The Meeker herald., 1906-03-03

ana d 1ItIe IuOfe tOierdht VI tueAu aAnh
ought to be, but wouldn't have writ
ten that book. Men that are worse
than i wouldn't have written 1t. A
good woman couldn't even have
thought Of it,
He turned from me in q rage and
walked away.
As have said, am no better than
my fellows. and have tolerated many
| this book of Brands weighed upon
my mind. The press blamed 1t. but
the public bought 1t. A noted play
wright dramatized it and put Its evil
into concrete form. 1 could not stop
| the harm which 1t had done; but l
thought perhaps might induce his
wife to stop him from writing like 1t.
SO called upon her.
She rose to greet me with friendly
smile. She was one of the women that
elderly men like. because they have a
kindly feeling for elderly men. ]
smiled at her. too.
II wondered when you were coming
to congratula me OH Charles book"
she said. She always imputed kind
Intentions to one.
I'm afraid 1 haven't come for that"
I owned. MY dear. don't like Char
Hes book You see, I'm an old fash
toned man."
81 see" She flushed slightly. You
don't believe in problem stories?"
II believe in them? oh. yes! I'm
old. and my eyes have been open for
some years. but don't want to open
other peoples. / don't want to open
yours, my dear. I'd rather you believe
the world was good. Its the belief Of
you good little women that makes 1t
better. Charlie believes in you, and l
want you to make him better. don't
mean that he's bad. He's very, very
| clever man, MS the book shows. He,
sees things that most Of US miss.
Were better for missing them, my
dear. We don't want 10 be told about
them. He's told us That's what's
wrong
She worked furIously at the embroid-
cry which she had picked up.
rs there anything in the book that
you had missed:" she asked quietly.
-Fm afraid not. but want the
world to be better than myself. you
see.
ut isn't. 1t sees things just as you
do, and pretends that 1t doesn't-just
as you pretend"
"Concealment implies condemnation.
Evil isn't SO dangerous when it's kent
out of sight Speak of the-problem
storyw
1.-THE pretence is threadbare." she OBJ
jected. l was surprised that she ex-
pressed herself so well. There are
hundreds of published problems, and
many of them are far more lurld. The
book is, at any rate. refined. Its prob
lens are such as come to good men
and women: such as leave them some
Of their virtues"
yes" l dropped my hat in my
eagerness. Yes. That is why the
book is so dangerous. Other tales
show worse evils. but they show them
as evils; as temptations that the frac-
ton of goodness in us fights against
even when it is overcome. Your hus-
band has brought in the Powers of
Light to fight for the Powers of Dark
ness. The plain man shrugs his
shudiers at this Even the club smok-
Ing room condemns 1t. Some of the
best men go SO far as to avoid the au-
thor"
She looked up over her work. Her
face was white.
Does Charlie realize this?" she
asked. nodded.
We were talking about 1t the other
evening. He overheard us. He must
have known before OF course he
knows"
She piled her needle ngain.
Have you spoken to HING" she in
quired.
Yes. He left me in temper be-
cause counselled him to put the mat
ter to you. You have great hold
over him. l am sure. A good woman
always has a hold over a man. am
certain that. at the bottom of his heart,
he Is ashamed of the book, but
"But''-she laid down the work
"He didn't write it. did,
"You?" cried. Your
III. No, am not saying 1t to shield
him. 1t is quite true. IL wonder II
you could understand? You see, am
not pretty or attractive. People gener-
ally left me alone. So / used to sit
and watch them; and see things. sec
great deal. can't help 1t. 1t is my
nature. dare say looked too much
for what was bad. but 1t Is hard for n
woman when she is not attractive. 1t
makes her look for defects In others.
1 was very bitter against people then.
I'm not bitter now, because Charlie
finds me attractive. 1t wouldn't occur
to you that 1 can he. but can. 1t
didn't occur to him ct first. He camc
and introduced himself to me out OF