Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-05

| to me lika resuming younger and better
life that had dropped for time
| This seemed to start a flesh thought in
her mind and she was silent, but 1 was
content that it should be so. l asked no
| more than to sit and look at her. and it
| was safer thus. Yet, looking at her.
should have had no fear: with the in
crease of beauty had come the increase
! had been refined yet more by suffering
and steadfast courage. Only the faint
| musical trckling of the water and the
| slight rustic of the leaves overhead broke
| the silence. Far above us stretched a
| sky of hot. unbroken blue. but beside the
enchanted spring it was green and cool.
| She asked me at last of my intended
caSeer leading me to speak more
| fully of my plans and the means by
| which l hoped to attain them, Offering
advice and suggestion now and then
| though in the most unObtrusive way.
saw that she had thought much on such
affairs. and. after all, there is no reason
why a woman's mind should not be keen
and penetrating in the larger business OF
life: 1t is only use and training that makes
us think otherwise.
With such a spur l spoke freely. even
with impulse and enthusiasm. l had
never before confided much to myself
in my thoughts. and as 1 spoke l was
glad to see faint added tinge to her own
cheeks. Men expect enthusiasm from
pect little from men for Womens work.
1t is one OF the penalties of being a
woman.
I stopped suddenly and I heard a little
sigh from Alicia. She would have checked
it, but it was too late. i looked inquiring-
ly at her.
at is because men have a great refuge
denied to u.s." she said. You can bury
yourselves in your work and forget. or
at least nearly forget, everything else.
] had no reply to make. This is an
| other of the penalties of being a woman,
and | was forced to admit it by my ST.
lence.
Harry" she said. hesitating and flush
ing deeply. II want You to tell me some
thing. I thought once that / should never
refer to ii again l made promise to
myself that l would not-but-I must now.
Did you suffer awfully in that terrible
place? Did you curse my very name and
wish that you had never seen or heard OF
me?'
l was glad that she asked the question
and glad that / could answer her as
did. / looked at her and her eyes looked
back deep into mine. She would have de-
tected at once a note of falSehood, but
did not wish to evade.
II think that at first / was stunned
replied, land that perhaps softened the
blow. But for while l suffered. suffered
greatly. 1t was the clothing more than
anything else. the stripes, the brand of
Cain. so to speak. 1t made me feel guilty
when / knew myself innocent. Alicia,
began to believe that the innocent can be
persuaded that they are guilty"
Poor Harry" she said, so softly that
she did not intend for me to hear, and
her face was Swallowed.
But it wore away" l continued. land
do not lie to you. Alicia, when tell you
that In time l had happy days in the
penitentiary: 1t was the discipline. mental
and physical. that was making me over
again. and / came to know it. ] learned
to look forward, not backward, nor even
at the present. l prepared for what has
happened. l did not blame you. How
could I? Once wondered why you did
not come or send any word. but | know
now the reason of it, and sitting here a
free man, with youth, friends. prospects,
l have no reason to complain except that
that
(To be continued tomorrow