The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-07

She had said enough to bring him
face to face with the htdeous, IN.
famous fact that she still held him
blood-guilty. sttl1 honored and be.
lieved Biackstock. He struggled to
shake his wits together and think CO.
herently, but to little purpose. All
the world was mad and topSy-turvey
"a mad, mad world, wherein all truth
was false, faith was treachery, Jus
tee pa9odied. honor deep dishonor.
For little he felt that his reason
hung in the balance, lettering be-
tween Wild laughter and still wilder
tears. II man can be hystsr4cal,
Coast was near to s.
And Katherine. witness to his ex.
citensnt "a evidenced In The working
Of his features. bis shifting gaze, his
hands 90 tightly csnched that the
nails (she thought must be biting
deep Into his palms, saw presently
that be 10 longer listened 70 her.
She ceased 10 speak and waited,
hoping against hope for what she
deemed the best.
He was ESQ ran her thoughts, dis
tracted, like wild things Ia Q PANEL
rot reasonably to be held n strict ae-
count for his attitude toward her or
for his actions. In such men as be-
there must inevitably be something
lacking. something like an abiding
consciousness Of right and wrong, the
ability to distinguish between them:
that rudder Of the soul. In simple
charity she must accord him patience.
II her eyes told her he was moro
man than the Garrett Coast of old
land she saw him now in the fullest
flush Of health and vigor sun-bTowned,
weatherseascned, glowing with
strength and Vitality her mental
vision clothed him with an aura OF
abnormalftg Ike a shvoud, awful and
repellert. He figured in her sight q
murderer, man who could strike to
death an unarmed and defenceless
friend, for q tribe. Nothing might
ever aval to erase that fact from her
consciousness.
Unconsoiously she drew a pace or
two away. The action reused him.
lie lifted TO hers Ragged eyes set in
haggard face; and their look was
one of discernnent. She knew iu-
gtInctivsty that he OWNED her
thought that hs knew why she had
drawn away from him, And SO pitt.
fel he seemed that before she knew
1t her mood melted and knew only
compassion for him.
"Oh, Garrett" che cried iunpulsive.
~, II am so sorry!"
Visibly he took command Of him
self. Pm sure Of that" he satd slow.
lyi "and don't want to distress you,
My coming here was pure accident, els
I've said; and presently TIL 90 and i.
Blackstock need. never know rive
set foot On the islaud--since You wish
s."
'oh," she cried half sobhtng,
thank you-thank youl"
but first I want you to tell me one
thing"
"Yes-anything!" she promised
gratefully. Needless of his sober se-u-
tiny.
"Are you happy" he demanded
forthwith; oad held his breath, for on
her answer everything he PRICED de-
pended. Are you happy with HIM
Blackstone?"
It was like cold water In her face,
She gasped and drew herself up,
straight and slim. defiant. What
right have you TO ask me thatP"
None but that Of man who loved
you once, and who. though he may
not, loves you Etili-whatever you
may think him, Katherine"
She held her answer, quivering
with Indignation That he should
dare! Yet there were two things in
his attitude 10 calm her: an imPeF-
sonal note, puzzling, and @ simple dig
nifty that left little foCthold for re-
sentiment
AS for Coast, momentsrIly while
she did not reply, the issue hung In
the balance, whether he should speak
or no; whether ennghten her forth
with or leave her tweTe she happy In
her rarriage) In her FOOLS Paradise.
He felt himself q prey 70 disoordaut
impulses, pride and generosity coun-
selling him, each with q double
| tongue,
81 hold your happiness above al
else" he resumed as the pause length
ened-'.far above my own, Katherine,
That Is why I ask you: are you hap
py,"
at have no regrets" she todd him
steadily.
THAT doesn't answer me-"
Her eyes wavered beneath hiH
searching glance. She turned away
and stared OF into the vacancy Of the
fog.
"How Is one to tell7" she said pres
entity. isn't happiness difncult &c
dafueYs 4 thing Of comparative val
uesY, am content. that much
know. I have discovered something
in life higher than the qualification Of
seR: have learned that to serve
means more than to be gerved
I married tho man I loved; he needs
ne now, could hardly do without me
am a help TO him in his work; he
would probably be unable TO cozttnuE