Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-05

SnOulu put ner theories IN practice,
after some hesitation she had acceded
to his proposition. It was species Of
self-immolatioD not far from heroism
that made her consent. Indeed, she did
not realize how heroic it was. With,
no other ceremony than clasp of the
hand and an unspoken, wordless
promise of trust. devotion, single.
hearted alliance, publicly and before
Cod and man, without thought for
the one and with no full realization
Of the thoughts of the other-at least
on her part-they had gone away to-
gether, hand in hand; he and she to-
gether, IN love like any other pair
since Eve mated with Adam in the
dawn of the worlds first morning.
Yet there has never been an Eden
of which man has known without Its
serpent. Nm the cabin of that gorgeous
yacht, Sathanas reared his head. The
first week or SO of the adventure had
been filled with idyllic happiness, hap
piness SO great that 1t was strong
enough to quiet certain low, still, small
voices of conscience which the woman
rightly ascribed to strange atavism
Of ancient prejudice to which her phil
osophys was as yet unequal.
However, such conditions did not
long persist. Her disciple was in.
lined, presently she found to her sor-
row, to take somewhat lower view
IF the situation than suited her own
high-souled views. The ardor Of her
aevotee cooled as his passion In
creased. Shut up In the narrow con-
fines Of a ship-great and splendid
hough this yacht was beyond imagina-
sion-little characteristics heretofore
tnsuspected developed In the mere
man. The course of true love was not
so smooth as the summer seas over
which they sailed. The air in which
they lived was rufHed by flurries in
which experience would have found
presage for coming deeper storm. The
image that had feet of clay sought for
similar earthly alloy in the companion
image which was made Of pure gold
all through, and finding 1t not, re-
sented 1t desperately. The convert
having gained his desire, weakened in
his principles. There was no relaxa-
ton in his devotion, in his tenderness,
in anything outward and visible, but
the high philosophy which had made
the joint effort almost self.sacrifice
of demonstration was slowly vanish.
ing from one heart while the other
chung the more tsnaciously to 1t.
1t was the old, old story. In little
the catspaw developer into the TEN.
pest. When 1t appeared 1t came with
surprising swiftness. The woman
found that in neither abstract thought
nor mental speculation was there any
protection for her. There might be
no God in heaven, but there was a con.
science in her breast. Finally she
broke away from the man so far as
she could do SO when they were both
in the same ship of which he was lord
and master. She would have nothing
more to do with him save that which
common decency and the bare civil
ties of life demanded of her. Denied
the privileges upon which he had
counted, the man grew savage and
lishowed the cloven foot. The disagree
ment became quarrel. The quarrel
| ran through several phases. Ashamed
of himself he had recanted at first
Then he had sworn again allegiance
to the specious philosophy which she
now realized he had only protested
consciously or unconsciously, that he
might possess her. But she was not
deceived. There was no truth In his
words; his asseverations carried nc
conviction to her soul. Again he
stormed and ragged; once more he
apologized and appealed, but the
periods Of calm grew shorter and the
periods of storm grew longer and more
| vehement. The woman lalone war
steadfast. She was Overwhelmed with
shame, the horror Of the situation was
rising upon her.
She began to realize how helpless
she was. Under the inspiration of 9
belief, which was as honest as 1t was
| mistaken, she had put herself in the
/ power Of this man. Even If she were
ashore, there would be no one to
whom she could appeal, and here OF
the ship she was helpless. Lingering
remains of better things had Kept him
FROM the last resort of the tyrant-
force!-but how long these would BIZ
operative in restraint she could no
tell. She fancied not for long. Wha1
should she do then?
She saw the end coming when in hi.
anger he resorted to drink, to drinl
which exploded the last vestige of his
philosophy, however he had professet
1t. She was frightened beyond meas
ure when she realized the depths tt
which he had sunk and to which, ii
spite of herself, he had dragged her
I What further descent was before her
She did not even yet abandon tina
philosophy which had served her 81
Ill. She chung to that with the NOR,
tenacious pride because of its yer.
weakness. but she loathed mankind
On that yacht he summed up for he
the whole human race, and she hatet
him and it. To what sorry pass had ,
few weeks practical experience re
duced her!
| She had begged and pleaded witt
him to alter the yachts course, blu
he had sworn he would go farthe
south into those unknown seas an,
4 keep her there until she. crawled t,
his feet. So the long hours dragge,
on. The inevitable rupture drew
nearer. At last 1t came In It's detail
i 1t was horrible, but there was in
a great relief after all.
CHAPTER VII.
i The Joy of Freedom.
| One night at dinner she had fle,
from him. He had been drinking NOR
heavily than usual and was in an ugl,
mood His. handsome face was flushed