Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-24
cyaica: spirit Of the age. She was an

| idealist, a dreamer of dreams; unprac-
teal and uuworldly. The spirit OF the
age had passed her by in her quiet conn
| try home. and she still cherished the IL
lusions with which she had entered on
woinan's estate.
.Do vow remember?" he asked again.
| "Yes, remember" she said. in her
soft voice.
| He turned and looked ut her as She
stood there by his side, tail and straight
and slender. her face a little uplifted
SO that the fading light fingered upon
it. Such face. Sweet and fair, and
tender and true, with wistfut, senst-
tive mouth. and clear. steadfast eyes
! The face of woman absolutely TN
selfish. purely wonanly, counting loss
as but gain when endured for loves
sake.
/, Something in the gaze of those inno-
cent eyes, with their soft, unwarerIu@
light. touched him as he had never
been touched in all his life before. and
Il great wave of remorse and shame
swept over him.
I'm 4 brute" he cried. even 10 think
OF letting you make such sacrifice for
me. l ought TO refuse it, but can't
can't. l love you too we'll. Oh. Joan,
WHY did YOU learn to love me: am not
worthy the love of such woman aS
YOU. Or. if you must waste your heart
on me, why didn't fate bring us to-
gethe- wears ago? could have offered
YOU love with honor. then; now | can
only offer you love with dishonor.
But love-" she said. softly; love
still
Yes" he answered. looking straight
into her eyes; love still-iove always
Is that enough. JOAN:
She came nearer to him and put her
hand on his arm. Dear. she SAID.
how little you know Inc, even now. or
YOU would not ask that question. Don
YOU understand that like to make this
| sacrifice for you-that L am glad to
give all I have to give for the sake OF the
man l love?
She looked up at him. and the light
that irradiated her face was not OF this
world. but the reflection of diviner
fires above. No shadow OF regret. no
/
completeness OF her contemplated sac
rifice. All that she had to give she gave
without grudgiug. and would have
? given ten times over. exulting in the
; power to give, for the sake OF the man
. she loved.
There are natures that are predes-
tined to martyrdorn. and find their trUlr,
I ~ ~
those.
He put his hand over hers as it lay
on his arm.
The man you love" he said. and
. the man who loves you Don't forget
that, Joan. The man who loves YOU.
Remember it always"
Always" she echoed, softly. The
man who loves me. les, 1 know you
love me. Ralph. You have told NE so,
ard I-belieye YOU"
He looked down at her and smiled.
We'll. dear, you have deeds Us well
DIS words to strengthen your belief. L
You are giving up for the man you love
am not also giving up for the woman
{ love? Not So much, perhaps-buc still
l something"
!. There was a moments pause, ana
/. then she turned to him quickly:
Are you giving up. Ralph? I dom
Il think l realized that before. l thought
:, Il thought you had all to gain anC
e nothing TO lose I thought -
Y thought
: That you were to bear all the loss.
he supplemented. with I. grave smile
1 Would that be q fair division Of labor
It Joan? don't think So
She was still looking up at him will
: idle, startled eyes.
t But l dol do And I should Ik,
to bear all the loss. Ralph; l want t.
! bear it all. Can't l."
: He shook his head.
l. No. you can't, dear-and thank Coo
= for it. 1 may De a selfish brute-som,
, women say all men are-but I'm read,
Ii to bear my share Of this undertaking
Ii J have no desire to shift the whole bur
den on to you. Joan"
She covered her face with her hands
ri I thought-I thought" she u1ur
! INJURED. LTokenty. oh Ralph, vot
tofa me that you were miserable il
your home life; that your Inarriae
/ had been q family arrangement withou
love ON either side. and that the con
slant fret and strain of living with
woman whom you disliked and de
spIsed were lowering your moral natur,
and making you hard and bitter an,
seynicaI. You told me that was tn
only woman that you had ever loved
and that alone could make you happ,
and lead You to better things Ic!
told me all that, Ralph, or eIse-o
else
And I told you the truth he an
swered, doggeeiIy. AS there's
Heaven above US, told you the truth
But there are worldly and practical
considerations, too, joan. though yo1
are SO unworlelIy and impractical tha
| hardly know how to explain them 7
II: goa. LIZ life--f1 Il mans life mere thai
FL i'm q womans-there are things Of al
? most equal value with love. and th0s
:: things am giving UP for you. Doe