Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-07-05
XIV.
SOME STRANGE LAPsEs OF A
LOVER

LOVER.
But before there was time for me
10 get distinct impression. that ugly
shape of cynicism had disappeared.
1t was shadow | myself cast upon
ner, assured myself, and once more
she seemed to me like a clear, calm
lake of melted snow from the noun
ta1ns. i can see to the pure white
sand of the very bottom" thought l. |
Mystery there was. but only the mys.
terry of wonder at the apparition of |
such beauty and purity in such |
world as mine. True, from time to |
time, there showed at the surface or
vaguely outlined in the depths, forms |
strangely out of place in those unsul-
lied waters. But either refused to
see or refused to trust my senses. l
had fixed ideal of what woman
should be; this girl embodied that
ideal.
IF you'd only give up your cigar
cites" remember saying to her when
we were little better acquainted,
you'd be perfect"
She made an impatient gesture.
DON'T" she commanded almost an
grily. you make me feel like hypo-
critic You tempt me to be hypocrite.
Why not be content with woman as
she ts-a human being? And-how
could Amy woman not an idiot-be
alive for twenty-five years without
learning-a thing or two? Why should
any man want it?"
Because to know is to be spattered
and stained" said |. Il get enough
of people who know, down town. Up
town. want a change of air or
course, you think you know the world.
but you haven't the remotest concep-
ton of what it's really like. Some.
times when I'm with you, begin to
feel mean and-and unclean. And
the feeling grows on me until it's all
I can do to restrain myself from rush
lag away"
She looked at me critically.
You've never had much to do with
women, have your she finally said
slowly in a musing tone.
Il wish that were true-almost," re-
piled l. on my mettle as man, and re-
sisting not without effort the impulse
to make some vague confessions
boastings disguised as penitential ad
missions-after the customary mascu
line fashion.
She smiled-and one of those dis
quieting shapes seemed to me to be
floating lazily and repellently down
ward. out of sight. "A man and
woman can be a great deal to eacf
ali anan
married. and all that-and remain al
strange to each other as If they ha'
never met-more hopelessly strang
ers.''
There's always sort of mystery.
conceded. Il suppose that's one o
the things that keep married peopl
interested"
She shrugged her shoulders-sh
was in evening dress, recall. an
there was on her white skin that In
tense. transparent, blush tfnge on
sees on the new snow when the su
comes out.
Mystery" she said impatiently
There's no mystery except what "
ourselves make. It's useless-pe
fectiy useless" she went on sbsentl,
you're the sort Of a man who, II
woman cared for him, or even shove
friendship for him by being frank an
human and natural with him, he'd pul
ish her for 1t by-by despising her"
smiled. much rs one smiles at n
efforts of a precocious child to prov
that it is a Methuselah in experience
sIf YOU weren't like an angel
comaarison with the Others Y
known" said |. do you suppose
could care for YOU as do?"
I saw my remark irritated her, al
fancied 1t was her vanity that vi
offended by my disbelief In her know
adge of life. hadn't suspicion tn
had hurt and alienated her b.. slal
ming in her face the door OF 'rien
shin and frankness her honesty w
forcing her to try to open for me.
In NV stupidity of imagining her n
HUMAN like the other women and Z
mon had known. but a creature apa
and in a class apart, | stood day all
day gaping at that very door, and We
dering how I could open It, how pei
tratA even to the courtyard OF IN
vasfaI citadel. So long as my
fashioned belief that good WON
were more than human and b
women less than human had ini
anced me only TO sharper locke
in dealing with the one species
woman | then came in contact vi
no harm TO me resulted. but on
contrary good-whoeFer got into tn
HE through walking the world
sword and sword arm free? But VII
n,der the spell Of Anita Ellersiy
dragged the asuperhnman goodne.
mart of my theory down out OF
clouds and made It my guardian
gnide-really. it's a miracle that
caped from the pit into which =
bnacy pitched me headlong
not content with idealizing only her
want ON TO seeing good, and only &c
IN everybody. the millennium vas
go