The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-12-10
CHAPTER TX.

The morning which broke through the
defenses Of Breen, and crumpled the dear
est purpose of Constable, also drew Miss
| Stansbury into the vortex of intense emo
tions Whatever dominant traits and i'm
pulses she had inherited from her mother,
it had been her self-training to repress.
Ample opportunity had been afforded her
to note in her mother the career of an in
domitable mistress of affairs. The result
of her observations was a positive distaste
for stiffness of views in any sphere, and
a conviction that the display OF master
fitness in woman did not make for WON
ans happiness.
As a girl, it had not occurred to Lara
to exert an authority counter to her
mothers. When she became a young wom-
am she carefully avoided any extremity
which might lead to the breaking of
either her own -or-the more visible will
OF the house.
Now, in the midst of painful develop
ments, it was borne home to Lara that
she had progressed too far in the way of
amiability; that she had unconsciously
outstripped her intention, and passed into
the boundaries of self-effacement In the
crisis of the newspaper revelations, she
had followed her mothers initiative with
out question. The creature of indecisions
that she had become grew more and more
odious TO her as the forenoon passed, and
in her contrition she realized that the
man whose first wish was to spare her
from harm had been repaid with lack of
courtesy and a greater lack of courage.
Nothing that she had said or done, it
seemed to her now, carried the stamina of
decision. She had implored him not to
sneak: she had run from him, like |
frightened child to her mother, when he |
had told his love and begged her to seek |
safety aboard his ship. In none OF her /
dealings had she shown the strong wom-
anbood which marked her ideals; and in \
contrast stood out his gracious H
ness and patience. The thousand little |
things in which she had subserved her |
own inclinations to the maternal will had
dulled the delicate point of personality, l1
without which a man cannot stand val
iantly through the crux of harsh days. h
1t was all plain now, SO hideously plain.
The chief of the acts she regretted had |
70 do with the morning itself. What
manner of friendship" was this which
accented as authoritative the testimony
If a newspapers suspicious? She had
lone more than this, in handing Constable
he document that witnessed against him,
md shutting the door upon his possible
Iefepse. There was an added poignancy
n the knowledge that her mother would
lot have thus used one of her favorites.
Her distaste for the American caused
Mrs. Stansbury so readily to accept news
PAPER evidence as triumph of her judg-
nent. AS if such thoughts of wretched-
less were not sufficient to start tears of
-exation, Lara's mind finally added to the
inventory of its miseries by reverting to
Ter conversation with Constable in the
arriage on the day of his arrival. How
he had berated the essayist for declar
ng that the stuff of friendship stirred not
yomankind How vigorously he had
greed with her
She sought her own room when the tu-
multi mounted to the point Of tears. Pres
ntly she went to the door and locked it,
Dr. the inevitable thought had come. What
id the name of Peter Constable mean to
err? She had felt his strength. Long
90 she had dreamed of such strength and
ut the dream away. Whether or not he
'as to be the conqueror, she knew that
mastery like his could rouse her heart.
he was evading the substance of the
uestion. Before the mirror she frowned
everely at the Lara there.
Tell me this" said the woman, do l
ant him to go away?"
mo, no! ~ said the image.
NO" repeated the woman; mot II be
: innocent"
The image scowled at her conservatism
You deserve to suffer. You sent him
way without 1.-THE of your trust, with e
1t a morsel of your mercy