, 1911-06-29
to hope for or not

to nope for or not
Much OF the time Philip was deliri-
GUS; sometimes violently so. and yet
she often had to leave him. When she
did so. 1t was with no certainty at all
that she would find him alive upon her
return.
AT last the conviction vas forced
upon her that Philip vas actually on
the roa to recovery. His delirium be-
came less violent and occurred at long
er intervals. The frightful condition
Of his wounds began visibly to I'm
prove. Instinctively she resisted this
conviction as long as b could. refus.
ing almost passionately to begin to
hope-for the return of hope brought
an almost intolerable pain with IT.
Without hope there had been no fear.
no apprehenslon-1ust as in q frozen
limb there is nc pain. But. as the pos
sibility OF his recovery became plain.
err. the slenderness of the thread by
which his life was hanging became
palmer. too. A thousand chances
which she could not guard against
might cut the thread N destroy the
hope newborn.
He vas able. at last, after q long
sleep and a really hearty meal of sus.
tanning food-which she hardly dared
give him-to get up and walk out of
their shelter to the star-vaulted beach.
Fifty PAGES or so was all he was equal
to; but at the end of the little prom
enade he expressed a disinclination to
go back to the stuffy little shed which
had been b scene of his long illness.
The clean. wide. boundless air was
bringing back the zest for life to
him. So Jeanne brought out from
the hut a great bundle Of furs and
made a nest OF them on the beach
and there ne lay back and she sa,
down beside him.
DO you remember, Jeanne" he
said. the first time we sat out like
this, there on the ice-hoe beside the
Aurora, and l told you how I had
learned to N.Y."
She locked her hand into his before
she answered.
81 couldn't believe that night that
wasn't dreaming" she said softly.
Nor l. either" he told her; and
somehow, l can't believe It now-no,
fully;-not this part OF It, anyway"
He had lifted the hand that was
locked into his and pressed It to hi,
lips before he spoke. There was 9
silence after that. Then. with q little
effort. the girl spoke.
Philip, do you remember my say
ing what a contempt you must have
for the world that didn't know how u
fly? Do you remember that, and the
answer you made to i'll"
He nodded.
Philip, is hat still therer You
contempt, l mean. for the worldr"
Il don't believe" he said, that yor
can sven ask that seriously-you. wht
gave me first my SOU back again ant
then, In these last weeks, my life
For It's been your life that has livet
in me these last days-they must be {
good many-just as It was you
! gave me back my soul. long ago" II,
paused a moment: then, when ne wen
OF his voice had a somewhat differen'
quality. But the other contempt
Jeanne. that still exists, or would OF
list If | gave 1t the chance. the world'i
contempt for me. Not even your faitl
could shake that"
She had been half-reclining besid,
him, but now she sat erect purposeful
ly, like one who has taken a resolu
tion.
I'm not SO sure OF that" she said
in a matter-of-fact tone, though thsr,
was an u~ndercurrent of excitement II
it. Philip, | have been trying t
solve q puzzle since you were I'll.
hoped l could solve 1t by myself.
/ were intelligent enough I'm sure
could; but I'll have to ask you to he'll
me. It's q string Of letters write
around a picture, in q locket."
"A locket OF yours7" he asked. SUI
prised.
Never mind about hat Just now.
She spoke hastily and the undercu.
rent of excitement was CROWN
stronger in her voice.
do o want me to try It nowf" b
asked re sf 81 "oo%naansSsa).h fh' an