and more
Even she had been deceived by the armor he
had worn, the repression ne had put upon him.
self in the last half dozen years.
The fiery enthusiasm of his nature had found
EXPRESSION in his work. AID this was one OF the
secrets Of his marvellous success In moving
Others
You afraid to hope'
Mrs. Ammidown made this exclamation with
pride. She bent over and kissed her brothers
forehead. 1t seemed to her that she had gone
back more than dozen Yeas, to those days
when Richard had iet her see what he feared.
and longed for, and felt
"She ought to be grateful for the love OF such
Q man as you are" she said.
Mercer smiled little.
II haven't looked at this as matter for graf
itude on her part" he responded.
"Did>you tell her about this sudden love?'
AS Mrs. Ammidown put this question she was
thinking Of Temples manner when she had
spoken Of sharing Mercer's work.
mo. She would have been shocked. repeed.
I'm afraid. ! tried to be calm and cold; and
asked her to marry me and share my labors l
think told her how wonderfully she was gifted
Anyway, meant to tell her that. Mostly my
mind was occupied in the effort to seem calm"
a You are just like man" exclaimed Mrs
Ammidown.
And why shouldn't be like a man? What do
you mean?'
II mean that you would have a woman marry
you whether she loves you. or doesn't love you"
YES but would prefer that she should love
me-"
'She isn't likely to be the first to proclaim that
love. How utterly blind men are!'
Mercer looked intently at his sister His face
grew paler as he looked.
tYou think l ought TO tell her." he asked.
"Remember, Laura. don't know women at all.
They are strangers to me; they seem not to be-
long to the human race. as men do: only these