Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-05
CHAPTER XXI.

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Aileen had never liked him so much as
now.
But indeed she protested, finding her
voice at length, Il felt greatly honored,
and l hesitated because of my own I'M
worthiness to join my life, my labors,
with those of one SO clever and far-famed
as you !"
"Yes, that was it-that was the fault
You looked upon me simply as an intel
lectual partner, and you tried TO close
your eyes TO my utter unsuitability in
other ways. Not content with deceiving
myself. tried to deceive you. l am only
thankful that my eyes were not opened
too late. Ny child'-and he spoke in
the quiet, protecting voice he would have
used towards a child-"neyer be per-
suaded to believe that life can be lived
happily in selfish isolation as mine has
been. One may set goal before ones
eyes, it may be lawful, 1t may be right,
but so long as thoughts oil self alone ami
mate one that goal can never be well
reached. We are social animals, depend
ent each on the other, and true lives ire
those that bring out the best in our
selves and the best in others. Shut up
IN my own rooms absorbed in my own in
terests, have lost my life, l have passed
by opportunities that might have made
me what / shall never be now. | thought
the pride Of intellect, the lust of fame,
the desire of ambition made a mans life
/ have grasped at the shadow and l have
lost the substance. And l would warn
you against such mistake. II II is bad
for a man. 1t is still worse for woman.
Satisfied fame, great renown, do not make
life as il was intended to be lived. We
must not remain on the hill-tops, we must
90 down to the plains. The great mo-
tive power of life is love-love of our
Creator, love for humanity, love of indi-
viduality. 1t Is as men and women, not
intellectual machines, we do our work in
the world"
But surely you, of all men, do not de-
spise intellectT
Indeed / do not, and l do not swerve
one iota from my original ideas on that
point" He grew very earnest, almost
solemn, in his eagerness to disabuse her
mind of the mistake. 81 am as strong
and as uncompromising a supporter of
the woman's cause as ever, because |
would have every power sharpened, every
energy Quickened into its best and highest
power. The more highly developed a man
or woman is. the better use will he or she
make of opportunities. 1t is individual
ism that / would oppose-not individu-
atty. Let each man ami woman develop
those special powers and abilities that
belong to each. and so we shall arrive at
perfection, but each power must be equal
Il - -.
others have become atrophied. And that
is the mistake l was going TO make and
TO consent to your making also. hope
that you will forgive me. that you will
believe in the sincerity of my respect and
admiration for you. and that we may
remain as good-no, better friends than
we have ever been"
II would have married YOU Aileen
said with rueful smile some time later
when the sight of the approaching steam
err made them remember the time was
growing short. Now that they had spokes
frankly and unreservedly to each other
she was beginning to see the splendid
character, the high principles that were
hidden under a shell of nervous manner
Isms and bookish learning.
Yes. and been miserable for the rest
Of your life" he answered. NO, | hope
there is better fate in store for YOU.
You are very young. Go through with
your tripos and then see In which way
your high capabilities and powers can
be best utilized. You were born 10 be
leader, / think. hope you will marry
and prove 10 the world what splendid
wife and capable mother 'blue-stocking'
Il shall never marry" Aileen said alb
ruptly. They were goiEg quickly up the
pier steps. and she hoped Lewiston would
think that il was the exertion that
brought the color to her face. He Lad
been very careful TO say nothing that
would lead her 10 suspect that his vague.
uniformed ideas had taken shape as a
result Of his unwilling eavesdroppins the
night before when fighting against her
love, Aileen had declared her ambition
stronger.
hope you will marry some GOOD Eel
low, Lewiston responded He need not
be clever. you have brains enough for a
dozen. Yes. I still hope you nav know
that happiness consists in more than the
gratlHcation o. a personal ambition. For
/ would not hope such thing for ron"
he added almost solemnly, as they paused
to say "Good-hy az did not believe
you would. in such a position. married 10
sucn a man, be doing your best work"
There was g queer little smile shout
Aliens mouth as she walked leisurely
homewaras. thinking deeply. At the ave
nue. gate she met Moyra coming home
from a hurried visit to their old nurse.
$50 -.
L.
Aileen burst into 4 laugh that was al
most hystericsl
He has gone. ny dear. aud It amounts
to this he has Tilted me. You behold
In me blighted heart. And / never felt
90 relieved In al my life" she added,
rather inconsequently-
Az they walked slowly up the avenue
she told Moyra the substance Of what
lad been said There were one or TIVE