The San Francisco call., 1910-04-24
The San Francisco Sunday G;

=
ordinary? Why should you and | talk like vsorv.
folk that are ashamed show to look upon the
face of truth9"
Some there be that look upon it and die he said
with a slow smile
And that must look upon it to live she
returned quickly. 4 have always known as you must
have known. that this could not go on forever |
brought it all clear before myself today And if
needed emphasis OF the result received word to
ejoin-Mr.-Osterman tomorrow shall not go to
him | shall never pass another day under the same
roof with him. l 1t is all very plain"
PASSION IN TATTERS
A whln fancy, a shred Of the torn banner under
which he had withstood all assaults from her and
from her ally in his breast these last months sum
moned his weapon to parry more. He
laughed, little YEARLY
I'VE have all the elements here, Marion Lovers
parted by unnecessary obstacle of husband. She
comes to his rooms alone, at night Passion ripped
to tatters. We lack nothing but the slow music You
spoke of common folk moment ago. Can you find
me ranting dramatist OF them all who hasn't sea
soned that dish in every conceivable way
She pleated little folds in her cloak and regarded
him calmly Il know you when you talk that wav
Robert l know. But it doesn't make the slightest
difference 1t made difference when you cleared
the path of my mother by getting that letter back
from Jerry Coskar Nor when you cleared it again
by preventing interruption my wedding night
that would have made the wedding impossible. Nor
many times since
Your mother7g he asked, twisting his blade once
why do you fence with me?" she said with
faint flush. Il never hid it from you even at the
first. l willing that the marriage should be pre-
vented 1t my mother who wished it. and
have bitterly unwished it since You were helping
her"
rs that all l was doing?" He leaned forward
little.
NO" she said slowly "You we're afraid toto
put your visor up. In cold fact you would not per-
nit yourself to look upon the truth. l had no for
tune could not have helped you in your climbing
and at that time nothing else OF importance
1t was his turn to flush She was right She knew
him, had traced the thread of his motive through
the maze he had about himself And now she
touched him on that tenderest- masculine spot-his
vanity.
1t well that he should himself mean and
sordid and crawling. but it beyond endurance
that she should share that sight Could her love for
him condone the matters she so clearly and simply
understood? The revolt surged strong within him.
crying that love his refuge from this thing
from defeat, from wounds from striving; that it
would clothe him gloriousy for them both, covering
his weakness, rehabilitating him; that it would heal
and forgive.
He strobe to her and caught her in his arms She
yielded her 1.-THE body to him he kneeled beside
her, cnging close and signal spoke signal in their
eyes Here the balm and the solace and the life
He said it, fercely, while he sought her lips,
I'VE will go away" she murmured, against his
shoulder My little dowry that you tended care
fully has grown to be than enough for Us. We
will find a far corner somewhere"
Eyes"
"You have your way where you wished to go
and you have what it had to offer, and it
worthless"
"Yes"
"And you have shred of backward thought for it
because it false and shallow, and cruel"
"Yes, and cruel" he repeated He thought of the
dark strife he had waged to purpose, how the
judges had judged him from the dust of battle how
he had been banished a loser while still standing
firm; how Reggie Detray had been the messenger Of
that defeat; how because he was not one of the
demigods he must go back the way he had come 1t
was cruel Let him take his prize and be gone
THE MENTAL RESERVATION
A tiny thought wisp obtruded, whirling through
the undamned surge in his heart through the sweep
ing demand for love and comfort and compensation
and healing. 1t would be the surrender; it would
be the final striking of the pennion he had held aloft
Even though the others might think him beaten
there remained his own knowledge that he was
And to surrender now would be to justify
Wait There was more behind. He had thrown
Disgusting glamour upon the situation But he knew
even in that mad moment that the one whole spot
in his ragged remnant of self-respect was the fact
that this was good fight and he had not vet lost it.
He held the wisp fast and caught another The
reason for his desperate attack upon Detray had
been because that remnant was more than dear to
hint was essential Again, he caught another
II he had lost that remnant he would become lust
the low, cheap, despcable adventurer he had always
held himself above-the who stole because he
was not wise enough to be honest
An effort, and he had his wisps pieced together
INTO very tar semblance of tangible issue
His arms lost their tense clasp. Before he knew
It he had rlsen from hIs knees and was walking the
floor Nerveess, almost blinded, the haggard warrior
picked up his fallen weapon. raised his banner and
made ready for renewal of the combat, still un-
conquered