The Mena weekly star., 1910-07-07

hSIe dnu they are dead and away" If they all stood here by me on the
 sand, If all their excellencies and vir-
 tues were centered upon one and she
 stood by you on the sand, my heart
 would turn to you. It isn't because you are beautiful You are beautiful
 are you not?"
 Poor man, he had no standards of comparison, only the instinct for the lovely.
 Men said so." she answered. smil- ing at him and blushing in confusion.
 "Men" he cried. What meny'
 T will tell you tomorrow"
 She sighed deeply at the thought of the revelation.
 Well then" he continued, '1t isn't because you are beautiful, or because you are wise, or because you are learned. or because you are kind: 1t is because you are you that love you"
 And if were none of these things?"
 T would love you just the same." But am not what you think me fin some ways
 | T could never think highly enough of you. know that"
 NO, no. it isn't that When I tell you"
 She stopped and looked at him pa. ling. After all the greater test was to come then. ITO err" she remem- bered the ancient Latin proverb, was human; to forgive divine" Would he be human or divine in this trial? Had l she so trained him that he could for give the unforgiveable? In more ways than one her happiness depended upon what would be his course. If he forgave her and condoned her fault. their love could have free course If ever opportunity for beni- son upon it presented But if he followed the common course of men. not only would any future union be- tween them on the only terms to which she could consent be impos- sible. but he would kill her heart, her trust in man-sometimes. she wildly believed, her trust in God
 Nothing, nothing" he repeated. that you could tell me would make. any difference"
 So lovers have protested, she re- called, since time and the world be- gan. And yet things told have made differences. What would 1t do for their future. this revelation of the morrow ?
 And again she realized that the test. If she herself were compelled to make 1t, would not be exactly fair, for she would be at once prosecuting atfor- ney, advocate for the defense. even in some phase the passer of judgment. She would be the criminal and the world to him. It would hardly be possible for him to arrive at correct view and como to determination un- biased and free. If she could have transported him by some magic pow CT among the children of men. and with them for auditory have told her story. the test would be a true one. What he would do then after having heard the worlds voices. the worlds 1 appeals. the worlds mockeries. would truly determine what he was, and in no other way could that determina- 1 ton be arrived at Though she stroye l to be as Impartial as divinity, she | could not but make. her defense coin 1 cident with her revelation, her justin- l cation at the same time with her con demnation. He knew nothing of life l but what she and instinct had taught him, and neither would be safe guides | in this emergency. He could protest ! and she could believe his protests, but | unless they were uttered not merely before high heaven but before sur rounding men. they would be of little | value
 She put this by resolutely at last. and environment She would have to | do the best that she could on the | morrow. Meanwhile she would, as she | had said. enjoy the day. And so the morning hours wore away until the | time came for the customary parting. | At first she would have abandoned. in the luxury of the new passion. or the | new revelation of the old passion, the customary rule. but she still preserved | some lingering remains of her common sense and she clearly perceived that | it was necessary to go on as they | had. Society cannot proceed without | its conventions and these simple regH lations were their conventions which had to be obeyed. And so they parted. But parted as they had never parted | before. torn asunder by their own | compliance with their own petty rules. their hearts protesting.
 Long before the earthquake they | had erected on the topmost hill of the | island hage pile of dead wood from | the groves beneath.
 When they had parted she had sug- gested to him--and 1t was significant that now it was a suggestion; yester- day 1t would have been command that he should take time to ascend the hill and rearrange tho great heap of wood which they had builded. During all the time that had elapsed since she had been there no sail had whitened the horizon. no curl of smoke had be- tokened the distant passing of a steamer But no spot of the globe could forever remain unvisited. she thought, and some day that pile of wood might make a beacon light to call civilization to them. He was glad to comply with her suggestion, glad U31Ml597t4zJx f5>y7 jQV39i IA IA LrI7M"