The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-11-29
WEDNESDAY NOV % l9l
The Island of Re9ener-
alton

and If I were none of these
things?"
Il would love you just the same"
But am not what you think me in
some ways"
Il could never think highly enough
of you, know that"
NO. no, it isn't that. When / tell
you"
She stopped and looked at him pa
ling After all the greater test was
to come then. ITO err" she remem-
bered the ancient Latin proverb, was
human; to forgive divine" Would he
be human or divine in this trial? Had
she so trained him that he could for
give the unforgiveable? In more ways
than one her happiness depended
upon what would be his course. If
he fOrgave her and condoned her
fault, their love could have free
course If ever opportunity for benz
son upon 1t presented. But II he
followed the common course of men,
not only would any future union be-
tween them on the only terms to
which she could consent be impos-
sible, but he would kill her heart, her
trust in man-sometimes, she wildly
believed, her trust in God.
Nothing, nothing" he repeated,
that you could tell me would make
any difference"
So lovers have protested, she re-
called, since time and the world be-
gan. And yet things told have made
differences. What would 1t do for their
future, this revelation Of the morrow?
And again she realized that the test,
If she herself we're compelled to make
it. would not be exactly fair. for she
would be at once prosecuting attor-
ney, advocate for the defense, even
in some phase the passer of judgment.
She would be the criminal and the
world to him. II would hardly be
possible for him to arrive at a correct
view and come to determination un-
biased and free. II she could have
transported him by some magic pow
er among the children Of men. and
with them for auditory have told her
story, the test would be a true one.
What he would do then after having
heard the worlds voices, the worlds
appeals, the worlds mockeries, would
truly determine what he was. and in
no other way could that determine
ton be arrived at. Though she stroYe
to be as impartial as divinity. she
could not but make her defense coin
cident with her revelation, her justih-
cation at the same time with her con-
domination. He knew nothing of life
but what she and instinct had taught
him. and neither would be safe guides
IN this emergency. He could protest
and she could believe his protests. but
unless they were uttered not merely
before high heaven but before sur
men, they would be of little
value.
She put this by resolutely at last.
We are the creatures OF circumstance
and environment. She would have to
do the best that she could on the
morrow. Meanwhile she would. as she
had said, enjoy the day. And so the
morning hours wore away until the
time came for the customary parting.
At first she would have abandoned, in
he luxury Of the new passion, or the
new revelation of the old passion, the
customary rule, but she still preserved |
some lingering remains of her common |
sense and she clearly perceived that |
Z was necessary to 60 on as they |
had. Society cannot proceed without
is conventions and these simple regu-
ations we're their conventions which
lad to be obeyed. And so they parted
But parted as they had never parted
'etore, torn asunder by their own
with their own petty rules.
heir hearts protesting.
Long before the earthquake they
lad erected on the topmost hill of the
sland huge pile of dead wood from |
he groves beneath.
When they had parted she had sug
'ested to him-and It was significant
hat now It was a suggestion; yester
ay II would have been a command
hat he SHOULD take time to ascend the
III and rearrange the great heap OF
rood which they had builded. During
II the time that had elapsed since she
ad been there no sail had whitened
he horizon, no curl of smoke had be
okened the distant passing Of 8
teamer- But no spot OF the globe
ould forever remain unvisited. she
bought. and some day that pile OF
'ood might make a beacon light to
all civilization 10 them. He was glad {
, comply with her suggestion. glad I