The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-17

itude to my benefactress. Yes, and
when l see her l will tell her so.
But tell me, why did she build
this placer"
Il know of nothing except what
the world knows. She was anxious
to befrierh those whom such
place as this would help, so she
built it. She also keeps the house
at Vale Linden open; that is, she in
vites all sorts of people there as
her guests She has been Lady
Bountiful to the district"
Distributes tracts, and all that"
Il do not know. She has never
given me one"
"she is simply one Of these 'yidwy'
women, them"
''She must have views, certainly,
else she would not have done what
she has"
Signor Ricordo laughed quietly
Il think | see" he said presently
What do you see?'
Her motives
What are they them" asked Bri-
arfield, almost angrily.
"Notoricty- and, shall we say, po.
sition?"
Are you not Judging without suf-
ficient reason" asked Herbert Bri.
arfield warmly. you have never
seen Miss Castlemaine"
Il am no longer a boy" said the
other, with a sigh,
What might that mean?"
That | have seen women-in Par
is, in Berlin, In Vienna. in Damas-
Gus, Constantinople. Cairo, Bagdad,
Calcutta. Yes, have seen them
women of all tongues, all nationali-
ties. And everywhere they are the
same"
Well, and what is the sum total
of your eXperience?'
Il would rather not tell you"
Why? 1t is always well to know
the truth"
''Mr Hriarfield, if there is one
thing | am afraid of, it is the
truth. For many years | have made
it my business to keep my eyes
from beholding the truth: reverthe-
less, it always keeps thrusting itself
upon me-always. That is why I am
a sad man"
Perhaps you have only seen one
side of life"
Again a look suggesting pain shot
across the strangers face. but he
still spoke quietly
"Mr Briarfield" he said. 81 have
even read the book which TO the
English people is textbook of
religion. | fancy am somewhat
of an exception, but I have. Well,
the part of that book which inter
ests me most is the Book of Eccle
siastes. Perhaps that is because the
experience of its writer is my own
experience. In all essential features.
Solomon, or whoever was the auth
or wrote my experience. / have tried
everything, Mr.. Briarfield."
And your conclusion?"
''Solomons."
IF that were my creed" said
Briarfielf 81 should commit sui.
eide"
"Of course, | have thought of thar
without fear. But | came to the
conclusion that it wasn't worth
while. For in that sleep of death
what dreams may come. Ay, there's
the rub. Besides, I've something to
live for
According to your creed | do not
see what said Brarfield 1T would
be interesting to know"
"Ah, but have something to live
for, Mr.. Briarfield,"
Il suppose | might be intruding
on your privacy if sought TO
know what it was?"
IT'S not love. and it's not money?"
said Ricordo. "Ah, Herr Trubner.
apologize. have monopolized your
guest completely, and that is unfor
giyable. You have great gift. nv
friend-all the Germans have-and
it makes them great people"
What gift is that. signore?"
The gift of listening"
After this the conversation drifte
into general subjects. and little
later Herbert Briarfield took his
leave
'The man interests me. fascinate,
me. and yet ! do not like him" he
said to himself as he rode home.
ward Il wonder who and what he
is? But for that peculiar far.away
sound in his yoica ha ,,,,1,.. IL.