Evening star., 1909-05-02
CHAPTER XXIV-Continued.

Somehow, it moved Athlyne strangely.
Moved the manhood Of him In many
ways, chiefest among them his duty Of
protection. 1t is not commonly received
Idea that man-not primitive man, but the
partially completed article of partially
completed cosmic age-is scrupulous with
regard to woman. The general idea to
the contrary effect is true en- gros but
not en- detaille True of women; not true
OF y woman. An educated man. accus-
toned to judgment and action in matters
requiring thought. thinks. perhaps uncon-
sciouslJ. all round him. backward as
well as forward; but mainly forward.
Present surroundings form his data; con-
sequences represent the conclusion. Ftim-
self remains neutral, an onlooker. until
he is called on for immediate decision and
consequent action.
So 1t was with Athlyne His instant
ejaculation:
THANK God we didn't know! would
To a woman 1t was incomprehensible.
Woman is. after all, more primitive than
man. Her instincts are more self-cen
tered than his. AS her life moves in o
narrower circle, her view is rather mi
croscopic than Telescopes; while his is the
reverse. Inasmucll then as he naturally
surveys larger field, SO his introspective
view is wider.
already expressed himself. considered him
as already her husband; or to speak
more accurately considered herself as al
ready his wife. 1t was. therefore, with
something like chagrin that she heard
his disavoWal of her views. She did not
herself quite understand what those views
were, but all the same it was a disap-
pointment that lie did not really acquieSce
in them; nay more that he did not press
them on his own account-press them re-
la,, cSlx n N n
even when his wishes are opposed 10 her
own.
A woman's answer to chagrin is ulti-
mate victory of her purpose; and a
chagrin of love is perhaps the strongest
passion with purpose that can animate
her
When Joy became conscious, as she did
In few seconds, that her lover. follow
ing out his protective purpose. was about
to separate himself from her-She quite
understood without any telling or any eN-
perience both motive and purpose-she
opposed il on her part. AS the ssrictness
Of his embrace lesseued, SO III proportion
did hers increase. Then came TO the man
the reaction--he was only u man. after
all. His ardor redoubled. and her heart
beat harder with new love as well tri-
umph as he drew her closer TO him in a
pythonic embrace. Then she. too. clung
TO him even closer than before. That
embrace was all loverlike-an agony of
rap apture.
In it's midst they were startled some
what by the rumbling of a motor driven
fast which seemed TO stop close to them.
Instinctiyely Joy tried TO draw away from
her lover; such is the womans impulse.
But Athlyne held her all the tighter-his
embrace was net all love now, but the
protection which comes from love. She
understood and resigned herself to him.
And so they stood. heart to heart, and
mouth TO mouth listening.
There was clatter of tongues in the
hall Joy thought she recognized me
voice-she could not be sure in the dis
tance and through the closed door-and
her heart sank. She would again have
tried 10 draw away violently. but that she
was poWerless. Her will was gone, like
q birds under the stare of the snake.
Athlyne too. was in suspense. his heart
beating wildly He had "a sort of presaee
OF disaster which seemed in a way to