The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-07-05

|
the word--"no. You do not under
stand. Tomorrow | shall go TO 81.
John to live under his roof as his com
panion and fellow-worker. There is to
be no empty ceremony"
As the idea came home to winners
his chest heaved, his features swelled
with rising rage. Good Lord, he
cried, you surely won't do anything
so mad as that. It's been tried before
and il isn't good enough"
She answered unmoved, coldly de-
| cisive: I'VE are quite determined
! in the stand We shall take. Where the
/ cowardly draw back, we dare.
/ Listen to me" He spoke earnestly.
I the anger dying away in his voice, Il
can't see you ruin yourself, II you
can't live without this young scamp
III give you your freedom and you can
marry him decently,"
Still you do not understand" she
said You urge on me the conyen
tional cowardice; you would rob my
act of It's soul. Ours is to be purely
spiritual communion, a fearless union
of predestined souls"
lie threw back his head. God!
You can't be deceived by such rot!
You can't be duped, like green girl,
by a vulgar fellow who sugars his low
ethics"
Her spirit rose TO arms in defense
OF the absent one.
Before we go any further you must
understand that will listen to no
abuse Of St. John. When we have
won our battle, when he has proved
himself, then it will be time enough
TO pass judgment"
Then" he gasped-"then II will be
too late. He will have dragged you
through the mire"
She shuddered his reference TO the
mud with which conventional world
bespatters the unconventional con-
jured up an unpleasant picture. Yet
sense of heroism buoyed her up: all
women are potential martyrs.
Jim" she said, almost pleadingly.
won't you try to understand? Our
union is to be purely spiritual a com
munion of mind, a marriage of souls,
no more
II know my world" he observed.
brutally, and men are men the world
over"
A fine scorn burned In her eve
There are men" she said, who can
understand noble alliance between
a man and a woman. Evidently things
OF The spirit pass your comprehen-
sion"
His ear caught the accent on the
your and he WINGED, feeling the
edge.
And St John" he cried, passionate
ly, he, suppose. IS an adept in
platonsm. How do you Judge between
him and me? Have YOU put him to
any test? Has he been with you
when the lights were low. when the
passion Of the night burns in the
blood? Has he leaned towards you as
| do now and felt the air throh with
the beating of your heart? You've ex-
changed notions on ethics In a crowded
lecture room and you Judge him by
that! If he were with you now. do
you think he'd still pirate Of platon-
ism? I'll wager not for long,"
She drew back. drawing her draper
les away from his communicating
touch.
For your own sake wish | could
prove to you the mans purity of pur.
pose. his holiness OF soul"
The thought came to him in a fash:
Here was his chance. Prove IT," he
urged, put him to a test. All ask
is fair chance"
She raised her eyebrows in lnterro-
rogation: How"
In the thronging thoughts OF the
moments silence his devotion to her
rose to heroic heights. topping mere
egoism and personal vanity. Fear Of
the leering. hootiug world faded from
his mind his one thought was to save
her.
Go 10 him now" he cried. breath
lessly; go 10 him tonight, Go TO him
as you are' Let him feel the mystery
Of your beauty. the power OF your
blFNfI'Ns anu ne EdU was
eloquent beyond mere words.
For answer she turned and deliber-
ately pressed the button summoning
her maid. He will not fail me-" she
said simply. The maid appeared and
stood behind her mistress, discreetly
inconspicuous
In the doorway Mrs. Winners turned
Il am unsfraid, Good by" Her hand
was outstretched. but De did not see
H. He was leaning against the mantel-
piece, his face in his hands. his shout
ders heaying. Co" he cried, "go,"
A moment later the slam of the
street door echoed through the house.
In The dim. high-ceilinged room vii
mers sat alone, sunk in the Morris
chair. his chin on his crumpled shirt
bosom, his arms hanging limp at his
sides. The Louis Quinze clock which
two gilt Cupids forever bore on their
upliited palms struck ~ in persistent
discord.
His wstery glance Wandered aim
lessly about the room and paused for
a long moment at the doorway: Il had