The San Francisco call., 1904-11-20


cident. AS she went to and fro on her
work and her pleasure, the figures
gradually and insensibly set them.
selves in rows, added and subtracteo
themselves and presented her with the
quotient. II was against her will that
all this happened. She would have h&o
none OF lit there was nothing to Fscqrns
mend IL; Il was not even unusual Bus
it would come-and what did 1t come
to? Nothing alarming or vulgar OF
sensational. GrantleyA gAllantry for-
bade that, his good manners, his az
fectionate ways. his real love for her.
1t was forbidden, too. by the moments
of rapture which she excited and
which she shared; they were still un-
touched-the fairy rides on fairy
horses. But 1t Is not the virtue OF such
things to mean more than they are
to be not incidents. but rather culmin-
ations-not exceptions, but the very
type, the highest expression Of what
is always there? Even the raptures
she was coming to doubt while she
welcomed. to mistrust while she
shared. Would she come at once to
hate and to strive after them7
In the end II was not the identity her
soaring fancy had pictured, not the
union her heart cried for, less even
than the partnership which naked rea-
son seemed to claim. She had not be-
come his very self, as he was OF her
very self-nor part of him. She was TO
him-what7 She sought word. at
least an idea, and smiled at one or two
which her own bitterness onered TO
her. A toy7 OF course not. A diver
sion7 Much more than that But still
1t was something accidental, something
that he might not have had and would
have done very well without; yet
something greatly valued, tenoeo,
caressed-yes, and even loved. A great
acquisition perhaps expressed ia
Oh
treasure. Sometimes, after putting
1t as low as she could in cha
grin, she put 1t as high az she
Could-by way OF testing It Put II how
she would. the ultimate result worked
out the same. She made much less
difference to Grantley Imason than she
had looked to make; she was much less
Of and in his life. much less Of the
essence, more Of an accretion. She
was outside his innermost self-a
stranger to his closest Businesses. Was
that the nature Of the tie or the nature
of the man? She cried out against
either conclusion; for either ruined the
hopes of which she lived. Among them
was one mighty hope. Were not both
tie and man still incomplete, even as
she. the woman, was in truth yet in
complete, yet short of her great func-
tion; undischarged for her high nat
uuRl office? Was there not that in
her now which should make all things
complete and perfect? While that hope
nay, that conviction-remained she
refused to admit that she was discon-
tent She waited, trying meanwhile
to smother the discomfort.
OF course there was another side. and
Grantley himself put ii to Mrs. Ray
more when, in her sisterly affection for
him and her motherly interest in ST.
bylla, she had ventured on two or three
"
analysis, resolved themselves into
hints.
In anything like a doubtful case"
he complained humorOusly (for he was
not taking the questions very serious
ly), the man never gets fair play
He's not nearly so picturesque. And
If he becomes picturesque if he goes
through fits hot and cold, and ups and
downs, and all sorts of convulsions, as
the woman does and does so effective
ly, he doesn't get any more sympathy,
because It's not the ideal for the man
not our national ideal. anyhow. You
see the dilemma he's in? If he's not
emotional he's not interesting; If he's
emotional he's not manly. I'm speak
ing of a doubtful case all the time. OF
course you may have your impeccable
Still-Waters- -Run-Deep sort Of man
the part poor old Tom ought to have
played But then that is a part-a
-
a doubtful case the mans nowhere.
Take it how you will, the woman is
bound to win"
(which means that you don't want to
complain or criticize. but II 1 will put
impertinent questions"
IF you put me on my defense" he
amended. laughing.
Yes, If 1 put you on your defense,
you'll hint
Through generalities-"
yes, through generalities you'll hint.
In your graceful way, that Sibylla, OF
whom you're very fond"
''Oh, be fair! You know I am"
rs xacting-fatiguing?
That's too strong. Rather, as
say, emotional. She likes living on the
heights. I like going up there now and
then. In fact 1 maintain the national
ideal"
yes. I think you'd do that very
well-quite well enough, Grantley." d.
There's sting in the tail Of your
praise?"
After all. I'm a woman, too"
I'VE really needn't fuss ourselves, 1
think. You see, she has the great
saving grace-a sense Of humor. If
/ perceive dimly that somehow some
thing hasn't been quite what II ought
to have been, that 1 haven't-haven't
played up somehow-you know what I
mean?"
Very well. indeed" Mrs. Raymore
laughed gently.
II can put it all right by a good
laugh-a bit of mock herOics, perhaps
some good chaff, followed by a good
gallop-not at all a bad prescription
After little of that, she's laughing
al herself for having the emotions, and
at me for not having them, and at both
of us for the whole affair"
"Weli, as long as it ends like that
there's not much wrong. But take
care. Not everything will stand the
humorous aspect, you know"
Most things. thank heaven, or where
should we be2"
tom Courtland, for instance?"
"Oh, not any longer, I'm afraid"
"It won't do for the big things and
the desperate cases; not even for other
people e's-much less for your own"
Il suppose not. If you want 1t al
ways, you must be a looker-On; and
you'll tell me husbands can't be look
ers-on at their own marriages."
II tell youl Facts will convince you