The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-15
THE REASON.

not in the mood for It."
The girl closed the book very soft
ly and turned slowly to look at the
white face on the couch
You are tired, Ted?" she asked.
No." said he with a dry smile,
mot tired, but querulous and rather
peevish, I'm afraid / used to think,
at the first of it, that | had some
pluck; but I'm rapidly being disillu-
stoned haven't the nerve of a
chicken"
"oh. haven't you, you splendid
boy?' she said. Il would like TO
know who but you would have laid
here as brayely and uncomplainingly
and faced the things you have the
past yeai %
There are thosands OF people
who would have done 1t much better
than /" said he gloomily. THE thing
IS getting on my nerve. Good Lord
| can't stand itl can't / can't"
She moved her chair closer TO the
couch. Her face suddenly paIed with
tenderness and pity. Ted, hush ! she
said sootbingly. You mustn't talk like
that. Think OF your spenldld courage
all these long, long months since the
accident. And every month puts YOU
so much nearer recovery"
His eyes we're turned away. She
saw his fingers working neryously.
That's the rub" ne confessed
What is7' she asked quickly.
The chance OF getting better--the
chance OF ever being of any use In
the world again." said he. Gordon
told me this morning very frankly
that 1t was question wether or not
would ever walk again. | wish he
had told me that In the FIRST place
instead OF carrying me along like this
with his ill-conceived kindness of
false hopes"
The girls face grew paler. HE
told you that?" she asked.
Yes. He said had the right 70
know. He was perfectly correct
there, too. Only. as say, he should
have told me in the FIRST place. II he
had any doubts about t."
"Why2' said she.
lie moved uneasiIy "oh. for many
reasons" said he. Things would
have been utterly different could
have stood Il better, I believe, II
had known II then"
But II isn't At all certain you are
going 70 be helpless permanently"
she declared. Gordon Is simply tell
Ing you that 10 warn you In case the
worst happens--and the worst In not
going to happen" she ended cheer
fully.
As to that. we can only make sur
misses" said hs Time alone will
settle the question. and from what
Gordon said. and the way he said II,
am rather inclined 20 the opinion
that II won't do to have too many
hopes"
The girl said nothing. She was
looking out the window at the FIRST
green leaves on the street. and her
eyes were dim with tears. Benson.
too. was looking at the leaves. His
face was stern aud set, and about
his mouth we're hard lines OF stubborn
determination
And 80. said he. quite ~ II their
talk had not been broken by the little
period OF silence. = want 10 be very
frank with you. Margaret Let's not
have any foolishneea or any quixotic
business about this affair wnn
thrown from the horse and very APP
pArently am In this fix for the rest
W htf AAAfa fNtAH WY kBkAa AAu
very childish Just now 20 cryuut 80
against II. What ~ done IN done. and
cannot be helped now But that
needn't necessarily upset tho whole
universe"
She bad never heard him talk llko
this before. His had always been a
cheerful, hopeful nature, even after
20 49, -
spend his tedious. endless days ON the
couch
First" said he. give mo the ring.
please"
The girl merely looked NJ him IN
unbelief.
Give me the ring. Margaret" he
repeatedly gternly.
Slowly she drew the diamond from
her finger and laid II in his out
stretched hand. He put Il in the
pocket Of his smoking coat and the
lines about his mouth grew more
tense.
Now" said he. you are free. This
matter OF a woman tying herself 90
crippled man has been tried before,
II is all nonsense. II doeAn't work
except In theories and sentimental
fiction. You are not 10 come here
again-not while things rre as un-
certain as they are at present. AT any
rate. You arc 70 forget me--forget
me. do you understand"
The girl pressed her hand TO her
white cheeks. Ted" she said In
credulously. what are you aaylng7
What does all this mean? Are you
trying to test me? II you are. II Is
most lll-timed You--know very we'll
would never break Il on. no matter
what had happened. You are SLAM
dering me-inaulting me"
His face twisted for a moment
Then he smiled grlmly
Il am doing nothing OF the sort,
he declared. II am simply talking
good, cold common. everyday horse
sense. IL IL better so. Can't you un-
derstand me?'
No can't" she said brokeniy
Then let me make II palmer" said
he. II wish II. | suppose | am not
very noble about it--but man I'm my
condition isn't supposed to be noble.
or If he is expected TO be he falls
far short Of the mark | wish Il. DO
you realize all that means?"
1T means" he went on that we
are not suited to each other--not now.
In the old days It s~ns different, but
we have TO face new conditions, now.
/ am exacting. peevish. broken. |
shall probably be so for the rest OF
my life. ! have got 10 face the flu
ture eoldly. calmly In that future
you won't 1T You are too sympa-
thetic, too solicitous, tho sensitive.
You make me aware every hour OF
the day that / am crippled wreck,
:. Nd II I LnlLn.. a. lin -