The Irish standard., 1902-10-11

ltDol. iAC ilfSU he ilau lOlQ nlmSelT
that he would be silent partner in
the iron works, leaving all the activi-
ties to the practical Raymer; but he
soon found this blankly impossible.
And with personal interest and the
shifting point of view came change,
gradual and almost insensible, in his
attitude toward mankind in general
and toward the workers in particu
lar. So it came about that while he
was writing a book. designed to over
turn the existing social order, he
was drifting slowly but surely into
the ranks of the oppressors.
The first open confession of this
threat of strike rose storm-cloud
like on the iron works horizon. Ray
mer was for temporizing with the
men, and for yielding something if
need be: but this Griswold fought
stoutly, growing more stubborn as
the threatening cloud increased in
size. If the men could not see for
themselves what was for their best
interests, they must be made to see.
But in reality it was Margery who
was responsible for the major
changes in the book. Caring nothing
! at all for the ethical question in
volved, she cared a great deal for
the success of the author, and she
was shrewd enough to arrive quickly
void was we'll able to write sue
cessful book; and that, left to him
self, he would assuredly spoil it with
his theories. So she labored faith
fully to keep him in broader road
and not without goodly measure
of success.
"But, Margery," -(they were well
past the "Mr." and Miss" by this
time)-"I can't do that" he said
one morning when they had been re-
working the plot through one of the
cozy sitting-room talks.
Don't you see il begs the entire
question of labor and capital?"
81 see that you can't help doing it
unless you are deliberately false to
your att" retorted the literary ora
Gle.
"You have put these people on the
stage, giving them certain characters,
and they must g" on and do the
things that are consistent"
Not if the consistent things are
going to make the entire picture out
of drawing"
She laughed. Elbow impossible a
man can be-" she rejoined, sweetly.
GLOW many times must we go beck
choose between saying it all aSl hav-
ing nobody read it and saying lit
tie and having everybody read it.
I'm not saying anything against
your theory-it's lovely. But unless
you make it good story. first, last
and all the time. you will never get a
hearing
"lhen may as well give it up
Griswold confessed. eff l may not
preach a little | have no excuse for
saying anything at ALL
"Oh. you may preach little. But
in this particular instance you must
make Rathbonc stern and inflexible
|
afraid of it's effect upon the girl
She will condone anything he may
have to dots Il way girls have"
He looked at her narrowly and
then the film OF abstraction came
between.
81 wonder il you really mean that:
Are women so ready to cOnlone?'
Her laugh was hooking. "You
make me blush for yon," she said
isn't an author supposed to know
more about us than we know about
ourselves??"
81 don't know about the SUPPOSE
ton. But the man who knows the
heart of one woman
She stopped him with a little ges
ture of impaticnce.
"TclI me what it is You don't know
and I'll turn traitor and betray my
SEX"
At that his gaze went beyond he1
again aud he said: 81 wonder if yol
wouluo"
"rr% mr and see"
He hcsiated Il moment. and tlel
plunged into the depths of it.
"'rhcn tell me this: If Rathbon,
should go on and do all the hare
things you say his character call
for--thngs which Priscilla believe
to he wrong-would she put her con
science aside and stand with him:'
Miss Grcrson's reply was brief AM
very much to the point.
IA woman in love has no con
. science. The man she loves has t.
furnish enough of that commodit
for two"
Griswold WINGED. "What merc
less little cynic you are" he dc
, clnred.
: cit is true, and when you are say
ing true things where is the use q
+ taking the roundab bout way. | don
say he woman wouldn't be hur'
, She would lie. and the hurt nigh
r turn up aftcrward in II way to max
$ the man sorry. But that has notl
l ing to do with the fact that Il won
| ans conscience can't hold it's ow
: against her love"
v Griswold shook his head in depre
= cation. 81 don't like to believe tina
s Id like to believe that Il man ma
!. go on making good woman's col
T. science the toucnstonc by which hi
y own conceptions of right and wron
g may be corrected.
+ Margcry laughed lightly. and $
you may, it you don't first go abo,
o to make the woman love you. III