The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-10-07


actly the same enthusiasm. What's a
little enthusiasm, after all, that one
should grudge it to life? One has only
a handful of years, at best, and if one
doesn't SAVIOR all there is in the
phases that come with those years,
why" She broke of, looking curious
ly at a sprig of something, withered
and dry, that had fallen from the en-
velope she held, into her open hand.
why she said again, aimlessly,
the thread Of her speech lost in a new
tangle of thought. why"
The Cynic laughed noiselessly, then
he leaned forward wilma charmingly
confidential air.
What is it." he demanded. "Anoth-
er dead past? What's the little vege.
table for?"
Jaconetta lifted quick eyes and
laughed. Then she went back to star
ing at the thing in her hand.
care you thinking whether you
shall keep it or burn it," he leased.
mo. Oh, no; I am wondering, on
the contrary" said Jaconetta calmly,
why I ever kept it, and who gave it
to me-"
Jaconetta has a face that SANDER
ously reveals her lightest thought.
Above the heliotrope it wavered from
resentment to uncertainty, from I'M
certainty to resolution, and from reso-
luton to a very definite amusement.
Finally she laughed-chuckled rather
in an adorable fashion of her own.
The Cynic watched her meantime.
through %half-closed eyes, and his ciga.
rette went out, forgotten.
"What vampires you women are!"
he cried suddenly.
"Eh?" Jaconetta was plainly as
tonished.
YES" insisted the Cynic; "vam-
pires. parasites-every one of you!"
He leaned forward, elbows on his
knees, and brought the clenched fist
of his left hand down into the palm
of his right. "There you sit, laughing
over the dry husk of a mans love
giggling in the face of a corpse
preening your vanity above a stran-
gled illusion! What's truth to you?
or faith? OF passion? or love? Doesn't
that bit of a dead flower, there, hurt
you for even a second? Hasn't it a
voice for some dead moment?s Why,
you should be sorry-or glad-for the
memory it Observation-Disclosures
feel! For heavens sake, feel! You
might have sawdust in your veins!
What?" He broke of in an irritation
not lessened by Jaconetta's mocking
eyes.
go on!" she said, with a gamin
grimace. You're doing ane!"
That's all very WE'LL" he retorted
I'm glad I amuse you; but, on my
word, I think the man who loves and
rides away is the only sane one in the
human species. You're not worth 8
mans faith and trust and manhood
You're vampires-vampires, all o.
you! You batten on our illusions, our
youthful beliefs, our credulity, and
then-you smile over the words we
wrote in the clutch of our agony
laugh at the crude expression of the
only love that is ever real in any
man-his frst-and sniff delicately al
the dust Of the flowers you wore fol
us. Whose was it? Why did I keeI
it? What did it stand for?'"
Jaconetta'n eyes softened to an ap
peal.
eff I could remember who gave il
to me-" abe offered hopefully, I'm
sare I stpuld know why I kept it
and what 1t was for. But you see
II quite sns," he interrupted ruth
lessly. "?hexe have been so many
Zone ges;s them confused" said JAG
onetta eagerly, "and then, there's nc
clew. It's just a bit of dead heliotrope
in a plain envelope. Heliotrope's g
silly, sentimental sort of flower, SO II
must. have had some significance;
and one doesn't get it in dollhouse
bouquets, 60 1t must have been an in
innate git. But then again so many
men are sentimental"
"And sn{.mate?" suggested the
Cynic. Wits. caustic brevity.
IF yne die" she conceded. IA
1SdSL, yVu KAc SdSy " huOW. DIN
drew her 6ask brows into a puzzled
frown anil sighed deeply. II wish
could renlember-he may have beef
~interestinE."
HE snuEt have been,' scoYed the
Cynic, "s1nse you forgot him."
The Cya,c lit another cigarette and
flung it into the fire half smoked.
I'm gotIs," he said suddenly, and
got to hts feet with a restless sugges
ton of haste. "You might, at least
leave ne my belief in one woman's
squarenssn find reality"
Nearing me?" asked Jaconetta
with a Elnw smile.
"Meanins you," he retorted grimly
1T hurts nv understanding Of you
to have you show the shallow flip
panciee Of the common or garden tlirt
That wretcned little vegetable, now
throw Il away if you like. but don't
laugh r.. IL. 1t must have been a part
of yo,S. Me-and life's nothing to
laugh g."
Indeed, MOI" %Jaconetta assented in.
differently. I'm my experience, life's
a story wish the Joke on you"