New-York tribune., 1912-08-25

Il should laugh, SAID Charters; "Dut Should
Then laugh said Jacqueline, and she closed
her eyes. Il love him!'
But Charters did not laugh, and for minute
his contempt shook the inhexble SmoothnesS
Of his voice. "You pollute those words, he said.
"Do YOU term your infamous ambition love"
at is no infamous ambition cried Jacqueline
fercclv at is laughter and sunlight and truth
and beauty and youth, and though drag myself
through the mire to reach it, will have it. 1t is
love. and no one ever told memo one ever told
mel
"The blood of Messalina and all the Borgias runs
in your veins, said Charters. "Who are you to
claim love!
"Who are YOU to deny it me?" demanded Jac-
oucline paSsionatoly. "You and your like have
made me what | am. | am the work OF your
hands"
"NIine?" replied Charters, and he laughed.
"You have broken my soul, StOrmed lacquclinc,
"as surely as poison skaters the Venice glass:
When came to London from the convent You and
your friends undertook my education You taught
me that all your vile world demanded of a woman
was that she should be well gowned and well
groomcd that she should speak evil loudly and
commit it quietly. You taught me that moGesty
had gone out with crinolincs, chvalry with armor,
truth with the Roman tOgas. You taught me that
the sole duty of woman was TO be amusing and
to be amused. You taught me to be what !
am"
"You proved an apt pupil" returned Charter,
smoothly "Wc gave you your diploma at a ten
der age"
But who taught me of love?" cried Jacqucline.
"Oh, not onc-not any one OF YOU VINO naI
taught me 50 many things | never knew
never knew | thought that the vile trash that
they gave was love: they said il was How should
| have known? Should | have known"
"Jacqucline consider this TRADE profitlcss. i
is well done but YOU are leaving one thing out Of
consideration You forget that I know YOU
"Know mel" famed Iacqucline. "You who
stand there snecring, YOU think that you know me,
You are one Of those who pushed me from the stars
Of my innocence and faith into hell itself and then
wonder that something was broken in the fall.
But YOU fcll with me, Leonard. And now you
think, when would climb back all the long way to
a star that shines even brighter than those bright
stars from which fell, that YOU can bar the way?
You, Now listen You say that YOU know me |
swear that | will tramplc over you and any other
who stands in my way-that | will wade through
blood and pass through fire-that | will move
mountains and dry up seas-but will get 70 my
star"
tcris,-"thc star Of the morning, Iacqueline, that
YOU would drag down to your level to burn in he'll
Bu, YOU shall not drag IT,"
NO, cried Jacqucne triumphanty, 1T will
light me 20 Heaven"
you are waxing quite lyric Is that alp Be
cause | really must 60
You shall not go" said Jacquene. You shall
stay. and YOU shall believe me! | will cry il till
dcafcn YOU love him, love him, love him.
Do you hear, love him!"
Il fancy YOU overrate your affection, remarked
Charters politely
The fierce white light died suddenly in Iao-
uuclinc's face. as though a candle had been blown
out She stood staring curiouSly at her hands
which she had stretched out toward Charters, and
then she let them fall
YOU mean it? You are going TO tell him" She
asked tonecSsly.
Exactly. mean it, and am going 70 tell him.
Let me-" she said. and the words cracked and