The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-05

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the windows in the morning because
they faced directly other windows
across narrow street.
She remembered also that the next
room, through which she had entered,
mad windows on two sides. Those on
one side opened as did her own; but
those on the other side looked out on
an open space. And so. without fur
ther thought. she opened the door be-
tween and passed into the outer room.
1t too. like her own, was dark from
the closed shutters. InStinctively she
went softly, her bare feet making no
sound on the carpet. With the same
instructive caution she had opened the
door noiselessly: when the self-protec-
tive instinct had once been awakened
1t does not easily relapse to sleep. She
went over to one of the windows and
tried to look out through the chinks.
The day was bright outside and the
sun was shining; the fog had entirely
disappeared. In the sudden desire
breathe the fresh morning air, and to
free in the sunlight her soul cramped
by the long darkness of fog and night,
she threw open the heavy shutters.
Ath]yne slept so sound that he never
stirred. He lay on the sofa on his left
side with his face out to the room. He
toe had been dreaming: and to his
dreams the happiness of the day had
brought a vivifying light Through all
his WEAKNESS of mind and body came
to his spirit the glow of those moments
when he knew that his love was recip-
rocated; when his call to his mate had
been anSwered-anSwered in no uncer-
tain voice. And so he, too, had lain
with bodily nature all quiescent, whilst
the emotional side of his mind ragged
freely between memory and expecta-
ton. And in due process the magma
tive power of the mind had worked on
the nerves-and through them, on the
body-till he too lay in a dangerous
conference.-the mind ranging free
whilst the abnormally receptive body
quiversd in unison 1t was a danger
Gus condition of being in which to face
the situation which awaited him.
The sound of the opened shutter
Weakened him, fully and all at once.
The moment his eyes opened he saw a
and at the knowledge that some
stranger was in his room the habit of
quick action which had prevailed in his
years of campaigning re-asserted it
self. On the instant he flung aside his
blanket and sprang from his bed.
AT the sound of the step on the floor
Joy turned. The light streaming in
through the unshuttered window show
ed them in completeness each to the
other. The light struck Athlyne full
in front. There was instant recogni-
ton. even in the unaccustomed garb,
of that tall 1.-THE form; of those fine
aquiline features. of those dark fash
ing eyes. As to Joy, who standing
against the light made her own shad-
ow, Athlyne could have no doubt. He
would have realized her, presence in
darkness and silence. AS she stood in
her fine linen, the morning light MAX
ing a sort Of nimbus round the opacity
of the upper part of her body, she
looked to him like some fresh realiza-
tion-some continuation in semi |
ethereal form-of the being of his
thought in either Of the lovers. The |
instant of recognition was the realiza- |
ton of presence-unquestioni and the
most natural thing in the world that
the other should be there. Delight had
sealed from within the ears of Doubt. |
Unhesitatingly they ran to each other, |
and before second had passed were !
locked tightly in each others arms.
In the secret belief OF the Conven- |
tional world-that belief which is the
official teaching of the churches Of an
artificial society. and not merely the |
world Of Adam and Eve (and some
itself changes the entire nature of the |
contracting parties. Whatever may
have been the idiosyncrasies of these |
such are forthwith changed |
foregone, or otherwise altered to suit |
that common denominator of Human
Nature while alone it officially cata-
logued in the records of the Just. 1t |
were as though the recorded promise |
Of two love-Stricken sufferers, followed |
by the formal blessings OF the Church |
in any of it's observation-disclosures OF the |
Registrar-should change baser mort |
ais to more angelic counterpart; just |
a1chemist dreamed of and
sought for. was expected to change |
baSer metals to gold.
Perhaps it is because this transmuta-
ton is so complete that SO many Of |
those marriages which the Church does |
sanctify turn out so differently from |
the anticipations of the contractors and |
blessors.
church and her own ritual. In her |
ease the Blessing comes before the Ser |
vice; and the Benediction is but the |
official recognition that two souls
with their attendant bodies-have
found perfect communion for them |
selves. Those who believe in Human
many of them are seri-
ously minded people too-realize and |
are thankful for the goodness Of God |
who showers the possibilities Of happi-
ness with no stinting and no uncertain
hand. After all'' they say what /
about Eden?'' There was no church's
blessing there-not even a Registrar;
and yet we hold that Adam and Eve
were united in Matrimony. Nor were
heir children or their children,s chill
1ren made with organized formality
What was IL then that on these oc-
,asionS stood between fornicatfon and
What could it be but the
Of God! And if God could
make marriage by His Blessing in
Eden. when did He forego that power
Or if indeed there be only a civil
Contract''-as SO many told to-day
what proofs or writings must there be
beyond that mere parole contract
which is recognized in such matters by
the Law Of the Land.
So the believers in natural religion
and natural law-those who do not
hold that personal license, unchecked
and bOundlesS, is an appanage or logic
result of freedom. To these, freedom
s in itself a state bounded on all sides
~ restrictive laws-as must ever be.
lnless Anarchy is held to be the ulti-
nate and controlling force. And in
he end Anarchy is the denial of all
cosmic law-that systematised con-
yeries of natural forces working in
harmony to a common end.