The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25

the unfortunates themselves.
II understand quite understand,
he said, as she paused a moment.
What God-what conception of
Delty-can you men possess that per-
mits you to bring such misery-such
pftlabie miserable misery-into the
world? Have you no better-no loftier
conception. Of q Deity than the savage?
Is your God OF no finer parts than his
hideous monstrosity? Do you, too,
think to purchase immunity from the
righteous wrath of your God by drop
ping reluctant tribute into the temple
plate, even as the unlettered savage
casts burnt offerings at the shrine of
his grinning JOSS congratulating your
self that the reckoning is paid in full,
and that your ill-gotten gold is
recompense for the bodies you have
MANNED, the hearts you have broken.
and the lives you have destroyed? Tell
me, pray, what have you to say for
yourself?"
Guilty, 1 fear-guilty without extenu-
ating circumstances"
"Ah. yes, guilty. We know that-but
why? Why are men so cruei-so selfish
SO unrighteous?"
Unfortunately the essentials Of an
alibi for my sex are sadly lacking. Your
arraignment is as justified as It is scath-
ing-more could not we'll be said. More
great problems Of life, and / fear 1 am
too little competent TO adjust those pro-
found matters to your satisfaction. More
over, again
II don't want any more 'moreovers,
she petulantly interrupted. please be
serious-I am. quite. l don't like you
to say sarcastic things when l am in
earnest, and fear you are terribly ca
pable."
THE general subject is prolific of count
less theories. We should doubtless fail
to agree and fall to arguing; result. bad
tempers and dissolution of friendship.
Discretion is not the least of wisdom.
please don't" she protested. Il am
not compelled TO agree with you. and
may not, as you suggest. Nevertheless L
should like to know your ideas. Your life
has been so radically different from that
of the men l know it is only fair 10 as
sumo that you possess ideas consider
ably at variance with theirs as we'll
Man offers little novelty for intro
spection: he is a too we'll thumbed vol
ume to afford new sensations" he briefly
observed, apparently not inclined to be
drawn into argument.
Besides she continued. with engaging
frankness, II really wish to know more
about you-your real self. There is some
thing which persists in eluding me
something of which l am intensely con-
scious at times, yet am unable TO ex-
plain TO my satisfaction-my curiosity is
quite aroused. you see"
THE situation is rapidly becoming in
volved. Curiosity-a woman's curiosity is
not TO be lightly regarded
Nor ignored she declared very posi-
lively "And now you are going TO be
very civil and tell me how you came TO
be so big and strong; why you are so
Indifferent to things and people: how
you know so many things you are not
supposed to know anything about; and
and who you really are" she told him,
with a directness of purpose not to be
mistaken.
What you ask is no more than is just
ly due you" he told her, more seriously,
after an interval of quiet contemplation
of the flames, "and / will gladly tell you
anything that can be of any possible in
terest to you. 1 hardly know where to
begin,' he said, very simply. 'but if there
be anything of interest In my life it must
necessarily date from my advent into
the Western country, as my career up
to that time differed not materially from
that of the average New York youth.
''Ahr' she softly sighed.
Il had completed but a small portion
of my university course when the loss
of both my parents-one following the
other in quick succession-and the fur
ther loss of all my worldly possessions,
threw me upon my own resources. For
the first time I was made to feel the
heavy hand of misfortune, and not a
few were the rough edges and sharp
corners l ran against in making the
acquaintance of that new world to
which 1 almost Immediately betook my
self In those troublous times was laid
the foundation of such character as
possess-a process which meant the
making or the breaking of the youth
This new country was a never fail
ing source of interest and wonderment
to my young mind, and many lonely
hours in the saddle. on the trail, and
in the quiet of the night, were spent
in silent contemplation of its wondrous
beauties and awe-inspiring mysteries.
The marvellous mountain ranges raising
their heads high into the clouds with
majestic and appalling grandeur held
for me a peculiar fascination. And
when from some high peak 1 gazed into
boundless space in any direction my
eyes ehanced to roam but to discern
new wonders limited only by the range
of my own small vision, a great awe
and veneration would steal into my
soul-a mute tribute to the wondrous
greatness of which l was the merest
atom. Instead of passing from my
mind as these thoughts and scenes be-
CAME more Idluilldts Oc-
gan to expand and grow richer and
stronger in the contemplation of these
wonderful works of nature, and the
secret processes by which she wrought
in her various Kingdoms. The rela-
tion of man to these great laws was a
never-ending source of interest to me.
and in this untrammeled life 1 came
into close communion with primitive
nature, and seemed to breathe and abb
sorb the simple truths which had been
denied me in the artificial life from
which / had lately emerged"
'Yes-yes.' she gently breathed.
by degrees the littleness and mar
rowness of my early life dropped
away The countless envies, cravings,
passions. jealousies and strivings,
which 1 had once looked upon as CO.
existent with life. disappeared one
after the other, and in their stead came
a depth and breadth of thought, health
and strength OF mind and body as free
and untrammeled from the confines
of my earlier existence as the very air
I breathed. Have / taken up the par
tIcular thread of interest to your he
paused to Inquire. Please be frank,
as / seek only to crafty your desires"
''Ah, yesl Those are the things above
all others 1 would know" she impul-