The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-11-25
1910 BY
lcoxrMUED.]

II have a constitutional antipathy
for men of your type. Mr.. McAdoo."
"People don't do that sort Of thing
merely because of constitutional an
tipathy. l had done nothing to harm
you. You had nothing to gain by at
tacking my motives-of which you
could know nothing-or by making
Paul Remington disconnected with his
advancement, as you have persisted In
doing since. The women know don't
do that sort of thing. Even men Of
my sort, whom you despise"-there
was trace of bitterness in these last
words-'would call it. contemplate"
you are right she said quietly.
1T was contemplate. and have been
ashamed Of myself ever sinee I 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. tits easy enough to apollo
gize, but what good Is 1t after the mis-.
chief is done?"
II hardly expected you to be gener-
ous," she answered his sheer gravely.
"But now-what? You didn't come
here merely to convict me Of dis
honorable act, SUPPOSED"
"Hardly. I'm busy man. I sup.
pose I came to make a useless re-
quest"
"What is the request, or is it CON-
mand?'
He looked at her steadily for a min
ute before he answered. She saw the
line Of his lips become thinner and the
muscles of his jaw tighten. ITO let
Paul Remington CO."
ut seems" she replied mockingly,
shat Mr.. McAdoo in spite Of his boast
ed friendship cares nothing for the
happiness Of his friend"
"You won't understand" he said at
last slowly. when explain it. You're
right when you say I care nothing for
his happiness-at least what you mean
by the word. You don't mean happ1-
ness, Mrs. Gilbert. You mean to glut
the appetite. to yield to the mating in
stinct, to follow the lines of least re-
s1stance. Only the very strong can
afford happiness as you mean it. To a
weak man that sort Of happiness means
GRIPPING his natural force, enslaving
himself to outside influences. There is
only one true 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 Paul Reming-
tons greater, true happiness I do
care"
But what about me?"
'He Is nothing to you"
"As you mean it, no-just now. But
Tor the future. why not? You never
can tell. Mr.. Remington is talented
he is magnetic. l like him better than
like most mon. 1t is quite possible
, that I shall in time develop a deeper
interest In him. And, besides, MI.
McAdoo, your opposition gives him a
new value Did you forget to consid-
er when you came to ask me to send
him away what about my happiness?"
She concluded her question with q
smile.
Mrs. Gilbert, your happiness did
not, does not. enter into my calcula-
tons at ALL"
Winters early dusk was IA ing out
side, leaving only the freight to light
the room. She was very beautiful as
the soft glow fell upon her face.
"We're good deal alike, you and /.
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. l have the excuse
that life hasn't treated me very kind
ly. and neither excuse is valid, l sus-
pect You're not slave to conscience,
and 1-well, I'm afraid I'll 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 to look at and can turn 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 I'LL both our
wants. He Is your one friend. he
cares for me because he thinks l pos
sess qualities l don't possess, but
which he-he makes we want to &C.
) quire. I'm not in love with him, but
I'd like to be. He seems my only
hope Of escape from becoming the
most pitiable Of creatures-a lonely,
cynical. selfish. loveless woman. ]
wonder why I tell you th1s?'' She
4 leaned forward abruptly. What are
Z we going to do about 1t?''
'That Is what came to and out"
mo: you came to tell me what
H must do. You put the issue .squarely,
One Of US must retire In the others
Il favor. That amounts to a challenge
81 doesn't it? It's too bad, we have this
\ dislike to contend with. Your natural
4 state Is fighting, and suppose YOU
don't mind one dght more. But
8 don't want to fight for my happines.
U b possible happiness, especially wheI
As4 I run the risk OF loain4 it altorether