The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-29
TWO MEN AND A WOMAN.
PART /

gone down the stairs, and the WomaH
was left behind. She sat listening to
his footsteps, straining her ear to eaten
the last sound. How many weary
months would it be before she again
heard that step on the stairs? 1t might
even be. She shuddered at the
thought and thrust it back.
The door opened, but she did not move.
$50 he's gone" woman's voice SAID.
"Poor old girl! expect you feel bit
down in the mouth. Good-byes are hor-
rid things. I make it a rule to avoid
them myself; don't like to be narrowed
up-life isn't long enough"
'That was my philosophy, too, until
Garth made his appearance. Now It's
different. Perhaps you'll understand
some day."
4 hope I shan't if it makes me look
like YOU do now. The emotions are raw
aging things; wrinkles, sleeplessness and
general discomfort follow in their train.
1 hope I shall always have the sense to
avoid extremes of any kind. Give me
neither ups nor downs, so shall l have
comfort ny day and peace by night"
''You are not very sympathetic. l
wish you would go away and leave me
alone"
II couldn't reconcile it with my con-
science. AS your best friend my place
is by your side in the day of adversely.
Not that 1 think you really are so much
to be pitied, Mia. On the whole, con-
slider you decidedly lucky person. No
longer in your first youth we may ac-
knowledge that in a stealthy whisper,
mayn't we?-you have succeeded in cap
turing prize that would do credit to
the youngest and prettiest debutante.
Garth Houghton is handsome, rich, and
likely to make a name for himself be-
fore he is year older. Already see
him." screwing up her eyes, crowned
with bay and laurel. That is the proper
combination for conquering heroes, isn't
it ?"
''What nonsense you talk! And you
seem quite to forget that there is an
other side. Suppose he never comes back
at ALL Suppose" he voice choking, 81
should never see him again.
Letty!-Letty! I am frightened when ]
think of it. l couldn't bear my life
without Garth now; he's everything
all that really matters in the whole
world. It's too much--I haven't deserved
it. /"
"You think fate is waiting around the
corner to pounce ON you? That is the
way of all you people when you get too
fond of anybody. You seem to think
you stand on such a lofty eminence-that
you have risen so high above other poor
wretches-that, in the nature Of things,
there must come fall. Now, if | were
in your place I should just make the
most of my pinnacle while [ had it. |
should put in the best time I could and
leave the dust and ashes to take care OF
themselves"
''You don't understand"
"Of course not. How, in my benight
ed condition, could I? At the same time,
don't see why you should imagine that
Garth is singled out for misfortune. He
seems to have been pretty lucky up till
now. Other explorers have gone explor-
ing and returned in safety. Why not he !?
By the way, who do you think has gone
with the expedition? / saw it in the
paper just now"
II don't know" listlessiy.
"Why, your old friend and admirer,
Jack Delorme.''
Jack DeIorme?'' The IistIess figure
flashed round, the beautiful brown eyes
stared in a horrible fear; there was
sound of labored breathing "You don't
know what you are talking about; it is
mpossible-Jack Delorme''> The last
words were spoken so low that Lefty
did not hear them.
'What fools women are, Letty-what
fools!" Mia said. Especially the ones
who are left alone. We want to be
hedged round and guarded, we want
signposts up at every turning. When
there's nobody to stop us we run on,
without looking where we are going, we
stretch out our hands to grasp every
pleasure that comes in our way. We
want so much to enjoy ourselves and be
happy when we are young that we never
think of danger"
'Well, that's quite natural" the girl
said sensibly. Though, as I think ]
mentioned before, Pm too matter of fact
myself not to look where I am going"
"Natural?, Yes, 1 suppose so, but it's
a pity, oh, such pity for some of u.s.
And the best men never understand. AS
somebody said, Men serve women kneel-
ing; when they get on their feet they go
away Often we would rather they
just put us on their own level, but it
seems they can't. They must either look
up or down. And-and, Lefty, if they
find us out, when they have knelt at our
feet, then they go away. Isn't it cruel?
isn't it cruel? What should | do if
Garth did that?"
'But why should he? 1t would be alb
surd- ridiculous. You have never pre-
tended to be a saint"
mo, but when L have tried to tell him
anything 1 have learnt to be
ashamed of, things l have done that had
so much better been left undone, he has
laughed and kissed me- and said what
tender conscience L had, or sor1e non
sense of that Sort" She laughed bitter
Iy. 81 might have been girl of 20, with
an absolutely clean record, with no
of life. 1t was so pitifully alb
surd-and yet I would not have had it
''Then don't know what you are MAX
ng yourself miserable about. After all,
you have been no worse than ninety mine
out of a hundred better prob
IDLY. Delorme isn't the kind of man to
Kiss and tell if that is what you are
about. He won't say word
o dispel any of Garths foolish fond il
usions. He can still picture you in
nowy robes, soaring above a polluted
World"
Mia laughed more naturally.
Il believe you are right" she said. Il
AVE been imagining all kinds of dread
ul things that are never likely to hap