The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-15

Nan Bryerson. You know now what /
thought-what had to think-when
saw you with her this evening"
1t was slowly beating it's way into
his brain. Little things. atoms of sug
gestion, were separating themselves
from the mass of things disregarded to
cluster thickly on this nucleus of re-
vealment the old story of his com
panying with Nan on the mountain;
his uncle's and Japheth's accusation at
the time; and now the old moonshin-
ers enmity, Japheth's meaning look
and distrustful silence Mans appear
ance with child bearing his own
name, the chances askance in Hargis'
store when he was buying the little
stock OF necessaries for the poor out
cast 1t was all plain enough.
Tell me-" he said, thickly; you
heard this: you believed it. Have I
been misjudging you?"
Not more than 1 misjudged Won.
perhaps. But that is all over. now: I
am trusting you again, Tom ONLY. as
l said before. you mustn't try me too
hard"
Let me understand" he went on.
still in the same strained tone Know
ing this, or believing 1t, you could still
find a place in your heart for me-you
could still forgive me, Ardea?"
Il could still be your friend: yes"
she replied. Il believed-others believ-
ed-that your punishment would be
great enough; there are all the coming
years for you to be sorry in, Tom. Bat
In the fullness of time / meant to re-
mind you of your duty. The time has
come; you must play the mans mart
now. What have you done with herr"
Wait moment. 1 must know one
other thing" he insisted. You heard
this before you went to Europe?"
Long before"
And it didn't make any difference in
the way you felt toward me?"
1T did; II made the vastest differ
ence." They were pacing slowly IN
and down the portico, and she waited
until they had made the turn at The
Woodlawn end before she went on. r
| thought l knew you when we were how
and girl together. and. girl-lik.. I SUM-
pose 1 had idealized you in sorae WAYS
/ thought l knew your wickedness. and
| that they were not weaknesses: $3.50
l. was a miserable shock. But it was
not for me to judge you-only as Won
might rise or sink from that desperate
starting point. When I came home 7
| was sure that you had risen: / have
been sure OF 1t ever since until-until
| these few wretched hours to-nienr
They are past, and now I'm going TO
| be sure of ii some more, Tom"
What if 1 should tell you that Won
are mistaken"
Don't" she said, softly. THAT would
only be smashing what is left of the
ideal / think couldn't bear that"
And you've been calling this friend
| ship ATdea, girl, it's Iove."
Ardea shook her head slowly.
No." she rejoined, gravely. AT one
time I thought was afraid-that il
might be. But now 1 know it isn't"
How do you know it?"
Because love. as I think of II. "a
stronger than the traditions. stronger
than anything else in the world. And
the traditions are still with me. / ad-
NIT the existence of the social pale,
and as long as live within it have a
right to demand certain things OF the
man who marries me-"
And love doesn't demand anything"
he said. putting the remainder of the
thought into words for her. You are
right. If 1 could clear myself with
word, 1 should not say it."
''Why?"
Because your-loyalty, let us call II,
Is too precious to be exchanged for
anything else you could give me In
place of it-esteem, respect and all the
other ell-behaved and virtuous be-
stowals."
But the loyalty is based on the be-
lief that you are trying to earn the
well-behaved approvals." she contin-
ued.
mo, II isn't. 1t exists In spite OF
everything. and not because Of any
thing. The traditions may try to make
you stand 1t on the other leg. it's a
way they have; but the fact remains"
1.-The traditions are about to send
me into the house. and the principal
problem is yet untouched. What have
you done with Nancy?"
He told her briefly and exactly. add
ing nothing and emitting nothing; and
her word for 1t was impossible"
Don't you understand" she object
ed. 1T may choose to believe that this
home making for poor Nan and her
waif is merely a bit of tardy justice
on your part and honor you for it, But
nobody else will take that view of It
l. you keep her In that little cabin OF
yours. Mountain View avenue will have
a fit-and very properly"
Il don't see why 1t should" he pro-
tested, densely.
Don't you? That's because you s-1
still so hopelessly primevaL People
won't give you credit for the good mo-
tive. You must think of some other
way"
"Supposlng I say I don't care y
hanf?"
"Oh. but you do. You have yopr
father and mother and-and me to cen
slider. however reckless you may be tor
yourself and Nancy. You mustn't leave
her where she is for a single day."
II can leave her there If 1 like. I've
told her she may stay as long as she
wants to-"
NO." she said decisively, you will
have perfect hornets nest about your
ears. Every move you make will be
watched and commented on. Don't you
see that you are playing the part Of the
headstrong obstinate boy again?"
Yet you think 1 ought to provide
for Nan. in some way; how am I going
to do 1t unless 1 ignore the hornets7"
Now you are more reasonagle," she
| Sdiu, dpprOV1nBly. L Sudl rue To-
morrow morning. and II you should
happen to overtake me. we might think
up something"
The door was opening gently under
the pressure OF her hand. but he was
loath to go.
4 wouldn't take five added years Of
life for what I've learned tonight, Ar"
dea." he said. passionately. And then:
Have you fully made up your mind 10
marry Vincent Farley?"
In the twinkling of an eye she was
another woman-cold. unapproachable.
with pride kindlng as IL she had re-
ceived mortal affront.
And then he babe her good night and
went his way with a lifting song OF
triumph in his heart which not even
the chilling rebuff OF the leave taking
was sufficient to silence
She loves me, She would still lo
me If she were ten times Vincent Fa
ley's wife," he said, over and over L.