The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-22

that Lam beside myself? Dosyou won
der that fear to speak lest ] will
shrek aloud with a rage that is as Inn
potent as q particle Of dust in whir1-
wind? Tell me, Erna, who besides your
self is aware of this secret that we
share? %
Nobody, Lisle,' gasped Erna.
Does not your father know?''
Nobody knows but me- She told
the falsehood tremblingly, but with de-
cision, for she already stood in more
awe of this strange woman than she
feared the consequences of harmless
lie. '%~-=
II am glad of that commented
Llsle. and Erna breathed sigh Of re-
lief for the lie that she had told and in
recollection of the fact that she had al
ready warned her father that lie was,
not to appear to know the truth until
Informed that he could do so. She had
attended to that when she ran to him
just before Lisle went out with her to
the grove Of pines. II am very glad of
it. I will tel! him the truth myself aft
er a little, when I have become calm
err
"Calmer? You are calm now, Lisle.
frightfully calmv' exclaimed Erna.
'True; am frightfully calm. That
exactly expresses it. 1t is the calm
ness of despair, Of rage, of rebellion, of
torrent of water, nightly deep,
which runs smoothly upon the surface,
but which is carrying the universe
along with it in it's silent depths. That
is the calmness that l feel. Do you
think that your father will consent to
remain here with me for few days?'
HE shall do so whether he consents
or not. I'll make him do it!' Then,
noticing the expression of wonder that
came into Lisle's eyes, she added "Of
course he will consent. He never re-
fuses me anything, and in this case
think he will propose it anyway"
II will be very grateful. Tomorrow
or the day after must tell him what
am. must beseech him to advise me,
and''-
Il know what you must do. You
must leave this ranch and all that con-
Germs it in the care of your men and
return to Kansas City with me. There
in my home"- n
Lisle raised one hand in protest.
1T is kind" she said, "but it cannot
be so at present. I have much to learn
before I will consent to face the world.
You forget the long years Of training
that must be overcome before l can
hope to acquire the rudiments of the
new life that I must live. Already
know much that you have not told me.
The life that must begin is entirely
different from the life that leave be-
hind me when assume the garb that
you wear and appear before the world
for what really ana woman. God,
how I hate it! What would happen if
I should go with you now? would
discover insults in compliments; I
would mistake deliberate offenses for
favors. Ever since was old enough
to hold pistol in my hand have been
taught to resent affronts with bullets.
Would you have me murder your best
friends? No; my place is here until. l
can go elsewhere with the freedom
that knowledge alone can :impart. /
am neither one thing nor the other
now. l am neither man nor woman.
am monstrosity-a freak-a thing!
Here you respect me; there you would
despise me. Here I am master; there
would be-nothing! Here, for awhile
at least, can still be a man; there
faugh! Let us go to your father. Then,
when I have talked with him, I will
ride out to meet Craig Thompson"
Mr.. Thomas walked out upon the
veranda with Lisle at her request.
"Everything has been attended to, or
is being done, Lisle," he said, adopting
the given name in preference to using
a pronoun which he did not know how
to select. "Your men-that is, those
who have not been sent out on errands-
have proved themselves extremely eff
ficient in every way, and in an hour
Il thank you, sir. do not care for
the details. 1t is very kind of you to
oversee everything. Perhaps later I
will know better how to express my
appreciation. Just now
"Not a word! Not a word, Lisle.
Why, feel already as if l had known
you always. I'll go ahead just as
though had, and now, if you will take
my advice, you will get on your horse
and go for good ride. 1t will do you
good-lots of it! Take the word of
Thomas O. Thomas for that"