The Mena weekly star., 1910-07-21
CHAPTER XIV.
Past and Preseot

Fast and Present.
 How long do you think it will be before they will be here?- asked the man, after they had sat silent on the hiil to windward of the fire watching the trail of smoke.
 T should think that it would be per. haps an hour or little more. WhyT' she returned. after a moment pause Are you anxious to have them here 9-
 For the life of her she could not keep the bitterness out of her oues. ton. The man looked at her in sur. prise. She had never lost her temper oofore him in the years they had been together. There had been something singularly simple, free and unre. strained in their life. Nothing had ever occurred to vex her. at least not after the man had known enough to notice 1t She was a woman of sunny, even temper under any circumstances, and she had felt it incumbent upon her to be as nearly perfect as possible, since she represented humanity to him, nor had 1t been a difficult task for her to be gentle. This flash of re. sentiment, therefore. struck him as something entirely novel. in his amazement for moment he forgot the injustice of 1t, the unkindness of 1t He looked at her strangely and said to her. with a little touch of SC. verity:
 You know tha. T is not that, Woman
 He had no terms of endearment. He had never heard the words that lovers use. and although he knew that her name was Katharine, and he be. lieved that his was John, and though sometimes they made use of these names. generally they called each oth. CT by the broad generic terms which stood for sex. Names are only for differentiation and Identification in any event, and here was no need for such appellation. She loved to call him Man" and she loved to hear him call her Woman '
 You know" he said. that 'tis not l who brought the world upon us"
 T was unjust, unkind," she an. swered quickly enough, stretching out her hand to him. You must forgive me. You see even the approach oi yonder ship brings bitterness into ous hearts and into our speech"
 T guessed that 1t would be so when I saw you weep" said the man. q wish now that had not given you the flint and steel; that had not allowed you Go light the beacon"
 My friend. it had to be. Don't TO proach yourself for that Sooner or later this island would have been wis. ited by some one. Sooner or later the ship would have come to fetch us of"
 But we were so happy here." he protested.
 Yes" she answered. but not since yesterday"
 Are you unhappy because love your"
 Because" she made swift to reply. T am no longer sure that you will love me always"
 But you love me. do you not7" he questioned, eagerly.
 "Yes."
 Are yeG s;Fe os yourself fS''
 -Absolutely"
 "Why not of me. then? Am less true? Do love less than your"
 Not pow-
 What is the difference between us. then7'
 q have seen the world and you have not"
 But tell you that will make no difference: that"
 No man can say that who has no experience to draw upon"
 You are my mentor" said the man. gently. You have taught me all l know. but sometimes think that about some things I know more than you, and this Is one thing of which l am sure"
 Yes said the woman. you can be sure so long as conditions remain as they are at present. but other times. other manners"
 You have something to tell me?" interposed the other. swiftly.
 The woman nodded.
 You said yesterday you would tell me today Why not tell me nowf"
 "Because-"
 She hesitated.
 4f
 Yes she said.
 Afraid of what?"
 "Of losing you"
 "Banish that fear"
 But tis not that that keeps me silent"
 What then?"
 .I would have the worlds comment on what l say when I say it."
 "The worlds commentl What Is the worlds comment to me7"
 "A test, trial of your feelingsl If it breaks my heart. you must know
 If you feel that way about It. said the man resolutely, you need tell me nothing at all"
 It was a brave thing to say, for her mysterious words filled him with du- biety and dismay. He had no idea what it was that she could tell him. He had no experience by and through which to embody her vague hints into something real and tangible. He knew that he was terribly grieved. and but that he had no way to describe the main of jealousy, he would have said