Charlevoix county herald., 1907-02-02

have crossed the Rubicon. And | don't
regret. 1t was silly of me to cry.
thought l had been through so much
that | was beyond such weakness. But
you will find me calm from nov on
and reasonable"
mot too reasonable, please" said
I, with an attempt at her lightness.
"A reasonable woman is as trying as
an unreasonable man."
But we are going to be sensible
with each other" she urged, like two
friends. Aren't we?"
I'VE are going to be what we are
going to be-" said l. "We1l have to
take life as it comes"
That clumsy reminder set her to
thinking, stirred her vague uneasiness
in those strange circumstances to ac-
tive alarm. For presently she said,
in tone that was not so matter-of.
course as she had tried to make it:
"We1l go now to my Uncle Franks.
He's a brother of my fathers. | al
ways used to like him best-and still
do. But he married a woman mamma
thought-queer They hadn't much,
so he lives away up on the West Side
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh
street
THE wise plan the only wise plan"
said |, not so calm as she must have
thought me, lis to go to my partners
house and send for minister"
Not tonight" she replied nervous
ly. Take me to Uncle Franks, and
tomorrow we can discuss what to do
and how to do it,"
Tonight" / persisted. I'VE must
be married tonight. No more uncer-
tainty and indecision and weakness.
Let us begin bravely, Anita"
Tomorrow, she said. But not to-
night | must think it over
Tonight" l repeated. Tomorrow
will be full of its own problems. This
is to-night's."
She shook her head, and | saw that
the struggle between us had begun
the struggle against her timidity and
conventionality. mo, not tonight"
This in her tone for finality
To argue with any woman in such
argue with her would have been fatal.
To reason with woman is to tlatter
her into suspecting you of weakness
and herself OF strength. | told the
chauffeur to turn about and go slowly
up town. She settled back into her
corner of the brougham. Neither of
us spoke until we were passing
-
of her secure confidence in my obed-
ience, and exclaimed: This is not
the way" And her voice had in it
the hasty call-toarms.
NO" | replied, determined to push
the panic into rout. las l "a you,
our future shall be settled tonight"
That in my tone for finality.
A pause. then: 1T has been set
tied" she said like a child that feels.
yet denies, it's impotence as it strug-
giles in the compelling arms OF it's
father Il thought until few min
utes ago that | really intended to
marry you. Now | see that | didn't"
Another reason why we're not going
to your uncle's." said l.
She leaned forward so that | could
! see her face Il can not marry YOU"
she said. Il feel humble toward you,
for having misled you. But it is bet
ter that you-and should have
| found out now than too late"
1T is too late-too late to go back.
Would you wish to marry n woman
who does not love you, who loves
some one else, and who tells you so
and refuses to marry you?" She had
tried to concentrate enough scorn into
her voice to hide her fear.
Il would said l. And | shall. I'll
not desert you, Anita, when your cour
age and strength shall fail. | will
carry you on to safety
Il tell you | can not marry you,"
she cried, between appeal and COM
mand. There are reasons-I may
not tell you. But if l might, you
would-would take me to my uncles.
/ can not marry you!"
That is what conventionality bids
you say now," l replied. And then
tone that made me hate myself as
heard it, | added slowly, each word
sharp and distinct: But what will
conventionality bid you say tomorrow
morning, as we drive down crowded
Fifth avenue, after a night in this
brougham?"
| could not see her. for she fell back
into the darkness as sharply as if |
had struck her with ali my force full
in the face. But | could feel the eff
feet of my words upon her.
Full fifteen minutes of that fright
full silence before she said: Il will
go where you wish" And she said it
| in tone that makes me vince as