, 1910-01-20

to him profoundly. lie look ner In
his arms. He laid her head gently
upon his shoulder. There was protec-
ton and tenderness as well as pas
sion in his touch.
Together" he whispered. patting
her hair softly, "%alone, you and Il"
For one delicious moment with
closed eyes she let herself be so
soothed and comforted. But her bet
ter nature woke on the instant, as 1t
were.
No" she said, drawing ava from
him gently, at would not be right
We belong in the world OF men. Men
and women are lot men and women
until they have lived among their fell
lows. until they have fought down the
temptations of which we know moth
ing here, and have conquered them
out there. Give me the flint and steel.
/ must call back the ship!"
He stopped as she spoke and picked
up the little silver box. He extended
his hand toward her, ant then sud
denly drew 1t back.
you cannot light the beacon" he
said.
Sne CTleQ.
No. for l will not give you the flint
and steel"
you must give 1t to me-"
81 will not. 1 am the stronger, and
you ann take it from me" he re-
turned, with growing frmness.
1t was the first time in all their in
tercourse that he had d~isobeyed a
command. She looked at him amazed,
her heart, nevertheless throbbing at
the mastery in his tone. at the thought
that he was willing to throw away the
world for her. 1t is true he had had
no experience of that he was giving
up, but he was not entirely ignorant of
what lay beyond the horizon, and
she had presented it in such a
way that 1t glowed with color and life
and charm. The evil. the sordid and
the wretched had been lightly al
luded to, just definitely enough to
shade the picture and bring out the
higher lights of civilization. His was
not the decision, therefore, of an I'M
tutored, inexperienced savage, not the
abandonment of a toy by a child;
there was some reality in 1t and the
reality measured his affection. Her
heart leaped in her breast at that
thought. For one fieeting moment she
acquiesced. Things would go on in
the old way. But things could not go
on in the old way. For a day and a
night, in spite of the great change
that had come to their feelings, life
had flowed on as usual, but there was
a limit to human power. 1t was bet
ter, whatever betide, that they should
go back to civilization. The woman
stared at him long and earnestly, her
lip trembling, her face pale, her eyes
shining. They stood speechless at
gaze for a moment, and then she
spoke.
You are right" she said, my pow
ar over you has gone. | a no longer
command. Mine has ceased to be the
supreme will, but | beg you, / entrat
you, l pray you, give me the flint and
steel. See, on my knees l ask you'll"
She sank down before him in an at
titude which he knew to be that of
prayer. They had often read the
sacred Scriptures and had said their
prayers together on the sand or be-
meath the trees since she, too, in the
solitude had seen God and believed.
81 cannot, | will not" ne answered.,
hoarsely, stepping nearer to her.
No" she said, you must not touch
me, you shall not touch me. ] shall be
to you as a stranger, unless you take
light that beacon"
No" said the man, doggedly.
when the world touches our shores it
brings you unhappiness. Let 1t pass"
"Listen!" she said, 81 have tried to
tell you something about honor and
duty. My honor says that that ship
must be called. My duty bids me call
her. You said that you love me-"
Said" exclaimed the man.
You do love me, then" returned
the woman. land l you, but that love
must be tested, tried in the world. /
can never believe in 1t, in you, until
he trial has been made. We must
call back the ship!"
But l can believe in you without
any test"
81 am different. / have been out
there. I know what it is. / have
seen other men"
She looked fxedly at him. He bent
closer to her and laid his hand upon
her shoulder, not this time in caress.
She WINGED from the tightness of his
grasp, the fierce intensity of his
clutch, yet she did not draw away,
and he was not conscious of the force
he used.
"You have seen other men. They
have loved you?"
Yes" she forced herself to reply.
And you?"
81 have loved no man but you"
you had something to tell me. You
were to tell me today"
Yes"
Was 1t about some other manf"
Yes"
sNNhnt uao u ~