The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-11
An Episode--in Pasts.


which dealt with a hero with a past
Il think if she had really loved him
she would have been willing TO accept his
past without any question" she said.
Would you,' he asked.
Why, yes-If loved him. What's the
good CT prying into all the hooks and cor
ners of the years that have gone, in
mans life? They are gone and you can't
help them or undo them or-or-anything,
and if ghosts can sleep where is the COM
fort in starting them 10 walking about?
But suddenly facing about-"I don't
believe in one privilege for man and
none for a woman. If a woman takes
mans past without question then he
has no right TO stir up her ghosts, you
know. believe in fair play at any rate"
But you know" he said, good women
have no pasts.'
But good men may have, eh?" she
asked. We'll, it is the same old story;
man may be a fool in his folly and yet
be good. but let a woman be never so
little a fool in her folly, and 10. she isn't
good a bit"
4 didn't say that" he answered. look
ing indulgently down at her flushed
cheeks, 'and 1 believe 1 like you best
when you champion your sex; go on,
dear; you are very pretty today" But
she only looked down al the toe OF her
shoe and said nothing.
After a moment he reached out and
drew her closer. Sweetheart" he said
in low voice, I'VE have no questions TO
ask, no ghosts to walk about; we can
safely take each others 'pasts,' SO let's
be happy in our present"
They had been married a month or two
and no day that passed had flown by bur-
dened with a record of questions" They
had really been an unusual couple, and
each felt rather proud. in the depths of
his and her secret soul, that such had
been the case To be sure each was GER
tain that the other had told all that had
ever happened, of his or her own sweet
will and because of the sweet delight
of rendering condolences unasked; but
still-well, an ordinary man and woman
might, even then, have suspected hidden
depths and have sought to plumb them.
Tonight they were both very quiet; he
looking over her lap into thd Goals that
glowed and flashed and fiickered like the
moods of human soul; she, with her
elbow on his knee, and her eyes half shut
behind her open palm.
you are so still, DEAR" he said, what
is it?"
Nothing" she said, without moving.
al have been far away, for I cannot re-
call of what I was thinking. l daresay
wasn't thinking at all"
/ 81 do not accept that" he retorted,
and it is no compliment TO me if you are
close enough to touch me and are yet far
out of my ken. l know you were asleep.
mo" she said, resting her chin on her
hand and opening wide her eyes, mo, L
wasn't asleep. But you-of what were
you thinking? You were just as still"
''I was not far away" he answered,
"at all odds. I was just wondering how
1 could ever be good enough for you"
70 nd
smoothed back the soft curls OF her hair.
She turned her face down on his shout
der.
Don't" she said; ST pray-really 7 Go
every day, that you will always believe
I am good. 1 am not half the woman
I ought to be. no, not half,' and then
she began to cry.
You foolish little woman" he said. pat
ting her shoulder, as If she were
fretful baby, "as If there were an hour
of your life that you need 10 live over
for repentance sake"
IF there were you woEid never for
give me-" she said, drying her eyes and
lifting her head to look into his face.
The bare shadow of frowH passed over
the brow of the man. knowing there is
no possibility that I shall ever be called
on to forgive" he said stiffiy, Il don't
see why we need discuss the probability
of such a thing-do you?'
The woman laughed; funny, little
forced laugh: 1--WE are vecy silly that is
I am" she corrected. az find myself won
derng what you would do, or what l
would. if such and such were the case,
it is very absurd, even to think about,
isn't it?'
Very" he agreed, promptly. There
being nothing to forgive how could
forgive? and how do you know whether
7 would mr. NOT II there Wprp7''
She did not answer. and after a little
she slipped from his knee and went be-
hind his chair. softly stroki7g his head
and looking down into The lire into which
ne had resumed his gazing. BY ind by
she said, a little tImidly, 'T almost wish,
dear, there was something 1 could for
give you"
He reached over a little impatiently
and poked the CRATE; then he stood up
and faced her with a dark flush on his
face: Il heard" he said. that woman
was never satisfied unless a man had
some blot on his life; I never expected.
however, that you would find fault with a
clean escutcheon." The tone was a cut
ting as the words; it was the first tone
she had ever heard him address to her
that had not caress; she grew pale and
dropped over the chair back ike some
suddenly stricken creature.
In an instant he was beside her, all re-
pentance. II was brute, dear he said.
Now you must have something TO for
give"
An hour later, after he gas was lighted
and they had read a n.tl4 and talked a
little upon Indifferent subjects she with
her mental equipose fully restored. quoted
softly: Let him that thinketb he staudelh
take head lest he fali-dear, am afraid
We came dangerously near to our 'pasts'
tonight"
The man looked sober and said: That's
enough but when the woman, now thor
oughly mistress Of the situation, laughed
and teasingly asked who was the
woman. dear?" he was wise enough SIM
ply kiss her unturned face. and since
then they have both been wise enough
10 let sleeping ghosts lie.-Francis POrcher
in the Mirror.