The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-06-07

! scoundrel he VAST
The passion in his tones caused her
to start quickly. The words were shot
out With the force of balls from can
non, sustained by the impulse of evil.
Don't" she said pleadingy; please,
please don't!'
Don't what?" he demanded roughly.
Don't curse the blacklist scoundrel
that ever lived-and died?" Over the
last word his voice weakened as if in
appeal.
Don't curse anybody" she answered.
ut is not like YOU
He turned upon her suspiciously.
'Pshaw! How do you know?'
II don't know. l only believe"
II never had much use for belief" he
returned. ut is poor sort of thing"
She met his bitter gaze With one of
level calm. and yet men have suf-
fered death for it,
Above her head an electric jet was
shining. and it cast white light upon
her small figure buried under the mass
of rugs. Her eyes were glowing There
whether from the salt spray or from
unshed tears he could not tell
well, believe in me if you choose"
he said. ut won't do any harm even
if it doesn't do any good.'
During the next few days he nursed
her with constant care. When she
came out in the morning she found
IN Oh Az
ready to assist her on deck. When she
Went down at night it was his arm
upon which she leaned and his voice
that wished her Good night" before
her Stateroom door. Her meals We're
| served outside and she soon found that
| his watchfulness extended to a host of
trivialities.
| 1t 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 it was more in pity for
him than for herself. He seemed to
carry in his heart seething rage of
| cynicism, impassioned if impotent
When it broke control, as it often did,
it 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
a dozen minor ways. 1t was as if he
hated himself for the interest she in
spired and hated her for inspiring it.
He appeared to resent the fact that
the mental pressure under which lie
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 a passing tenderness.
rs it still the evidence of virtues not
visible in me?"
She flinched, as she always did at
his tlippancy 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 wen
on. do you expect to convince by
such syllogisms as: 1t is virtuous t.
make presents of prunes; he makes
me presents of prunes; therefore he is
virtuous?'
She looked at him with wounded
eyes. "Ihat 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 moi
answer.
is the assertion admitted?" he in
quired.
Her mouth quivered. He saw it, ant
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. "Cf course it makes a difference
she answered, toto be treated So"
His hand closed firmly over the rug
and rested against her shoulder.
why does it make a ditference?" he
demanded.
She stammered confusedly. BE
cause-because it does" she replied.
His face was very grave. The hant
upon her shoulder trembled. II hop,
it does not make difference" he said
"Look! There is q sail"
They rose and went to the railing
following with unseeing eyes Whit
sail that slirted the horizon. At tn,
! vessels side porpoises We're leapin:
on the waves. She leaned over he
eyes Frightening, her loosened hal
blowing about her face in soft BROW
strands. There was pink flush il
her cheeks. ~ should like to be por
poise." she said, land to skim that blu
water in the sunshine. How happ,
they are!'
"4And you are not?"
The flush died from her cheeks. 81
Oh, no." she answered
He leaned nearer. His hand brushed
hers as it lay upon the railing.
did love make you happy?" he ask
ed suddenly.
On.