The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-09-16
7 am that unhappy woman
"Unhappyr'

Yea returned the other. T.
Madam" said the lieutenant com
msnder. Gushing deeply and bowling In
his turn. He had taken on HIS cap
at her nrst word. II beg your pardon.
I have heard something OF your story"
He was very much embarrassed. II
was Langford who took up the tale.
Since you know 30 much. Mr.. Whit
taker, you may az well hear the rest.
Indeed. am anxious that the world
should hear H. Miss Brenton and !,
ve-er--did not believe In marriage.
and we went away-together"
Every word was agony to Langford.
who was q proud man; II was worse
than agony TO Katharine Brenton, who
was a proud woman; and II was worst
agony OF all TO the man OF the L.
land. But Langford persisted. He did
not care how he hurt himself. Indeed.
he rather luxuriated in the conscious.
ness OF his own pain. II was part OF
his expiation. He realized that he
would have TO hurt Katharine. but per.
haps the very keenness OF her pain
would make her realize her position.
and he wanted to win her, now that
he had found her and seen her. more
than ever. Nor was his passion a
base one Again he was ashamed Of
what he had already said. so he spoke
the more frankly. He gave no thought
at all TO the other man. but II he had.
he would have been glad TO hurt him
until he killed him.
I'VE went on my yacht yonder three
years ago. lin short-I behaved
like a brute on II, will admit"
Il discovered that he was a mar.
ried man." said the woman swiftly at
this juncture. She. too. would be
frank This grave and middle-aged Of
ficer should hear all. "He had pro
fessed his belief in those views. which,
II you have read Fate and Destiny,
you realize that I entertained"
The officer bowed
And have you abandoned them
now" he asked.
Absolutely" was the firm answer.
Il am Christian woman. thank God!'
Thank God. say I, too" continued
Langford. Yet I was not altogether
a sham or a lie. II was true that
was a married man"
The lieutenant commander flashed a
contemptuous look at him at which
Langford WINGED, but he went on. He
was determined to make an absolute
ly clean breast OF the whole AFFAIR.
ut is true was a married man
but was under the spell OF Miss
Brentons eloquence and of her
beauty"
Il can well understand that" said
the officer, gravely. as a matter Of
course.
Il thought that marriage meant moth
= ing. and that the old tie might be dis
regarded. I hated the woman WHIT
bore my name. and so as Miss Bren
toms disciple. as her devotee, for
loved her. will admit" she smiled
I drearily, more than her philosophy,
E proposed that we should trample upor
the conventions she had taught me t
l. believe she despised. and go away to
gether."
: But you we're not free" said thu
. woman, TO enter upon such an under
taking"
NO. by heaven!" cried Whitaker
Now, this conversation had beef
carried on with three auditors. o
groups OF auditors. besides those par
! ticipatlng: Langford's yachtsmen. tn
marines and seamen from the Chey
snne, for the boat was against tn
d shore. and the man OF the island
y Whitaker FIRST awoke 70 the situa
G ton.
l. II beg your pardon" he said. blu
. would Il not be better to continue thi
conversation PRIVATELY"
y II think So" returned Langford.
NO" said the man OF the island
y addressing the lieutenant commando
for the first time. you and these me
are the world. I want the story toll
where all the world may hear"
. Whittaker's surprise at this remar
was scarcely less than he had exp'
: rienced when the woman addresse
- him. Who was this splendid. godlik
|. form OF man standing glooming by tn
- woman's side, a silent, eager listene
IN 10 All tuat TRANSPARENT Wuat heo a
n to do with the question that be n
!, sumed this tone and manner OF Al
), thority! The ofncer turned toward tn
- woman.
Il 81 think" said he quietly. that IN
n lady should be allowed to decide"
" MY wish is my friends WISH" sal
n. the woman laying her hand softl
d upon the mans arm.
Iy Whitaker observed that the ma
N shook Il on nervously. but the poir
II being settled. there was no further a.
u peal
In Pray proceed with your story. NJ
lie Langford," he continued.
C. mo, let me take up the tale" erie
e. the woman. believing that I wa
ID right. believing that the educatio
and training which had made N
Is what was were sound. believing thu
D this man was as free as to choo'