Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-14

scarcely SO much. few months ago |
was no more than beggar in the bazaar,
IN idler and g. dreamer. If I have thrown
aside my false dreams and come out as
an untried worker into the light of truth,
1t is because ! have been led by Cod
through YOU
Every trace of color fled from her face,
and the clear eyes which met his from
beneath the broad helmet distended as
though at some sudden shock In the
course of their earnest but impersonal
conversation she had almost forgotten
what was TO come This was the end of
the ride, this was the tomorrow, the in
evitable tomorrow Of those who procras-
innate with the inevitable.
II have done nothing" she said, Striv-
ing to hush down the rising tide of suffo-
eating emotion.
Yes. it IS nothing. ! know 1t is moth
ing. but it may still become something, "
he answered. "Or is IT not already some
thing? Is it not something that you have
led me to the feet of the Great Teacher.
Is it not something that | am awake and
standing on the threshold of a new earth
and heaven, as yet blinded by the light
but with every day gaining courage and
strength to go forward? Do not say that
this is nothing-you to whom ] owe al
that | am and ever shall bel
She threw back her fair head. Now
was the time to call to her aid all hei
cynicism. all the shallow, heartless skepti-
cism which had hitherto ruled her char
acter. Now was the time to laugh and tC
throw into this mans face what she had
been glad and satisfied to throw into the
faces of a dozen other men-the biting
acid of her mockery. But she could not
laugh-she could not laugh at this man
Her tongue cleaved to the roof of hei
mouth, her throat seemed thick with 8
suffocating dust, so that she could make
no sound.
"God forgive me if l have boosted
of my own progress" he went on, ear
nestly. II know too well how much OF
the long road l have still to travel. II
could not be otherwise. I cannot reach
in few months what men have attained
who have always lived in the light OF
truth. But l have hope. I carry in my
heart your image and the ideal you have
set me-the ideal of your race"
Then speech was given her.
Cast that ideal out" she said. Wild,
and recklessly. 1T is too low for you
You have passed 1t. You never needed it
| Choose your own ideal and forget me
forget US all. We can teach you moth
! ing" She caught her breath as though
| she would have called back her owl
| words. They were not the words she hat
meant to speak. They did not sound lik,
| her own. They had been put in her mout
| by force within her whose existence hat
| been revealed to her. as a hidddn vol
| canic mountain Is revealed by sudder
fierce upheaval. which threw off all thu
| old rubbish loading the surface of hel
| nature. 1t was only momentary up
heaval The next minute she was tryinf
| to save herself behind the old flippan'
subterfuges. IT am talking nonsense!
! she exclaimed. with a short. angry laugh
Then 1t is not true what you said?'
| lie had urged his horse close to hers
| and she could almost feel the intensity
with which his eyes were fixed upon lie
| face. That gaze stifed her laughter
drove her deeper into the danger she wa:
striving to escape.
Yes. it is true!" she answered, be
| tween her teeth.
! His strong hand rested upon hers anc
held it with q gentleness which paralyzee
| her strength.
: III It IS true, then the time has comer