The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-07-12
The Hunger OF
A Mans Soul
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BY CAMPBELL MACLEOD

!aNNNNNNN,NNNNNNNNNNNNHNNNNfs
1t was after the play, and they were
waiting in the quiet little cafe TO be
served. She leaned over to draw in the
fragrance of the red roses and to avoid
his eyes, which were persistent He
was thinking of how young and lovely
she was How could he expect her to
love him? The mirror opposite re-
minded him of his years.
Yes, he would tell her-save her all
painful explanations. A young fellow
would make her happier. Once In
burst of girIish confidence she had told
him how she hated young men and new
houses. 1t was childish Of him, he told
himself. to expect her to know her OWE
/ mind.
what can eatY' she beamed at him
with shining eyes. Anything, from
nice young man to an oyster" Here
was the opening. sooner than he ex.
pected.
Judith" he began gravely, cit is OF
the young man / wish to speak now.
Did-did- they say It is young Travers !
Shall release you?" The last, to the
ear Of the girl, seemed an anxious,
frenEied appeal for freedom. So this
was what made him so gloomy, so u1i-
like himself. He was tired Of her. He
wanted to be free. She was pulling
rose to pieces and fitting the petals over
her finger tips. "Shall we ring the cur
tain down on our little comedyY he
asked in an '1ts all for the best" tone.
She nodded slowly. She was beginning
to see more clearly every minute, just
as ones eyes grow accustomed to dark
ness after the first bewilderment-he
wanted to be free.
Judith" he said, 81 shall ask only
one favor of you" He hesitated.
cit is granted, she returned eoldly,
perhaps 1 shall have the honor Of
congratulating yOu-also." The 'also"
was added as an afterthought.
'Tt is that you will tell it all to me-"
He hesitated through a sense of deli
cacy. "If you mind, dear" he added
gently, then don'tv'
Did she mind? she asked herself. No;
she gloried in the opportunity. If he
sighed for his freedom, he should have
it. She would make no effort to hold
him, but he should understand before
she let him go that other men thought
her desirable. Then he could go with
his freedom, and she would marry any
one of the others. 1t made no differ
ence-she would take the one who next
asked her. She was eighteen and in
finitely young. The middle aged man
opposite felt that he would barter his
immortal soul to be twenty-four-to be
young with her.
''ShalI begin at the beginning?" she
asked in weary tones. He WINGED.
NO" he replied. ''That would In
elude me. Spare me that" There was
a long silence. cit is Of young Trav-
ers, your engagement
Until tonight" she reminded in
dull voice, II was engaged to you.
But Her voice stuck. He was
waiting for her to begin.
"AIrs. Carr, from New Orleans, was
at the Springs" she began. "She is
one Of my mothers oldest friends. Mr.
Travers is her nephew. 1t was at one
Of her receptions that I met him first
Shall I tell you everything?" Her
voice had a new ring. He thought II
was from speaking of her lover.
"Your roses came just as was start
ing" she continued. 81 wore the blue
dress, the one you used to like me in
Child" he interrupted, you do not
understand
eyes, but I do" gayly. IT remember
It, every bit. You told me that first
night 1 wore lido you remember it,
what you whispered out here on the
gallery about my milk white arms and
shadowy hair? It Is a pretty dress.
wore your roses to the reception. They
were glorious onesr' She was leaning
on her elbows on the table, her big eyes
full of mystery.
when Mrs. Carr presented Mr..
Travers," she proceeded, che told me
that he had been knowing me for a
long, long time and waiting for me
to come, because his hands were tied,
as it were, and he couldn't come after
me. Then 1 laughed, because it wac
such a good joke-reaIly, Bob. he said
It very much nicer than l can remem-
Der. Then he went on to tell me that
IL was before the war he had known
me. He just graduated two years ago.
/ am afraid l rather encouraged him
In the nonsense. 1t was such a relief
from talking to the women. and l can't
hep being silly. you know, Bob" His
heart felt old and musty and failed,
and her every word was giving It
fresh blow. She had made little pyr-
amid Of the rose petals and was nerv-
Ously tearing it to pieces TO reconstruct
II.
"He was very nice" she continued.
1--WE went back to sit on the stairs to
listen to the music. That was the be-