The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-08-26

for touch. he gave, but the Initiative
was hers not his. lie was putting a
constraint Of steel upon himself. She
saw that and was glad. II made her
bold. womsnlike she tried and tested
the blade that she had forged again
and again. growing daring In her Inn
munity. Drawer In hsr trust
They stood IN one part Of their van
dsrings before the door % what had
been her cave. Hand in hand they
looked down upon the heap OF rocks
that he had torn away. II was moth
ing 10 him: to her II was Incredible.
She could better estimate what human
strength was capable Of than he. She
had standards of comparison which be
lacked.
IT cannot be possible that you lifted
that boulder and that one, aloner" she
said, gazing at him wonderfully.
AT that moment. 10 release you,
could have torn the rock asunder." be
cried, throwing out his arms In a mag
nincent gesture OF strength and force.
She caught his hand with her own
and once more pressed her lips with
IN his palm.
Il don't know how to say how much
I love you" she cried.
Say that you will try TO care as
much for me as for you and will
be content" he answered.
And 30 there was a pretty rivalry
between them as 10 which loved the
more. In the midst OF the strife OF
tongues the woman spoke. She could
not keep away from the subject
you love me-" she said at last. BE
cause you think me more than I am,
because" she ran on In spite OF his
protesting gesture, checking his deny
ing word. because you have seen no
other woman, because"
Il will not hear another word" he
cried, finding voice at last and stop
ping her. Il know not woman or man
save as I know you and myself. save
\ as you have taught me by the women
OF whom you have read me In that
single book we have, the women Of
whom you have told me who have
played their parts In the world. All
OF them together are not like YOU"
That IL because I am alive and
here and they are dead and away"
"1f they all stood here by me on the
sand, n all their excellencies and vir.
tues were conferred upon one and she
stood by you on the sand. my heart
would turn to you. II 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 blushlng In confusion.
Mem" he cried what mem"
Il will tell you tomorrow"
She sighed deeply at the thought OF
the revelation.
We'll them be continued, 1T isn't
because you are beautiful. or because
you are wise. or because you are
learned. or because you are kind; II Is
because you are you that love you. "
And II we're none OF these
things7"
Il would love you just the same"
But l am not what you think me IN
some ways"
II could never think highly enough
OF you. know that"
mo. no. II isn't that When I tell
you"
She stopped and looked at him pa
ling After all the greater test was
20 come then. To err" she remem-
bered the ancient Latin proverb. was
human: to forgive divine" Would he
be human or divine In this trial! Had
abe so trained him that he could for
give the unforsiveable? 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 II ever opportunity for benz
son upon II presented. But II 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 he would kill her heart. her
trust In man-sometimes. she wildly
believed. her trust In God
Nothing. nothing" he repeated.
that you could tell me would make
any difference"
So lovers have protested. she re-
called. since time and the world be-
gan. Aud yet things told have made
differences. What would Il do for their
future, this revelation OF the morrow
And again she realised that the test.
II she herself were compelled to make
II. would not be exactly lair. Tor sine
would be az once prosecuting attor-
ney. advocate for the defense. even
In some phase the passer OF Judgment.
She would be the criminal and the
world to him. II would hardly be
possible for him to arrive az a correct
view and come TO n determination un.
biased aud free. II she could have
transported him by some magic pow
er among the children Of men, and