Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-25

now. Please don't talk of love-don't talk
OF ANYTHING Can't you see-can't you un-
Eyes. know. You are suffering, but It
ls unjust; you are not fair to yourself
II this man would steal money, what differ
ence would your love make to him? He
would be as unfaithful to you as he has
been to his trust in the bank. You must
consider yourself-you must give him up
you can't link your young, beautiful life
to man who Is only saved from the peni-
Tertiary because Of your influence"
Don't talk that way, Mr.. Crane, please
don't. I know you-you think that what
you say Is right, but what difference does
1t all make to me? You know what love is
like. you say 1t has come to you now Ny
heart tells me that Mortimer is guiltless.
The time has been so short that he has had
no chance to clear himself. If didn't be-
ileve In him. 1 wouldn't love him; but
still love him, and SO l believe in him. l
can't help i'll don't want to help It; SIM
ply go on having faith in him, and my love
doesn't falter. Can't you understand what
terrible thing 1t would be even II were
TO consent to become your wife? know 1t
would please my mother. But II afterward
this other man was found to be innocent,
wouldn't your life be embittered-woudn't
1t be terrible for you to be tied to a wo-
man who loved another man."
But it Is impossible that he Is innocent,
or will ever be thought So"
And know that he is innocent"
Your judgment must tell you that this is
only fancy"
my heart tells me that he is not guilty
of this crime. My heart is still true to him,
so shall I decide against myself? Don't
don't stab me to death with words of
Mortimers guilt-it has no effect and only
gives me pain. l must wait-we must all
wait, just wait. There is no harm in walt
ing. the truth comes out at last. But you
will keep your promise?' she said, lifting
her eyes to his face.
Yes. I meant no harm to Mortimer in
searching for this evidence; 1t was only
TO clear your brother
They had come to the station by now.
Would you like to speak to Mr. Far
rell?" Crane asked. You are taking my
mo. It is useless. can do nothing but
wait: that can and will do
Don't think me cruel" Crane said, but
the wait will be SO long
1T may be forever, but will walt. And
thank you again for your-for your good
ness to me. l am sorry that I've given you
trouble
Shall go back again up town with
your" Crane asked, solicitousy. I'm
afraid I've taken you out of your way"
mo, please don't; 1T doesn't matter.
Good-by. If you can-if you can-make II
easier for Mortimer I know he'll feel II II
you could make him think that you didn't
altogether believe him a-a-dishonest-will
you, for my Sake?'
1 1t was generally supposed that Cranes
heart had been mislad at his inception and
the void filled with piece of chiseled mar
BILE. For years he was convert to this
belief himself; but as he stood on the plat
form Of the primitive little station and
looked into the soft, luminous gray eyes,
swimming moist in hard-restrained tears,
Of the pleading girl he became as child.
What a wondrous thing this love wasl
Mountains were as molehills before such
faith. Had the girl asked that Mortimer be
made president of the bank and married to
her forthwith, 1t is possible of conception
that Crane would have forgotten that he
was aught but her slave and used his best
endeayor to bring about the fairy trans
formation. In the unlimited power of her
magnetism, what trifie she had asked Of
him! With an influence so great, she had
simply said: Spare of censure this man,
in condescension he promised
Even in disgrace-a felon-how Mortimer
was to be envied! Above all else was such
abiding love In his (Crane's) victory was
the bitterness of defeat; the man beaten
down yet triumphed in the gain of this
priceless love.
A sharp, material whistle screening
through it's brass dome on the incoming
train cut short these ecstatically chaotlc
thoughts.
holding out her hand to Crane.
"Good-by," he repeated mechanically
What had he accomplished? He had beat
en- lower his rival and welded firmer to the
beaten man the love he prized above an
''Wait wait wait" 1rrespons1bly he re-
peated to himself, "All things come to them
that wait"
Seated In the car. swift whirled toward
the city he was almost surprised TO ma
Farrell by his side. He was like a man IN
a dream. A vision Of gray eyes blurred IN
tears Of regret had obliterated all that was
material In defeat his adversary had the
victory He, Philip Crane, the man OF CAL
culati0n was but a creature of emotion.
Bah! At forty, if man chooses to assume
the role of Orlando, he does 1t TO perfec-
ton. -.
With an effort he swept the eobweb OF
dreams and sat upright Philip Crane the
careful planner
rell.
Did -" questioned Crane, perplexedly.
Farrell smiled knowingly, as nehtteo IA
man of his occupation-a Ne" f3 6Ises. a a5
Crane. Was everything in the world vile?
He had left young life swimming nope,
lessly in the breakers OF eisaster' puoyet
a man who winked complacently and BEAM
ed upon him with senile admiration because
of his supposed gallantry:
Perhaps a year before this moral angular
ttv would not have affected him. 1t would
not have appealed to him as being either
clever or Objectionable; he would simply
not have noticed it at all
But Allis Porter had originated reVoiu-
ton in his manner of thought He even
fought AGAINST the softer awakening; 1t was
like destroying the lifelong habits or
man. His callosity had been shield t4at
saved him troublous misgivings; behind this
Shield even in rapacity he had experienced
neace of mind, absence of remorse: If he
could have put away from him his love for
the girl, he would have done 1t Willingly,
Whv should he battle and strive for an UNI
attainabie something as intangible as a
dream? 1t was so paradoxical that Allis love
for Mortimer seemed hopeless because of the
latter's defeat, while his Cranes love was
eouaIIv homeless in his hour of victory.
Farrell's voice drew him from this psy-
Geological muddle in tones that sounded
harsh as the cawing Of homtng ravens at
eventime.
.'WiIl 1t be a court case?' he queried.
"What?" asked Crane, from his tangled
elvsium.
That high roller in the bank
cob / can't say yet what It will lead to"