The Irish standard., 1910-01-08


what they object to-" he added-"my
friends"
do they?' ,,
"Everyone-unless it's you"
"No-1 don't object"
The poet turned to him eagerly.
"You have seen herr"
'The other night-at the play"
| "She is glorious!" His eyes ques-
J toned behring's face. 81.
Perhaps. She reminded me of
someone-"
II know-George sand?"
! Eyes" 5..
"She is like her"
| "Yes." e. go.
There was long silence between
them. The breeze from the lake had
freshened. Little ripples scudded in
the moonlight. Faint clouds drifted
above them.
n should not mind being Chopin"
said the poet His eyes were on the
lake. -
mo"
"He had his life. His heart waa
freed"
!! "Yes-and broke"
"4 know. I can't say it-yet, But
somehow I feel it.. He had all that
life could give-even death-becsuse
of love-"
"And because he held it," said Der.
ring.
The other started. "You advise
me-"
Derring shook his head, smiling.
Don't put it on me. You know-bet.
ter than can. only know that
without loye there is nothing. 1t is
what life acknowledgement or
small. Out Of the heart Of it we came
and to 1t we shall return. The heart
must love If it would live. If a man
turns from 1t, puts it away, is afraid
OF 1t-loses it" He stopped sudden
ly. A picture Of the wood-road
flashed before him and Seth Olney' 8
bent figure, short and stolid. That
was what had happened to Seth. He
had shut his heart. He ceased to
live. g.. s
In few words Derring sketched the
story Of Seth's life. That's what I
mean," he said. "He let love CO. His
life shriveled"
The poets eyes glowed. II shall
hold it," he said, quietly, "and If she
fails me-"
"You will still have love-"
Eyes"
"You will love some one-some
thing"
Like shelley?" The poet stole a
smile at him, half-humorous.
Like Shelley, if you WILL" said
Derring, "or like Dante. The true sip
and the tickle drink at the same
spring. All that is good in Shelley
came from his hckleness. 1t is the
soul that is dissolved-freed by love
that makes glad the world. When
love goes, the soul grows hard, com.
pact-useless-except to fight with"
Except to fight with?" said the
poet. II am no fighter"
They had turned again and were
walking to the north. Clouds oh.
secured the moon. The dusk was faint.
ly luminous. Far up the distant road
pair of crimson eyes glowed through
it, from an approaching vehicle.
With one accord they turned to
watch the lake. "A summer storm
was gathering. Lightning played here
and there, in open flashes, on the dark
water. Deep mutters of thunder fol.
lowed It challengingly. The wind had
lulled. A silence held the air, nutter.
ing with light. Upon it, in the dis.
lance, sounded the faint "purr Of the
crimson-eyed vehicle. It resolved it.
self into the puhing approach of an
automobile. For moment the moon
strove to reassert itself. A silver
simmer came in the darkness. The
striking Of the clock doomed through
it. They counted the strokes.
"Ten O'clock" said DerrinE. "They
will be waiting for US"
Gust minute" pleaded the poet.
The hush of darkness gathered It.
self. Through it sounded swift. whir.
ring puffs of the automobile-louder
and nearer-with hurrying, changing
bell.
Derring glanced over his shoulder.
They were racing with the storm.
Then he saw. The thing was past con.
trol-rushing upon them madly. II
had left the roadway. It whirred
swiftly. The face of the chauffeur
glared, fixed and white. With swift
turn Of his arm Derring seized the
poet. He thrust him-straight across
the path Of the thing-out of danger
He lay, face down, his arms still out
spread to save his friend.
The rain fell In torrents when they
lifted him. 1t fell on his upturned
face and relaxed hands. The face
beneath the rain. was strangely
sweet, as II . hand Of love had
touched 1t.
THE END.