Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

the Lilliputs of men labOriously constructed?
Away with them all! There was but one
Law, "They twain shall be as one flesh!"
All, but-there was one other! What of
that God created thing called Conscience?
Across the insane raptures of possible pos
lead to that inevitable moment when he
could no longer stand upright and unashamed
| before his Inner Self. When that Self should
see him sunk in the mire, his soul Sinking in
| dark places, afraid to face its own tribunal!
| What love, though it scared high as Heaven,
could compensate for that terrible day when
before the judgment bar of his own con-
science, he should utterly loathe-Himself?
| For one delirious moment his whole being
had rocked to the bliss of its possibilities;
but Love was not enough! In every sane
and healthy fiber of his being the truth
swept over him, that Love was not greater
than his soul, nor stronger than his self re-
spect. With all the strength of his manhood
he grasped the terrific temptation that had
well nigh overmastered him, and with the
iron of an indomtable will he nailed it to the
Cross, though his whole racked and bleed
ing heart was crucified with it.
Without looking at the woman, he put the
vial he held in the medicine case and closed
the lid.
A VIBRANT cry struck across the still
ness, cry of many meanings. He
turned at the sound. MAZDA had fallen on
her knees; but her attitude was not of
abasement. Her whole face was as one
glorifed. "Thank God!" she cried. ooh,
thank Cod" The tears were running down
her face; but her eyes were shining. "For-
give mel she cried. ooh, Stephen, it was
an awful thing to do; but | had to know!
He,' with a shudder toward the bed, al
had believed in him, once. | could not
trust even the greatest of men-you-with-
out a test. Oh, you will forgive me! dared
not trust again without
| Only partly comprehending, he looked
down at her. Her eyes were pleading as
childs; but the woman of her glowed radi-
ant. "Oh," she cried, II am SO proud of
you! With all my soul l can trust you-for-
ever! Oh, if you had failed me, if you had
loved me more than that greatness l adore
| in you, think should have died!"
| She was trembling all over. He raised
her gently. Holding her so, he looked down
into her face. at is who should ask for
giveness,' he said. ooh, my queen among
women, for one terrible moment my world
turned to dust and ashes because thought
| you meant it."
| "You had to think that" she said simply,
and would have moved away; but he still
held her.
MAZDA" he spoke gravely, eve are great
enough for truth. You said you loved me.
Was that but part of the test also?"
She looked at him fairly. II said that
could trust you with my SOUL" she said. II
love you above all men! l adore and rever-
ence you next to God!"
| Once again those wonderful lights flashed
up in his eyes. For one moment they stood,
merged utterly; then he released her. He
had not kissed her; but his whole mighty
love had enwrapped her in an all enveloping
caress, which henceforth she should never
miss throughout her life
go now, heart of mine," he said. ITO
morrow" he turned to the bed.
Tomorrow" Her eyes questioned him.
| 1t was the physician that answered. Il
will take him to sanatorium. He will hnger
for months, possibly year, hardly more.
| His heart is very uncertain.
InN the morrow she stood and watched
~ him drive away. The huddled figure
beside him was sunk in apathy. At the bend
in the road he turned and looked back, and
| she felt the caress in the long, long look.
Old Nam stood just behind her, watching