The Mena weekly star., 1910-06-23

course between him and that woman except that she had been good to him--sometimes that is as much as the wisest recall of a mother-and that she had taught him and made him say always that prayer whose CO herency and meaning to her intense surprise she found herself imparting to I'm. And she could not make up her mind to take from him the reality of the only recollection that remained to him.
 Her new belief, as has been said, was both joy and sorrow to her Save for her experience in the ship she had been happier in her philosophy. She had suffered grievously through her trust in 1t and in man, but her con sciousness that she was fundamentally right in her beliefs had consoled her. Now to feel that she had been wrong; that she had thrown away under the leading of false light what she could never again-Ah, no Magdalene ever wept bitterer tears at the feet of Jesus than this woman in her hours of solitude over her mistaken past, her loss and shame.
 She had hours of solitude, too. Early in the life they lived, she had laid down certain regulations. He was in the formative period then and had unhesitatingly acquiesced in them. So far those regulations had neither been abrogated by her nor broken by him. A cave upon the farther side of the island had been found and that was his home. They breakfasted together at a certain hour, which he told by means of the sun and she by her faithful watch. The morning was spent in study. In the afternoon they sep arated. each passing 1t in accordance with individual preference, but he vigorously kept to his side and she to her side of the island during the period. Certain dividing lines clearly established and understood marked which was his and which was hers At supper time they met again and passed the time together in conyersa- ton until the rest period arrived. Things had to be this way else life would have been uncomfortable. They lived on the natural products of the island which were varied and suffi- ciently abundant to fulfill all dietetic requirements.
 She had also taught him things not learned from books. Among them, truth. honor. duty and dignity-all the virtues. Her instruction had been first, that which was natural-ethical merely, but afterward it had grown spiritual. Unspotted from the world he, and she washed white she hoped and prayed in spite of spots, they lived a life of idyllic innocence. Yet be- cause he was man and she was woman. strange fires glowed beneath the outward calm, strange Ideas and desires and thoughts rose from both hearts. This was inevitable. Her original relation to the man had been one of so great superiority as to be fatal to the early development of any feeling but the maternal Even now she possessed the superiority which association with her kind. her longer training and her greater opportunities had given her. And yet she could only recognize that to the impartial view considering his abilities and oppor- tunities he stood quite on level with her Perhaps had he enjoyed her chances he might have stood higher.
 She began to idealize him, to dream about him, to wonder. She trembled on the verge of passion. She knew his 'o hs brilliant mind. She divined 5 is .o bc a knightly soul. Physically, in face and figure. no more splendid man, untrammeled by base convention, ever stood upon the earth's surface. Grace and strength mingled in har- mony that was as striking as 1t was full of charm She had no opportuni- ty to test his courage for no physical danger ever meraced them. But she believed in his manhood thoroughly.
 The woman had had bitter expert ence with love. Following what she believed to be the highest inspiration she had wrecked her life and brought herself to this pass. The revolt In her soul at the thought of the man who had so degraded her, or who had so taken advantage of her ignorance and innocence-the more complete since they were covered by a conf dence of knowledge and sophistication as to allow her to degrade herself, convinced her that what she had mis- taken for divine light was only false Are. an ignis fatuus which had led her into the marsh and slough of slime and shame. She loathed the thought of that man. She had loathed, when she had been thrown upon that island, | the thought of all men. This one l had given back her confidence in her kind. Yet sometimes she wondered whether that confidence were war ranted or not because of him. Sup nose he should come fin touch with the world, what would happenf Was he. too capable of breaking a wo- mans heart? Would he do itY was hers the heart? What would the soil ,ng touch of the sordid conditions un- der which life was lived, as she had known it. do for him? Would he still he ;;nspotted? Would he think her the same? She had taught him many things. But how should he learn to fight temptations. temptations with which he had no experience. which naver came to him, she fondly | araamed