Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-08
THE RUBICoN.

THE RUBICON.
Il wish, Harvey" said Evelyn sud,
deny and irreleyantly, in wistful tone
End with swift glance across the table
chat you were my brother" And when
the words were spoken she caught her
breath, dismayed by the boldness of the
challenge she had flung him-a challenge
that suggested an obvious answer. That
answer she awaited with quickened pulse
and suddenly Redeemed cheeks. But, be it
from distaste for the obvious, be il
from other motives, the reply that Har-
vey made was very far from the reply
she had provoked.
u can imagine nothing ID ) esirable,'
he answered, in tone of ore iyancine
an impersonal opinion upon the most
casual of topics. ''We are probably much
better as we are. If we We're brother
and sister our association would be for
tuitous instead of the outcome of volun,
tary selection that it is. Oh, we are
much better as we are--iust friends
And do you think that we always
shall be?"
AS long as it is your good pleasure,
said he. And that, / hope, will be long
indeed"
You may hope so--yes; but is it a
| reasonable thing TO expect? Surely, If
you reflect, you must see that some day
it must come to an end
why should it? 1t has been your
boast that You will not marry. You pro-
fess to ask for nothing better than such
friendship with an intelligent fellow
creature as is entertained by one man for
another You have done me the honor
to mistake me for the intelligent fellow
creature of your dreams. Since the gain
is mine, | am content with the role You
do not wish to tell me that your views
have changed?"
TO change is feminine" she answered
with assumed lightness. She was desper-
ate now. Since he would not, she must,
It would be monstrous to allow his alb
surd pride to ruin both their lives, Il
hope to be married soon,' she told him
with a smile.
II must congratulate YOU" he said
quietly. Il had no notion of it. Is he
is he abroad?"
He? Oh no. He is in England"
Haryey's eyebrows shot up in surprise,
"Odd that / should never have heard of
him. Do you realize that you have hard
" treated me well % he complained, with
an assumed air of mock reproach Il
think that you might have told me be-
fore. Do / know him?'
"How very duh you arel" she cried.
"His name is Harvey Stone" She ut
tered the words boldly and fearlessly
so boldly and fearlessly that he could
have no notion of the perturbation be-
hind the eyes that so squarely met his
own.
He shook his head slowly, and a smile
that was full of sadness invested the
eyes he turned upon her. When he spoke
his tone was almost gay, for all that it
had the steady ring that proclaims a
mind resolved.
do you know, Evelyn, that for a mo-
ment | was almost jealous" He sighed
and laughed at once. "You were right,
just now, when you expressed the wish
that | was your brother and / was
wrong to rejoice that it was otherwise
but why? Why?"
Because if ! We're your brother it
would preclude the danger of my aspiring
to become anything else to you, and it
would dispense with the sad necessity
that now exists of putting an end to the
most charming friendship, the sweetest
comradeship of my life"
Harvey, you can't mean it" she cried,
alarm-and shame even--ringing in her
voice. He heard the one and the other,
and he answered both.
Il should be poor sort if l meant
anything else. Don't mistake me, dear"
His voice grew tender. "You know that
l love you. / may as well own it now. /
imagined that"
but" she interrupted him, "since You
admit so much, what is there need stand
in our way2"
There is your money and my beg
gary he answered her.
"Then win my money at play" she
urged him feverishly. swim my money
and me with it." Her eyes burned; her
checks We're white; her lips parched, and
her whole being fevered by this battle
upon which she was engaged and which
at all costs she meant to win. Harvey
regarded her with the tolerant eve we
bend upon an unreasonable child.
II should ask nothing better had
anything to set against your stakes.
You forget"
1T is you who forget-who overlook
something" she returned. Il am asking
you TO set your VIII against mime, your
liberty against mine, and to play me
for the one against the other Listen.
Harvey" she proceeded, in a low, CON
centrated voice; you are only consider
ing yourself when you persist in follow
ing your foolish scruples. Please remem-
Der that count for something. Consent,
at least, to what / am suggesting. PLAY
me a rubber of bridge-or any game YOU
choose, If l win. / win you, and shall
marry you. If lose, | lose you; YOU
may retain the liberty you seem to treas.
ura so hiohlV md I will avon consent