Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-05
The Reverse Side
By HAY BATEMAN.
SGDON'T say bitter things" said the
 ' pirl. sharply: "they hurt"

D girl. sharply; they hurt. Refusing to face crude facts hurts mors," said the woman.
 It was late afternoon, and the lamp lighter had lit the lamps in Curzon street. Beyond, in Piccadilly, thou sand lights famed and glared. The roll of the traffic swelled like the muf- fled echo of a distant drum. At the corner which led upon Hay Hill, man in rags was begging of the foot-passengers who crossed the par row pathway. In Bolton street a woman's voice, importunate, could be heard. Mrs. Marchmont withdrew sud- denly from the window sill against which she had been leaning. You think me brutal" she said, after pause. Perhaps she waited for a disclaimer, but none came. T hate to see you suffer- would like to save you. It is mistake to idealize. The man is very ordinary at best.' 'sHe is the one mani" the girl an- swered. Her eyes shone.
 But, Margot, you don't suppose that you are the one woman," broke in her friend. Her voice rang almost pain fully. ''It is question of degree. Women give more or less. But the least that woman such as you can give is more than such a man de- serves"
 "You're conventional, after all" the grill said, smiling easily. Fate had given such bountiful gifts to her that she could afford to be generous to her less fortunate and embittered sisters. You're taking the worlds narrow judgment. It's not my fault if am rich. Pm glad-in way. It gives us both opportunity and power. And it may even help him on in his career"
 "Money has uses, obviously" said her friend, drily. Particularly in the case of a penniless subaltern, whose single claim to distinction lies in the fact that he has feathered his nest to the best advantage-at a woman's cost. am putting this crudely. The main facts are crude"
 "It's the stocktaking season of your line, and winter is approaching. You're buying goods that are only fit for sum- mer wear, and one day you will feel the cold"
 "Am I so little worth loving that man cannot love me for myself?"
 "A mans love- at best, as at worst, is different from woman's," said her friend. "All the elements go to make up a woman's love, whereas, mans love is made up of many clements. Men reveal, and women feel, but most women feel once, and most men reveal often. If in the resurrection it were asked of any woman of our acquaint-
 eI1 ho h how many women in each case would justly lay claim to that positionp'
 The girl upon the bed shrank back.
 "Your experience has been painful" she said, pitifully. "You are judging him by that. Whatever other mep are, he is true and honorable"
 "How has he shown it? It was as easy. to love you as it was wise. You are on the brink of a mad action. You want to run away with him, to begin a life-the intimacy of which you have no conception-witha stranger. You are quarreling with your people; the people who have thought for you and loved you for years, for his sake. Whats his passion worth? A love which can't be openly acknowledged
 
 The girl waited tranquilly. her hands clasped.
 'I love him,'' she said. "He loves me. O, poor youl Probably you can't realize what this means. Your own happiest moments must have been spoilt by, doubt and misgiving. don't want to know if knowledge brings pain. Other men may be false. He is the soul of honor and Loyalty. I am not fit to be his wife. The only dread I have about the future is that he will some day find out how little was worth his love. You should hear him talk. Till I met him never under stood how much men felt about the deeper issues of life. The merest 'fieck on the white jars him. Some times he makes me feel quite unre- fined. I choose even my words care fully now. His face is the index of his nature. It isn't only good-looking it's goodness itself. I believe he would physically shrink from anything which fell short of his standard"
 Her companion rose abruptly. She crossed to the window. In Bolton street there was the outline of the woman's waiting figure.
 Every nature has it's reverse side," she said. "God help you when the truth is revealed to you. And yet it is the only chance of saving you. Will you come with Jack Arbuthnot and me tonight? We are going to the masked ball."