Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-04
By
ELLEN
GLASGOW
COPYRIGHT by the S. s.
MCCLURE co.

upon which she leaned and his voice
that wished her Good night" before
her stateroom door. Her meals were
served outside, and she soon found that
his watchfulness extended to host of
trivialities.
It was not confidential companion
ship Sometimes they sat for hours
without speaking and again he attack
ed her with aggressive irony. At such
times she smarted beneath the sting of
his sneers, but 1t was more In pity for
| him than for herself. He seemed to
carry in his heart seething rage OF
cynicism. impassioned IL impotent.
When it broke control, as 1t often did,
1t dashed alike the just and the unjust,
| the sinner and the sinned against. 1t
did not spare the woman for whose
comfort he sacrificed himself daily in
dozen minor ways. 1t was as il he
| hated himself for the interest she In
spired and hated her for inspiring 1T
He appeared to resent the fact that
! the mental pressure under which he
| labored had not annihilated all posi-
bility Of purer passion. And he often
closed upon a gentler mood with burn
ing bitterness
How about your faith?" he inquired
one day after q passing tenderness.
us it still the evidence Of virtues not
visible In met"
She fiinched, as she always did at
his fiippancy. There Is circumstan-
| tial evidence Of those" she replied,
Sufficient to confound jury"
| There was a cloud upon his face.
! "of the 'ministering angel kind, sup
pose," he suggested.
"Yes"
"Your judgment is warped" he went
on. do you expect to convince by
such syllogisms as: 1t is virtuous to
make presents Of prunes: he makes
me presents Of prunes; therefore he is
virtuous?'
| She looked at him with wounded
eyes. "That is not kind of you" she
said.
But. my dear lady, am not kind.
That is what am arguing for"
Her lips closed firmly. She did not
answer.
lis the assertion admitted" he In
| quired.
Her mouth quivered. He saw it, and
his mood melted.
DO you mean to say" he asked, ad-
justing the rug about her shoulders
and regarding her with an intent gaze,
that it makes any difference to you?'
The fragment Of sob broke from
her. "Of course it makes difference"
she answered, toto be treated So"
His hand closed firmly over the rug
and rested against her shoulder.
"Why does it make a differenceY he
demanded
She stammered confusedly. "Be-
cause-because it does" she replied.
His face was very grave. The hand
!. upon her shoulder trembled. II hope
1t does not make difference" he said.
Look! There is sail"
They rose and went to the railing,
following with unseeing eyes white
sail that skirted the horizon. At the
vessels side porpoises were leaping
on the waves. She leaned over, her
eyes Frightening, her loosened hair
blowing about her face in soft brown
strands. There was pink flush in
her cheeks. II should like to be por-
poise," she said, land to skim that blue
water in the sunshine. How happy
they are!"
"And you are not?"
The flush died from her cheeks. II?
| Oh, no." she answered.
| He leaned nearer. His hand brushed
hers as it lay upon the railing.
Ibid love make you happy ?" he ask
ed suddenly.
She raised her lashes, and their eyes
met. "Love!" she repeated vaguely.
.sThat husband Of yours" he ex-
planned almost harsEly, "did you love
him?"
| Her gaze went back to the water. A
wistfu tremor shook her lips. HE
was very good to me-" she replied.
"And I suppose you loved him be-
cause he was good Well, the reason
1 suflces."
She looked at him steadily. because
he was good to me-" she corrected.
Then she hesitated. "But I did not
love him in the way you mean," she
added. 81 know now that did not"
"EhY he CALCULATED half absently
and then, "How do you knewlitY'
She turned from him. looking after