The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
Fare, Round Trip, rs Cents

wasn't right to feel as 1 did toward
you-to talk as I did-but I couldn't
help it, tell you, just couldn't help
It! I can't help II now. But don't
think it's wrong now, even-here. !
was starved When 1 saw you-well,
you know the rest. I have got moth
ing to say. 1t would De Of no use for
me to explain. make no excuses for
myself I have got to take my medi-
cine. Anyhow, part of it-part of it is
wiped out
TT is wiped out" she repeated
simply. The walls that stood there
all of them-are gone. 1t is the act
of fate, OF God! I had not known how
awful a thing is life. 1t is all-wiped
away by fire. Those walls"
But not my sins. not my selfishness,
not the wrong 1 have done! Even all
that has happened to me, or may hap
pen to me, wouldn't be punishment
enough for that. Now you asked me
If you were not my friend? OF course
you are not. How could you be?'
1T would be easier now than ever
before" she said But he shook his
head from side to side, slowly, DULY,
monotonously.
NO, no. he said, 1T would not be
right would not allow it."
Il remepber now," she said slowly,
how you hesitated. 1t must have been
agony for you: knew there was
something, all the time. OF course, L
could not tell what. But it must have
been agony for you to offer to tell me
of this"
"Oh, I might have told you then.
Perhaps 1t would have been braver II
had. I tried it a dozen times, but
couldn't. 1 don't pretend to say
whether it was selfishness or coward
ice, or just kindness to-her. If ever
loved her. it was so faint and far away
but it isn't right to say that, now."
No. Do not. Do not"
Il don't know. There are heap OF
things 1 don't know. But I knew I
loved you. 1t was forever. That was
what was meant to be. 1t seemed to
me I owed debts on every hand-to
the world-to you: I tried-tried to
pay-to pay you fair, ache for ache, II
I could, for the hurts I'd given you.
And you wouldn't let me. You were
wonderful Before the throne OF God
here-now, I'll say 1t: love you! But
now it's over"
TT is easier now" she said again.
You must not give way. You are
strong. You must not be beaten. You
must keep your courage"
"Give me a moment" he said. "Give
me chance to get on my feet again.
I want to be game as I can"
You have courage-the large cour-
age" she answered quietly. Haven't
you been showing II, by your very
silence? You will be brave. You are
Just beginning. You have changed
many things in your life of late. You
were silent. You did not boast to me.
things seem to be changed
for US, without our arrangement"
Isn't 1t true?" he exclaimed, turn
ing to her quickly; isn't 1t the truth?
Why, look at me. I met you a year
ago. Here / sit now. Two different
men. Ell? No chance, either time. No
chance"
Maybe two different women" said
she.
on suddenly. I'VE are something just
the same--for my part, at least, I have
never changed very much in some
ways"
you have suffered a great deal"
she said simply. you have lost very
much. You are no longer a boy. You
are a man, now. You've changed be-
cause you are a man. And IL wasn't
well, IL wasn't done for-for any re-
ward"
''No; maybe not In some ways
But the savage-the brute--in me IL
there lust the same. don't want to |
do what is right. I don't want TO
know what Is right only want to
do what I want to do. What covet, |
/ covet What I love. love. What
want, I want. That 10 all. And yet. |
lust a minute ago you were telling me |
you would be a friend! Not to q man
like that, 1t wouldn't be right"
e - lae