The Southern herald., 1910-07-29
CHAPTER XI.-continued.


II they all stood here by me on the
sand, II all their excellencies and vir-
tues were centered upon one and she
stood by you on the sand, my heart
would turn to Tou. 1t isn't because
you are beautiful. You are beautiful,
are you not?"
Poor man, he had no standards Of
comparison, only the instinct for the
lovely.
Men said So" she answered, smil-
ing at him and blushing in confusion,
''Men!" he cried. What men?"
Il will tell you tomorrow"
She sighed deeply at the thought Of
the revelation.
"Well then" he continued. 1T isn't
because you are beautiful or because
you are wise, or because you are
learned, or because you are kind 1t is
because you are you that l love you"
"And II we're none of these
things?"
II would love you Just the same"
"But 1 am not what you think me in
some ways"
II could never think highly enough
Of you. l know that"
mo, no. 1t isn't that When l tell
1ou--"
She stopped and looked at him pa
ling. After all the greater test was
10 come then. ITO err" she remem-
bsred the ancient Latin proverb, was
human; to forgive divine" Would he
be human or divine in this trial? Had
ahe 30 trained him that he could for
give the unforgiveable? In more ways
than one her happiness depended
upon what would be his course. II
he forgave her and condoned her
fault their love could have free
course If ever opportunity for beni
son upon 1t presented. But If he
followed the common course of men
not only would any future union be
tween them on the only terms to
which she could consent be impos
sible, but Ae would kill her heart hel
trust IN nan--sometimes, she wildly
believed, her trust in God.
Nothing, nothing" he repeated
shat you could tell me would make
any difference"
So lovers have protested, she re
called, since time and the world be
gan. And yet things told have made
atfferences. What would 1t do for theil
future, this revelation of the morrow
And again she realized that the test
II shs herself were compelled to maxi
It would not be exactly fair, for sht
would be at once prosecuting attor
ney, advocate for the defense, evel
IN some phase the passer Of judgment
she would be the criminal and tn
world to him. 1t would hardly b.
possible for him to arrive at correc
view and come to a determination un
biased and free. II she could hav
transported him by some magic pow
or among tho children Of men, an
with them for auditory have told he
story, the test would be true one
What he would do then after havin
heard the worlds voices, the world
appeals, the worlds mockeries, woul
truly determine what he was, and 1
no other way could that determine
tIon be arrived at Though she strov
TO be as impartial as divinity, sh
could not but make her defense coli
eident with her revelation her justif
cation at the same time with her col
demnation. He knew nothing of lif
but what she and instinct had taugt
him, and neither would be safe guide
In this emergency He could protei
and she could believe his protests, BIT
unless they were uttered not mereI
before high heaven but before su
rounding men, they would be of littl
value.
She put this by resolutely at las
We are the creatures of circumstanC
and environment She would have I
do the best that she could on th
morrow Meanwhile she would, as sh
had said, enjoy the day. And so th
morning hours wore away until th
time came for the customary partin
At first she would have abandoned,
the luxury of the new passion, or tt
new revelation Of the old passion, th
customary rule, but she still preserve
some lingering remains Of her comnho
sense and she clearly perceived tn;
4 was necessary to 60 on as the
bad. Society cannot proceed withoi
Ns conventions and these simple reg