The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-08
THE WAY
OF
A MAN
BY EMERSON HoUdi
Copyright, 1907, BY the Outing Publishing
Company

TO- Ellen. "It is just as Gordon Orme
told your father and as 1 admitted to
you. was engaged to be married to
Miss Sheraton, and am still so en-
gagged"
sStill her small hands beat together
softly, but she would not cry out, she
would not exclaim, protest, accuse.
went on with the accusation against
myself.
81 did not tell you. I had and have
no excuse except that loved you.
am here now for my punishment. You
two shall decide 1t"
At last Ellen spoke to my f1ancee.
cit Is true" said she. 81 thought my
self engaged to Mr.. Cowles. did not
know Of you-did not know that he
had deceived me too. But fortunately
my father found us before it was too
late"
.sLet us spare ourselves Details" re-
joined Grace Sheraton. Gle has
wronged both Of u.s."
Eyes, he has done wrong" I heard
Ellen say. Perhaps all men do.
do not want to know. Perhaps they
are uOL always " OAdAASe Wv ~AoS
want to know"
The measure of the two women was
there in those words. and I felt 1t.
"Could you want such man?" ask
ed Grace Sheraton bitterly. saw Ellen
shake her head slowly. I heard her
lips answer slowly. NO." she said.
"Could you?"
l looked to Grace Sheraton for her
answer. and as I looked saw
strange and CHASTITY change come over
her face "My Godi" she exclaimed.
reaching out her hand against tree
trunk to steady herself. "Your leav-
ings? No! But what IS to become OF
me?'
"You wish him?" asked Ellen. "You
are entirely free. But now. If you
please, see no reason why should
trouble you both. Please. now, shall
go.",
But Grace Sheraton sprang to her
side as she turned. I was amazed at
her look. 1t was entreaty on her face.
not anger! She held out her hands to
Ellen, her face strangely distorted.
And then I saw Ellen's face also
change. She put out her hand in turn.
s.There," she said, time mends very
much. Let as hope Then I saw
her throat work oddly, and her words
stop.
No man may know the speech with
which women exchange thought.
saw the two pass a few PAGES apart,
saw Grace Sheraton stoop and whis-
per something.
1t was her last desperate resource.
It won, as courage should, or at least
as much as a lie may win at any time,
for it was bitter, daring, desperate,
shaming lie she whispered to Ellen.
As Ellen's face turned toward me
again saw slow, deep scorn invade
1T. IF 1 were Free" she said to nee.
'if you were the last man on earth, l
would not look at you again. You de-
ceived me, but that was only broken
word and not broken life! This girl
indeed she may ask what will be-
come of her!''
81 am tired of all these riddles"
and myself not caring to be made thus
sport of petticoats.
ss'Your duty is clear,'' went on my
new accuser, flashing out at me. IF
you have trace of manhood left, then
let the marriage be at once-tomorrow.
How dare you delay SO longT' She
chOked in hen own anger, humiliation,
scOrn-I know not what, blushed in her
own shame.
Orme was right. have always been
stupid ass. 1t took me moments to
grasp the amazing truth, to understand
the daring stroke by which Grace Sher-
atom had won her game. It had cost
her much. saw her standing there
trembling. fearful, suffering, her eyes
! wet. She turned to me, waiting for
| me to save her or leave her damned.
1 could not declare against the wo-
man who had thus sworn against me.
With horror l saw what grotesque in
! justice was done to me. I broke out
! into horrible laughter.
had said that / had come for my
| punishment, and here it was for me to
take. l had told Orme that one day
| would pay him for my life. Here. now,
| was Ormes price TO be paid! II this
| girl had not sinned with me she had
done SO by reason of me. 1t was my
fault, and gentleman pays for his
i fault in one way or another. There
seemed to me. I say, but one way In
which could pay, being ever simple
and slow Of wit. i, John Cowles, with
out thinking SO far as the swift conse-
| quences, must now act as the shield OF
the girl who stood there trembling, the
| girl who had confessed to her rival her
own bitter sin. but who had lied as to
her accomplish. in her sim
| ct is true" / said, turning to Ellen
81 am guilty. 1 told you 1 deserve
no mercy, and 1 ask none. I have n
lsked Miss Sheraton to release
rom my engagement. I shall fe
| onored if she will now accept
and. l shall be glad if she will s.
| he date early as may be-"
Night was now coming swiftly fro
| the hills.
Ellen turned to pass back iowa,
the door. "Your pardonv' 1 exclaimC
to Grace Sheraton, and sprang afte
1 Ellen.
"Goodby,' I said. and held out m.
hand to her. LET US end all these
| heroics and do our best. Where l.
your husband? l want to congratu
late him.