The Red Cloud chief., 1907-05-10

the cost. Then at he first reasonable
moment I will do what I would do
now, tonight, if it were possible. I'll
70 away, start afrcsh; do In another
country what I have done In this"
There was n long silence; then Eve
turned TO him. The apathy of a mo-
mcnt before had left her face. "In an
other country" she repeated. "ln an
other countryT
Eyes. Il fresh are in n fresh coun-
try. something clean to offer you. I'm
not too old TO do what other men have
done"
lie paused, and for a moment Eve
looked ahead ut the cleaning chain of
lamps. Then very slowly she brought
her glance back again. NO" she said
very slowly. You are not too old. But
there are times when agC-and things
like agc-arc not the real consideration.
1t seems to me that your W inclina-
ton. your own individual sense Of
right and wrong, has nothing 10 do
with the present moment. The Quee-
ton is whether you are justified in 20
ing away'-she paused. her eyes fixed
steadily upon his-"whethcr you are
free TO go away and make a new life,
whether it is ever justiiiable to follow
q phantom light w~hen-wlrcn there's Il
lantern waiting to be carried" Her
breath caught. She drew away from
him, frightened and elatsd by her W
words.
Lode" turned to her sharply. Eve"
he exclaimed; then his tone changed.
You don't know what you're saying"
he added quickly. You don't under
stand what you're saying"
Eve leaned forward again. Yes"
she said slowly. II do understand"
Her voice was controlled, her manner
convinced. She was no longer the girl
conquered by strength greater than her
own. She was the ~strenuously
demanding her right to Individual hap
plncSS.
Il understand 1t ALL" she repeated.
II understand every point. 1t was not
chance that made you change your
identity, that made you care for me,
that brought about-his death. | don't
believe it was chance. | believe it was
something much higher. You are not
meant to go away
As Lodcr watched her the remem
brance of his first days as Chilcote
rose again, the remembrance of how
he had been dimly filed with the be-
lief that below her self possession lay
4 strength-a dcpth-uncommOn in wO-
man. AS he studied her now the in
stinctiye belief famed into conviction.
Eve" he said invOluntarily.
With a quick gesture she raised her
head. mo-" she exclaimed. NO; don't
say anything. You are going to see
things as | see them-you must do So
you have no choice. No real man ever
casts away the substance for the shad-
ow." Her eyes shone--the color, the
glow, the vitality, rushed back into her
face.
John" she said softly, II love you,
and | need tou, but there is something
with a greater ciaim-a greater need
than mine. Don't you know what 1t
is."
He said nothing. He made no ges-
ture.
ut Is the party-the country. You
may put love aside. but duty Is differ
eat. You have pledged yourself. You
are not meant to draw back"
Loder's lips parted.
Don't" she said again. Don't say
anything. l know all that Is in your
mind. But when we sift things right
fhpn,uh ~ icn,t. INV Jn~n-nr ntIp hunni.
neSs-that's really in the balance. 1t Is
your future" Her voice thrilled. You
are going to be Il great masa, and q
great man Is the property Of his coun-
try. He has no right to individual ac-
ton"
Again Loder made an effort to speak,
but again she checked him.
"Wait!' she exclaimed. "Wait! You
believe you have acted wrongly, and
you are desperately afraid Of acting
wrongly again. But Is 1t really truer,
more loyal for us to work out a tong
probation in grooves that are already
overfilled than to marry quietly abroad
and fill the places that have need Of us?
That Is the question | want you to an
swer. Is II really truer and nobler?
Oh, / see the doubt that is in your
mind! You think ii finer to go away
and make a new life than to live the
life that is waiting you-because n is
independent and the other means the
use OF another mans name and another
mans money-that is the thought In
your mind. But what is it that prompts
that ~thoughtT" Again her voice caught,
but her eyes did not falter. 81 will
tell you. 1t Is not self sacrifice, but
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