Evening star., 1905-08-22
THE PLUM TREE.

BY DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS.

remorse without regret?" And then my
self-control went and / .Iet her see what l
had commanded myself to keep hid: Il
only know clearly one thing. Elizabeth
only one thing matters You are the whole
world to me- You and could-what could
we not do together!'
Her color slowly rose. slowly vanished.
WAS that what you came to tell me?' she
asked.
Yes" answered. not finching
That Is the climax of your moraiizngs? ??
ardice"
A little icy smile Just changed the curve
of her lips. When l was a girl you won
my love-or took it when 1 gave 1t to you.
If you prefer. And then-you threw 1t
away. For ambition you weren't brave
enough to pursue honorably, you broke my
heart"
Yes" answered. Butt loved you
years Of self-indulgence, of getting what
you wanted no matter about the cost, you
see me again. You find 1 have mended my
heart, have coaxed few flowers Of hap
piness to bloom. You find there was some
thing you did not destroy, something you
think 1t will make you happier to destroy
Yes" l answered. II came to try to
make you as unhappy as 1 am. For love
you"
She drew a long breath. We'll" she said
evenly. "for the first time in your life you
are defeated. / learned the lesson you so
thoroughly taught me. And built the wall
she smiled. little raillery little scorn-
you can't break in. Harvey-nor slip in
mo need" said. For am in-rve al
ways been in."
eyes shifted. But that was for an instant
only. If you were as brave as you are
bold!" she scoffed.
IF 1 were as brave without you as
should be with you!' / replied. Then: But
you love woman loves--herself first
the man afterward."
Harvey Sayler denouncing selishness,"
DO not sneer" l said. 'For-I love you
as man loves. A poor, pale shadow Of
Ideal love, no doubt, but a mans best, Eliz-
abeth."
l saw that she was shaken. but even as
I began to thrill with hope so high that
II was giddy with fear, she was once more
straight and strong and calm.
You have come. You have tried. You
have failed" she went on after long
pause. And in spite of her efforts, that
deep voice of hers was gentle and wonder
fully sweet "Now-you viii return to your
life. l to mine" And she moved toward
the entrance to the drawing room, l fol-
lowing her. We stood in silence at the
front doorway waiting for my carriage to
come up. l watched her-maddeningly mis-
tress of herself
How can you be so cold!' l cried. Don't
you see, don't you feel, how l, who love
you, suffer-"
without a word she stretched out her
beautiful, white hands, long and narrow and
Capa In e4cn Oh tne uptuTNeQ pdliIiS
were four deep and bloody prints where
her nails had been crushing into them.
Before l could lift my eyes to her face
she was turning to rejoin her workmen. As
l stood uncertain, dazed, she glanced at
me with bright smile. Goodbye again" !"
she called. "A pleasant Journey
Thank you," / replied. Goodbye"
Driving toward the road gates. looked
at the house many times, from window to
window, everywhere. Not a glimpse Of her
until 1 was almost at the road again. Then
l saw her back-the graceful white Dress
the knot Of blue-black hair, the big white
hat, and she directing her workmen with
her closed white parasol
CTo be continued tomorrow)