The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-12-28


to displease me. Mr.. McAdoo."
1--WE no doubt there are such men "
And Bob's one did not convey a high
tribute to the class. But l don't hap
pen to be one of them"
Nor am | afraid of you. Mr.. Nc.
Adoo." she countered 81 was for one
moment that day in the theater. You
startled me. having caught me-
Having caught you In a contemp-
tble act he interrupted quietly
Trying to cast doubt upon the SINGER
tty of a man who was a total stranger
to you"
The amused CLEAN died out Of her
eyes, She flushed angrily.
IT have a constitutional antipathy
for men Of your type. MI. McAdoo."
people don't do that sort Of thing
merely because Of constitutional an.
tipathy. | had done nothing to harm
you. You had nothing to gain by at.
lacking my m~otives-of which you
could know nothing-or by making
Paul Remington discontinued with his
advancement. as you have persisted In
doing since. The women I know don't
do that sort Of thing. Even men of
my sort. whom you de~spise"-there
was a trace Of bitterness in these last
WORDSWORTH call it contemplate"
You are right she said quietly.
ut was contemplate. and | have been
ashamed Of myself ever since. l was
ashamed when you caught me at 1t. !
had no right to do it, no excuse.
apologize"
An ugly sheer twisted his mouth as
he replied. IT'S easy enough to apollo
gize, but what good is it after the mis-
chief Is done?"
81 hardly expected you to be gener-
ous." she answered his sneer gravely
But now-what? You didn't come
here merely to convict me Of a dis
honorable act. | supposeT"
Hardly I'm a busy man. I sup
pose ! came to make a useless re
quest"
What is the request. or is 1t a con-
mand?"
He looked at her steadily for a min.
ute before be answered. She saw the
line OF his lips become thinner and the
muscles of his jaw tighten. ITO let
Paul Remington go"
at seems" she replied mockingly
that Mr. McAdoo in spite Of his boast
ed friendship cares nothing for the
happiness of his friend"
You won't understand" he said al
last slowly. when | explain it, You're
right when you say | car nothing for
his happiness-at least what you mean
by the word. You don't mean happi
ness. Mrs. Gilbert. You mean TO glut
the appetite. to yield to the mating in
stinct. to follow the lines of least re.
siStance. Only the very strong can
afford happiness as you mean it TO n
weak man that sort of happiness means
gripping his natural force. enslaviug
himself to outside influences. There Is
only one happinesS-the content
that comes from being a real. original
force. The man who would be this,
Mrs. Gilbert. must own and control
himself absolutely. For Pau Reming
tons greater, true happiness / do
care"
But what about me?"
He is nothing to you"
"As you mean it, no-just now. But
for the future. why not? You never
can tell. Mr.. Remington is talented.
He is magnetic. | like him better thar
l like most men. 1t is quite possible
that | shall in time develop a deeper
interest in him. And. besides. MIR
McAdoo, your opposition gives him a
new value. Did you forget to conSid
er when you anne to ask me to Send
him away what about my h%appinessY
She concluded her question with a
smile.
Mrs. Gilbert, your happiness did
not, does not. enter into my calcula-
tons ut all
Winters early dusk was falling out
side. leaving only the freight to light
the room. She was very beautiful as
the soft glow fell upon her face.
We're a good deal alike. you and l..
You have taken everything you want.
I've been given everything except the
things that count most. We're both
very selfish You make the excuse
that you have to be selfish to realize
your ambitions. | have the excuse
that life hasn't treated me very kind
ly. and neither excuse is valid. sus-
pect. You're not a slave to conscience.
and l-well, I'm afraid III never let
conscience stand between me and hap
piness. You have few friends. I've
had plenty TO admire me because I'm
not bad 70 look at and can turn q wit.
ty phrase occasionally. But none has
ever cared for me because none saw
in me those wOmanly qualities which
are so much finer than beauty or wit.
Paul Remington seems to fill both u
wants. He Is your one friend. He
cares for me because he thinks | pos
sess qualities | don't possess. but
which he-he makes we want to &C.
Quire. I'm not In low with him. hui
IT, HLA m hn nA cAnvpc - ,-I-