Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-06-09
The Man Who Failed
By VIRGINIA BLAIR
Copyright, 1870, By Associated Literary Press

in the great library. A fire burned on
the hearth. Beside It basked a moon
eyed Persian cat Everywhere there
was the evidence OF luxury. The
thought of Margaret driven to econo-
mize stabbed him. She was born for
power, for position. He would not
take them from her.
Even as he thought Of her she came
toward him swiftly, a little graceful
figure in her clinging gown of dull
| blue.
'As If you could get rid Of me-" she
said, and lifted her face for his kiss.
Don't" he said hoarsely.
She turned very white. DO you
mean" she said slowly, that you are
going to let little thing like losing
your money stand between us?"
ut is not little thing"
"Ob," she flung out her hands. DO
you think am made only for ease, for
softness? Do you think that am
woman who can't work by your side
who wouldn't be glad to show you how
1 can help?"
But you don't know" he told her.
what it means. If take you into my
life the world must know that have
failed. But could not let you suffer-"
"Oh," her eyes blazed. 1T is your
pride, not your love for me, that
stands between u.s."
mo" he said, ut is not that; but
have failed, Margaret"
She saw the pain in his eyes, the
working of his strong features, and
! she gave a little cry. Let me help,
dear heart; let me help"
For just one moment he gathered
her into his arms.
Then he said: There is no other
way, dearest I must win the money
back, and I can't ask you to spend all
your youth in waiting"
why SHOULDN'T 1 waltz" she asked
quickly. There never will be any
other man, Philip"
He looked at her. II am a man who
has failed" he repeated bitterly.
She swayed toward him a little. DO
you call 1t failure" she demanded,
simply because you have lost little
money? If you had failed to answer
the call Of those who suffer; If you
had neglected the boy with the broken
leg or the baby who is going blind
that would have been failure. If you
| had refused to go where there was
contagion-that would have been fail
ure."
He looked at her in amazement-
| Was this the gentle, little girl whom
he had loved with a half-Indulgent
love-this wonder-woman with the In
spired bearing?
Margaret" he whispered, and his
voice wavered.
Your life and NINE" she went on,
must be dedicated to those who need
us. The poor need you more than the
rich. Then let us go to them-we
will live quietly in a downtown dis
trict. You shall grow old in service,
and I will shine in your reflected
light"
Dreams" he murmured She came
and knelt beside him. Aren't they
dreams worth making true?" she said.
There would be love and service in
our home, and that would be success"
She was in his arms now. Dear
est" he said.
After that there wasn't much TO
say. But, when a little later he left
her, Margaret knew she had won.
The next morning he said to Dun
ham: Il shall marry Margaret. May
be we are a pair of fools, but we are
going to try living for humanity
shall practise among the poor"
Durham stared, then dropped his
hands on the others shoulders. old
fellow" he said, and his voice deep
ened and broke, "old fellow, last night
you said you were a man who had
failed, but we would all court failure
for a future like that-of love and
service and happiness with Margaret
| Dare"