The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-02

of course" she retorted, 81 warn
ed you," but she flushed at her be.
trayal.
You know what l mean. You have
not forgotten. Perhaps you read some,
thing upon the subject occasionally"
Perhaps" she admitted, dryly.
Il should like to think that it was
something of mine," he suggested,
wistfully
You see coolly apologize, have
so few friends in prints"
And you really read those dry old
things?"
Well" she hesitated, II read at
them"
"Ah, 1 See" but her honesty did
not strike him as particularly sunny.
The girl leaned back in her chair,
looked at the stars and quoted dron-
ingly:
II very often stop and think
Upon the ways of men.
They're very few who do not drink,
And most have fingers ten.
And If you'll look up any street,
You'll see all classes on their feet"
who is your poet?"
81 don't know. One of those jingles
in Harlequin. Get started to running
in ones head and can't be shaken
out What about that unstable COM
pound?"
"Oh, yes" he said, and then said
nothing more for so long that the girl
looked at him uneasily.
"An unstable compound" he began
confusedly, sis one that changes east
ly-I mean it is generally formed I'M
der pressure of circumstance-at least,
not circumstances always, but this one
that want to discuss was formed that
way. | hope you underStand?'
1xy M
litely.
"It does not necessarily resume it's
original elements. 1t may combine
! with a third and form a compound Of
entirely dissimilar properties"
Yes" vaguely.
Let me explain: Suppose that a
man loved a woman and was COMPEL
| ed by circumstances to maintain to-
ward her an attitude of simple friend
| illness. That sentiment of mixed love
and friendship might be termed an un-
| stable compound. Every atom is in
| a state of strain. Upon the release of
pressure or under force of a slight jar
would change to-"
Yes, and the result, / suppose,
would depend upon the state of the
atmosphere" she interposed, a tride
| hurriedly.
II suppose So" he looked at the
| splash of moonlight for a. moment then
reached for the hand on her chair.
Aren't you ashamed to guy me this
| way?"
I'm sorry. I was afraid I might
not understand"
1T think you understand" he re-
marked, quietly. THE question is,
what stable compound will be formed
from the unstable one under consid-
| Grafton"
1t was the girls turn to study that
| bit of interesting moonshine.
st don't know" she said, hurriedly
81 dare say the result would depend
upon circumstances"
mo" he corrected. gravely. 81
would depend upon the woman" his
| hand frightened passionately upor
| hers. Don't you know that?'
She withdrew her hand and claspet
it behind her head.
81 cannot say" she replied, indif'
ferently. 81 am not a chemist"
The chemist stood up and bent his
head in the moonlight to look at his
watch, suddenly realizing that he hao
not slept for forty-eght hours; that he
was So years old and that his hail
was getting thin.
The girl watched him with a thrill
of admiration. The big, bungling fell
low was manly man, could take his
medicine with a straight face. She
| told herself with savage insistence thai
he richly merited the dose, but heI
voice did not betray sternness.
Another thing about unstable COM
| pounds Mr.. Morton"
UNSTABLE compounds be dashed!
have loved you all my life. Do you
mean to throw me over like this?"
She sat up very straight and hel
hands frightened on the arms of hel
| chair.
'Mr. Norton" she said, carefully.
Morton threw himself into his chair
and, leaning sideways. rested his
cheek against her hand.
I'm tired" he muttered, penitently
ct should not have come here tonight
I couldn't keep away"
| Unsteady fingers stole through his
| hair.
"I am so glad-that you came" she
whispered.
Morton moved slightly and kissed
the hand beneath his cheek He die
not understand how she had done Il
woman ways are more bathing thar
unstable compounds--but he was very
| happy.