Evening star., 1909-07-11

arely. Have any more of the oldtime headaches
taese dayss'
That's good I-er-suppose you know that
James dead?
Yes thank YOU she answered as she closed the
door and crossed the to the fireplace and stood
with one resting the mantelpece. II read
the interesting fact; but, as am not a hypocrlte,
ddnt put on mourning But, please we won
talk about Jane Lant1er, John. 1t IS subject can
trust myself to speak upon. Death does not always
sanctify."
Why not? Mortal errors end when immortal
ity begins One should always speak well OF the
dead ~
If that is to be accepted as a fixed rule she
flung back at him, we shall have to start white
washing udas IscaTiot at once and cease to teach
history in our schools | have yet to hear of anyone
who is anxious to canonize Nero or beg halo for
LuCretia BoTga.
"Oh, come, / sayl That's piffle!'' he retorted
with short derisive laugh. That's carrying an
argument to ridiculous extreme
1t usually is, when 1T presumes to contradct-
and kicks the CrutCheS from under any OF our lame
Illusions
And mems wives,'' he threw back at her. ARE
pretty good hands at that sort of thing,-klck1ng
illusions.
They have to be; they. get SO much practice
with their own! But peasei' She gave her shoul.
ders twitch and threw back her hand and dr drumned
with her fingers the mantelshef Is 1t neces-
sary to 60 like this? We didn't meet, did we,
simply to talk fireworks, like the people in Dolly
Dialogue?''
Well you began it; didn't"
She gave her head a twitching birdlike movement
that seemed to be responsible tor the shaky lltte
laugh that accompanied it. as though the action had
ratified it out. Oh yes, of course began it. she
agreed sarcasticaly That IS one OF the things one
has to admire in man,-hs beautiful consistency,
Lord it was the womanl'" She laughed again, and
swung round, laying the other arm. too along the
shelf, and stood there, like human crucifix,
looking down at him with eyes OF dim reproach.
ANY thing else that | began?"
Pretty nearly everything--for mel" he made re-
ply, his voice and his eyes sinking Every sorrow.
every joy | didn't know what it was to live, until
l met you l didn't know what it was to grieve-
until knew you. Yes, you began everything,
and-you ended everything-form mel"
He got up suddenly and walked over to the win
dow and stood there with his back her. looking 81
lently down into the quiet street and turning over
the loose coins in his trousers pockets that they
made little jingng sound. And, somehow, she
hadn't the heart or the courage to speak
ET'S chuck it and talk about something else!" he
II said facing round abruptly What about the
boy' Any choice yourself regarding the SCHOOL,"
No that usually rests with the father, doesn't
it-with boy?"
perience. The other little mite was girl you know
Her eyes closed suddenly and her face went white
as ivory ''Don't,'' she said in a wrung voice
There things too sacred, too holy! L
can't think of it yet
His head sank until his chin touched his chest.
I'm sorry. Kitl'' he said contritely Its just my
blunderng way i shouldn't have done 1T tor the
world if / had thought
Il know" she answered; but that's where all
troubles began,-you never did stop to think.
There! It's over What it you asking?
About the-er-boy's school? No, l haven't any
choice
Something in the air of Indifference with which
she alluded to the child contrasting strongly, as it
did, with her anguish at the bare mention of that
other child,-go from them in the very month
that it had been given, struck Lantier as being al
most calous, and it both shocked and amazed him.
The boy'?" he repeated. That's curious way
for his mother to aude to him, isn't it What's his
name?"
A faint dash of color fckered into her face-and
gone again in wnking. His name? Oh
er-Iohn"
You don't seem to be very certain of it." said