Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-01
CHAPTER I.
'sThere Are Heroisms All Round U.s."

CHAPTER I.
'sThere Are Heroisms All Round U.s."
Mr.. Hungerton. her father, really was
the most tactless person upon earth-a
fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man.
perfectly good natured. but absolutely
conferred upon his own silly self. If any
thing could have driven me from Gladys.
it would have been the thought Of such a
father-in-law. I am convinced that he
really believed in his heart that 1 came
round to The Chestnuts three days a week
for the pleasure of his company. and very
especially to hear his views upon bimetal-
nsm a subject upon which he was by
way of being an authority.
For an hour or more that evening 1 lis
tened to his monotonous chirrup about
had money driving out good, the token
value of silver, the depreciation Of the
rupee. and the true standards Of ex-
change.
Suppose he cried with feeble violence,
that all the debts in the world were
called up simultaneously. and immediate
payment insisted upon-what under our
present conditions would happen then?"
gave the self-evident answer that I
should be a ruined man, upon which he
jumped from his chair, reproved me for
my Irish levity. which made 1t impossible
for him to discuss any reasonable sub
ject in my presence, and bounced off out
OF the room to dress for a Masonic meet
ing
At last I was alone with Gladys, and
the moment of fate had comet All that
evening / had felt like the soldier who
awaits the signal which will send him on
forlorn hope; hope of victory and fear
of repulse alternating in his mind.
She sat with that proud, delicate profile
Of hers outlined against the red curtain.
How beautiful she was, And yet how
a1oof. We had been friends. quite good
friends: but never could / get beyond the
same comradeship which I might have es-
tabiished with one of my fellow-reporters
upon the Courier-perfectly frank per-
fectly kindly, and perfectly unsexual. My
instincts are all against a woman being
too frank and at her ease with me- 1t is
NO compliment to man. Where the real
sex feeling begins. timidity and distrust
are its companions, heritage from old
wicked days when love and violence went
often hand in hand The bent head, the
ayerted eye. the faltering voice. the winc-
ing hgure-these, and not the unshrinking
gaze and frank reply. are the true sig
mails of passion. Even in my short life
had learned as much as that-or had in
herited 1t in that race memory which we
call instinct.
Gladys was full Of every womanly quail
ity. Some judged her to be cold and
hard; but such thought was treason.
oriental in its coloring. that raven hair
the large liquid eyes, the full but exQuis-
lite lips-all the stigmata of passion were
there. But was sadly conscious that up
drawing it forth. However, come what
might, I should have done with suspense
and bring matters to a head tonight. She
could but refuse me, and better be a re-
pulsed lover than an accepted brother.
So far my thoughts had carried me- and
/ was about to break the long and uneasy
silence, when two critical. dark eyes
looked round at me, and the proud head
was shaken In smiling reproof. Il have
presentiment that you are going to
propose, Ned. do wish you wouldn't;
are"
1 drew my chair a little nearer. "Now.
how did you know that was going to
propose?' I asked in genuine wonder
Don't women always know? Do you
suppose any woman in the world was
ever taken unawares? Butch, Ned. our
friendship has been so good and so pleas
ant! What pity to spoil it! Don't you
feel how splendid 1T Is that a young man
and young woman should be able to
talk face to face as We have talked?''
I don't know, Gladys. You see. I can
talk face to face with-with the station
master" I can't imagine how that Of
ficial came into the matter: but in he
trotted, and set US both laughing. That
does not satisfy me in the least. I want
my arms round you, and your head on
my breast, and-oh. Gladys. 1 want"
She had sprung from her chair. as she
saw signs that proposed to demonstrate
some OF my wants. You've spoiled
everything, Ned" she said. It's all SO
beautiful and natural until this kind Of
thing comes in! 1t Is such pity. Why
can't you control yourself?"
."1 didn't invent it," / pleaded. TITS
love-
well. perhaps. II both love, it may be
different / have never felt IT..
But you must-you. with your beauty,
with your soul. Oh. Gladys, you were
made for love, You must love.''
''One must wait till 1t comes.'
But why can't you love me. Gladys?
Is It m a, or what"
ward a hand-such a gracious, STOPPING
attitude 1t was-and she pressed back my
head. Then she looked into my upturned
face with a very wistful smile.
mo, II isn't that" she said at last
and so can safely tell you it is not that
It's deeper"
My character
She nodded severely.
What can 1 do to mend il? Do sit
down and talk 1t over. No. really, /
won't If you'll only sit down.
She looked at me with a wondering dis
trust which was much more to my mind
than her whole-hearted confidence. Naow
primitive and bestial 1t looks when you
put it down in black and white,-and per-
haps after all ii is only q feeling peculiar
to MYSELF. Anyhow, she sat down.
Now tell me what's amiss with me?"
I'm in love with somebody else" said
she
1t was my turn to jump out of my
chair.
Its nobody in particular" she ex-
planned, laughing at the expression of
my face; "only an ideal. I've never met
the kind Of man / mean.
Tell me about him. What does he look
nke?"
'Oh, he might look very much like
you"
How dear of you to say that. Well.
- = = - - does that don't do2