Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-24

Of the strong with an agony worse thai
DEATH It brushes the weak. or drives
them mad. and often brings them. fragile
wisps OF human semblance, into the Grim
inal dock. Shame disgrace, SOCIAL parfsah'
dom: unutterable pain to dear ones: an
ever-gaping wound In fierce family pride;
a stain on two generations; an incurahle
malady of q once blithe spirit; woe, dis
aster and ruin-such is the punishment
awarded by men and women TO her VINO
equal lack of volition. obeys the Law
physiological. The latter is generally con-
sidered the greater crime.
These things passed through Septimus
mind. His ignorance Of the ways OF what
is, after all. an Indifferent, seif-centered
world exaggerated them.
You know what It means?" he said
tonelessly
III didn't should I be here?"
He made one last effort to persuade hei
ture abhorred deceit. to say nothing OF
the high treason he was committing:
rudiment Of common sense also told him
that Fora was Emmys natural heipei
and protector. But Emmy had the OBJ
stinacy Of a weak nature She would die
rather than Fora should know. Zora
would never understand. would never for
give her. The disgrace would kill hel
mother.
III you love Fora, as you say you do
Emmy. finally.
So Septimus was convinced. But once
more, what was to be done?
You had better go away. my poor Sep
timus." she said, bending forward listless
~. her hands in her lap You see you r. :
different sort of man--like any one else
one who could have helped mel shouldnt
have told you anything about it. I'll senc
for my old dresser at the theater.
must have woman, you see. So you ha6
better go away"
Septimus walked up and down the room
deep in thought. A spinster-looking lady
In a cheap blouse and skirt, an inmate Of
the caravanserai, put her head through
the door and. with disappearing sniff,
at the occupants, retired. At length Sep
timus broke the silence:
You said last night that you believed
God sent me to you. / believe so, too
So I'm not going to leave YOU
But what can you do?" asked Emmy
ending the sentence on q hysterical note
which brought tears and a fit of sobbing
She buried her head In her arms on the
sofa-end. and her young shoulders shooi
convulsively. She was an odd mixture Of
bravado and baby helplessness. To leave
her to fight her terrible battle with the
aid only of a theater dresser was an i'm
possibility. Septimus looked at her with
mournful eyes. hating his futility. o.
what use was ne to any God-created be-
ing AnOtner man. StfOnS ana cap6Die
any vital, deep-chested fellow that was
passing along Southampton row at thai
moment, would have known how to take
her cares on his broad shoulders and or
dain. with kind fmperiousness, a course
of action. But he-he could only clutch
his fingers nervousiy and snufne with his
feet, which Of itself must irritate wom
an with nerves on edge. He could dc
nothing. He could suggest nothing save
that he should follow her about like q
He walked to the window and looked Out
into the unexhilarating street. all tina
was man in him in revolt against his in
eRectuality.
Suddenly came the fash Of inspiration
swift. illuminating, such as happened
sometimes when the idea of a world-up
setting invention burst upon him with be
wildering clearness: but this time more
radiant, more intense than he had eve
known before: it was almost an ecstasy
He passed both hands feverishly through
his hair till it could stand no higher.
II have it!' he cried; and Archimede!
could not have uttered his famous wore
with a greater thrill.
Emmy. have it,
He stood before her gibbering with in
SEPARATION. At his cry she raised q tear
stained face and regarded him amazedIy
You have what?'' e@
1.-The solution. 1t is so simple SO easy
Why shouldn't we have run away to-
gether?"
1--WE did said Emmy.
But really-to get married"
''Married?'
(To be continued tomorrow