The San Francisco call., 1907-03-31

NO; but please, please don't Ike
love TO me like that. she implored.
ut keeps me from thinking clearly.
suppose--well. just suppose that we
should decide not 10 get the divorce.
wouldn't every one be disappointed p
Every one be hanged, We've only
ourselves 10 consider. Do you want
fhe divorceT'
'Um-yes. no.
Come. say which. This Is your last
chance. Day after tomorrow the law
yeFs will begin pecking az the nIockery
of our happiness. You must decide"
She hssltated. Weighing all sides Of
the aomentous question. her face hid
den IN her hands. Lifting her head.
anaIly, she looked at him compassion
ateiy, and said:
Life IL all q t4ngle, isn't It. Jerry2
We fancy II is as we make it ourselves,
but IL isn't--tt isn't. Destiny is too
stsong for Us. We are mere straws On
the tide!'
He arcas and stood before her. all the
strength Of his love and passion COM
peIiing him TO make one last appeal
TO hold her.
sylvia" he cried. listen TO me.
Destiny 70 Z mere CATCHY hword. and II we
are parting forever-you and !. who
have bean 80 much TO each cther-let
us not 1uKgia with conventional
rhv~e~s ] am ready 10 make any rea-
sonable concession: these weary
ino..sas have taught me wisdom. Why
sheuiA we furnish an object lesson
upon the modern impermanency OF love
and marriage, or increase that lament
able quota appealing for easy divorce?
Let ms speak to your reason divorces
is either confession OF moral weak
ness or ct mental lack OF resource. and
We are cursed by neither. Why, then,
eheuIa we be separated? Apart, We
ere n6ating units; together we might
become foFee Tor happiness. or sltru-
ism or art or anything Without you,
my dearest. Tn merely . poor, broken
hearted fellow. without aim or pur
nese or ambition. When YOU are sway
life does net offer me anything"
Except Alice. perhaps. and the coy
ainners.'
"Ah, but rsnernber. There would be
no Alice and no cozy dinners II you'd
only let me come back and try again,
I've learned my lesson. I'm very hum
sIeP'
she regarded him searehingly and
hesttated. While she pondered she
moved around the table. gathered up
her rainbow scarf from the gilded chair
and draped it loosely over her head
so that the ends enveioped her shoul-
ders.
Don't go without an answer" he
pleaded. note OF anguish vibrant in
his voice. surely you've not grown
heartless-you have something to say
Still she did not speak. Returning
she reached forth her hand toward the
gaydenias.
May To- she asked. Il should like
% keep them always-ss a souvenir
He lifted the flowers, wrapped a nap
kia around the dripping stems and
placed them near her hand. Plainly.
the end OF the feast had come The
scarlet candle-Shades were topping
like miniature towers of Pisa on the
burned down candles. Her Easter lily
was dropping
SYLVIA he cried. in a fnaI appeal,
''ssy you'll give me another chance.
cannot--cannot give you up!
She shook her head definitely, but
sadly.
Impossible. Jerry It's too late nowr'
she answered gently. Il am quite un-
willing to make the experiment again
Failure now would mean despair We
are fundamentally antagonistic, as you
have said tonight and as the past has
proved. All OF our mutual affection
has counted for nothing when our wills
have clashed. We should both be lack
ing in pride and self-respect IL we re-
considered the step our reason has
forced. A husband who willfuily mis-
understands a wife's motives and who
obstinately persists that he is always
right and she is always wrong
BE fair. Sylvia, be fair" he urged.
We'll. isn't IL true? Wasn't IL from
just such trihes that our Incompatible
ity grew-ard srew-untii II becsne
vita1."
She had turned her back TO the table
as she stood n earn5st talk Her rain
bow drS peT% wa-s !unned ac0un6 her
lace trimmed bodice by a vasrant drafr
like web OF hoating gossamer. TIE
pupils OF her beautiful eyes We're large
.,f te
MY sylvia" he broke out.
isn't ii true, askT' She leaned to
ward him. her eyes burning the ques-
tion into his soul
He did not answer-he could not
sudden paralysis had seized him. lie
continued to stare at her in spsechless
fascinatioa-not at her, exactly, but at
the red tower of Pisa which leaned
nearest TO her, and then at the waving
gossamer scarf. The distant orchestra
playing "Anitra's Dance" added to the
dreamy Illusion It was like struggfinS
through q nightmare
Suddenly the outside air was full OF
the elangor OF bells Easter chimes
sounding at midnight Under their res
onant cali Winthrop's presence of mind
sprang alert. Eis low. tense voice COM
PEELED her with authority.
"Sylvia--don't movel Your scarfs
aiire."
She stared az him questioninSly, in
bewilderment. with distendsd eyes He
reached for the carafe--it was empty.
Then for the vase--lt held mere
sprinkle. There was no water in sight.
and for her sake he must avoid a scene
at any cost.
sylvia had not yet fully grasped the
situation. but. turning her head in
alarm. she saw the flames climbing
toward her hair. With terrified gasp
she pulled down the burning gauze.
scattering the danger to her thin, in
flammabie gown In dozen places The
lace on her bodice was now all abla57
at the back. Turning to him with her
wide, staring eyes. she pleaded:
Let me get QUIT Let me get outs'
A cold despair seized upon him. He
knew that the mad impulse OF fight
was upon her, and realized that he
must block her exit TO the corridor or
all hope OF saving her would be lost.
NO; stand stillt' was his imperatiVs
order, as he threw his coat around
her, partially smothering the fire.
Then. breaking away from him in ter
ror she famed the names by motion