The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-04
A POINT OF EQUITY.


s'xou women are as hard as neither
milestone" said the man, fiinging nls
cigarette stump into the fire with seS'
III we we're answered the woman,
''f we were, there would be reWer men
Of your type in the world.
of my type2 What do you mean
ezactly2"
She rose slowly and with a hget
touch on his shoulder turned nun ~
ward the mirror The face given Dy tte
truth teller was lined with the uhes ma
enly one hand can grave on lne lacG y.
youth the hand of knowledge, that
knowrh goOd-and evil 90.
do you need any other answer
asked the woman" You used not to shy
at truth-With me
RaIlinor Forde laughed and shrugged
ais shoulders. 49,.
afnch-5vher the ViyisectiOnist IS
pretty woman. But revert TO where we
started frOm-I suppose / know Whdt
you are driving at"that If Man could
oni1, and him 4 wife on the production
af q certificate of previous good CHAR
acter. we should have TO pay tne Or ,ee
demanded if we wished TO attain tt-d
bliss Of matrimOny- mind our early
1UnquestionabIy So We women are
TOO rgivng-when we love- and she
sished
Forde turned and looked at her.
Would you be forgiving, Bettey2" he
auired.
His eyes searched her face. the con
Trajectory face with its passionate red
mouth and blue, steadfast eyes.
Would you be f0rgiving?"
She was silent her fingers drumming
merv0usly on the arm of her chair
"Pahl OF course nOtt' burst out the
man, You would draw your white
Eoluans garments about you and-paas
by What do you women know or IoNe
and the immeasurabie forgiveness Of 1t.
Notwithstanding at all Your love be-
sides ours is as water unto vine"
He threw the words at her in a whirl
wind of scorn but she heard the under
lying note of pain. and answered that
II should forgive" she said quietly,
and rising she slipped from the room
1T was a week later, and once again
the man and the woman We're together
Did you mean what you said the
other day." he asked
Betty realized that the enemy was in
sight and nervOusly erected her ridicu-
lous little barricades. as women will.
She laughed-gay. ripping laughter
who could tell it was forced2
what I said the other day2' she an
sWered, nippancy life in her voice. dim
pies in her face Gracious RallinOr,
you don't expect me to remember what
I said days ago or, III I did, to be the
same opinion now as then2 Verify, [
am but a woman"
Some men are dismayed by these
aimsy outworks, and imagine them to
be impossible defenses- But Forde was
not of such.
You said-You could forgive. Could
you forgive me. Betty? You're the only
woman I've ever loved. or ever shall
win you believe it?" His voice was
tense Passion has played its part in
my life-Tve told you all the old story:
but that's not love. Betty, Betty, can
you forgive-and love me-"
The passionate pain and love in his
voice hurt her almost physically. She
held out her hands.
"RallinOr, yes, she said. because L
love yOu-but""
He snatched her in his arms.
There is no but " he cried. The red
mouth lay beneath his own, her eyes
looked loye-lOve only-intO his. and for
one brief moment that would live for
ever in the memory. There was no but.
Then-for her creed was hers. and not
for his pain nor ner own would she be-
tray it-she withdrew herself from his
arms and stood away from him.
wait a moment" she cried wait
moment ] have forgiven you Rallinor.
for me the past is not. 1t is buried be-
ueath-my love-
He took a step toward her. he would
have kissed his thanks.
No, wait. Let me speak, have new
or told you-what need till now? Now
now" her voice grew sharp and thin
with anxiety, "vviN Won forgive me2"
There was "a silence-a tense. strained
silence-fuu of questioning and horror
for the man, of sickening suspense for
the woman.
"what-what do YOU mean2" he
whispered
Il mean" she answered steadily II
mean win you forgive me-what have
forgiven you p"
My Cod" Hoarsely the cry broke
from him. he stepped back from her
his arm raised as if to ward eff a blow
Her eyes-wide wistful appealing
clung to his
But he stepped back from her.
You Can't?" she cried. 'Doyou mean