Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-06-03

hlm-SOmetimeS that is as much as
the wisest recall of a mother-and
that she had taught him and made him
say always that prayer whose CO.
herency and meaning to her intense
surprise she found herself imparting
to him. And she could not make up
her mind to take from him the reality
of the only recollection that remained
to him.
Her new belief. as las been said,
was both Joy and sorrow to her. Saw
for her experience in the ship she had
been happier in her philosophy. She
had suffered grievously through her
trust in it and in man. but her con
seriousness that she was fundamentally
right in her beliefs had cOnsOled her.
Now to feel that she had been wrong;
that she had thrown away under the
leading Of a false light what she could
never again-Ah, no Magdalene ever
wept bitterer tears at the feet Of
Jesus than this woman in her hours
of solitude over her mistaken past,
her loss and shame.
She had hours of solitude, too. Early
in the life they lived, h had laid
down certain regulations. He was in
the formative period hen and had
unhesitattngly acquiesced in them. So
| far those regulations had neither been
abrogated by her nor broken by him.
A cave upon the farther side of the
island a been found and that was
his home. They breakfasted together
at a certain hour. which he told by
means of the sun and h by her
faithful watch. The morning was spent
in study. In the afternoon they sep
arated, each passing it in accordance
with individual preference, but he
vigorously kept to his side and she to
her side of the island during the
period. Certain dividing lines clearly
established and understood marked
which was his and which was hers.
j At supper time they met again and
passed the time together in cOnversa-
! ton until the rest period arrived.
Things had to be this way else life
would have been uncomfortable. They
lived on the natural products Of the
island which were varied and sufti-
GENTLY abundant to fulfill all dietetic
requirements.
She had also taught him things not
learned from books. Among them,
truth, honor, duty and dignity-all the
virtues. Her instruction had been
first, hat which was natural-ethical
merely, but afterward it had grown
spiritual. INSPECTED from the world
he, and she washed white she hoped
and prayed in spite of spots, they lived
a life of idyllic innocence. Yet be.
cause he was a man and h was a
woman, strange fires glowed beneath
the outward calm, strange ideas and
desires and thoughts rose from both
hearts. This was inevitable. Her
, original relation to the man had beer
n of so great superiority a. to be
fatal to the early development of any
feeling but the maternal. Even now
she possessed the superiority which
association with her kind, her longer
training and her greater opportunities
had given her. And yet she could only
recognize that to the impartial view
considering his abilities and oppor-
tunities he stood quite on a level with
her. Perhaps had he enjoyed her
chances he might have stood higher.
She began to idealize him, to dream
about him, to wonder. She trembled
on the verge of passion. She knew his
to be a brilliant mind. She OWNED
his to be a knightly soul. Physically,
in face and figure, N more splendid
man, untrammeled by base convention,
ever stood upon the earth's surface
Grace and strength mingled in har
mony that was as striking as 1t was
full Of charm. She had no opportuni
ty to test his courage, for no physical
danger ever menaced them. But she
believed in his manhood thoroughly
The woman lac had bitter expert
! ence with love. Following what she
believed to be the highest inspiration
she had wrecked her life and brought
herself to this pass. The revOl in
her soul at the thought of the man
who had so degraded her. or who had
so taken advantage Of her Ignorance
and innOcence-the more complete
since they were covered by a conf.
dence of knowledge n sophistication
as to allow her to degrade herself
convinced her that what she had mis-
taken for divine light was only a false
fire, an ignis fatuus which had led her
into the marsh and slough of slime
and shame. She loathed the thought
of that man. She had loathed. when
she had been thrown upon that island,
the thought Of all men. This one
had given back her confidence in her
kind. Yet sometimes she wondered
whether that confidence were war
ranted or not because of him. Sup
pose he should come in touch with
the world, what would happen? Was
he, too, capable of breaking q wo-
mans heart? Would he do it? Vas
hers the heart? What would the soil
ing touch of the sordid conditions un-
der which life was lived, as she had
known it. DE- for him? Would he still