The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-26

Sost, the ooiy woman on earth to him.
Why 10 it--that failure to hold the
affections Of one among the millions
of women who live. and love. can
outweigh every blessing In life. and
turn mans nature into a he'll, TO
consume him? Who did she marry?
Some ono, probably. stranger long
after my Punishment who came to
her possessed of few qualities OF
mind or physique that pleased her
who did not need to love her--his
cha noes were better Rsthout that
and he steps coolly and easily into my
heaven. And they tell U.s. that "0od
doeth all things we'll. and that there
II a heaven where all our unsat tsfied
wants are attended to--provided we
have the necessary faith In II. That
means. If 1t means anything. that after
a lifetime OF unrecogniged allegiance.
during which / win nothing but her
fear and contempt I may be reward
ed by the love and companionship or
her soul. Do / love her soule Has
her soul beauty OF face and the figure
and carriage OF a venus7 Has her
soul deep. blue eyes and a sweet. nIu-
steal voiceT Has II wit. and grace. and
charm2 Has 1t wealth OF pity for
suffering These are the things l
loved. do not love her soul, If she
her--I need her" He stopped in his
walk and leaned against .ae bridge
railing, with eyes fixed on the fog
ahead. He was speaking his thoughts
aloud now. and the fret officer drlw
within hearing, listened moment, and
went back. Working on him." he
whispered to the third oficer. Then
he pushed the button which called
the captain, blew a short blast OF the
steam whistle as a call to the boat
swain. and resumed his watch on the
firugged lookout while the third Of
licer conned the ship.
The steam call to the boatswain In
80 common a sound on a steamship
as to generally pass unnoticed. This
ca1l affected another besides the boats
vain. A little night.gowned figure
arose from An under berth in a saloon
rtsteroom. and. with wide-open. star
ing eyes. cropped It's way to the deck,
SERVED by the Waterman. The
= little feet felt NO. cold
he planks OF tbs
deserted promenade. and the little fig
tre had reached the storage entrance
BY the time the captain and boats
vain had reached the bridge.
AND they alkP went bn Row
land. an the three watched and liz
care Of q mercifui God. who controls
all things-who has given me my de-
sects. and my capacity for loving. and
then placed Myra Gaunt In my way.
II there mercy to me In this? AZ part
Of n great evolutionary principle. which
develops the race life at the expense
RI the Individual. II might be con-
sistent with the idea OF . CODA
first cause. But does the individual
| who perishes. because untitled TO sur.
vive, owe any love, or gratitude to this
! God? He does not! On the supposi-
/ ton that ne exists, I deny II! And
! he does exist. affirm to myself the
integrity Of cause and effect--which
| IL enough to explain the Universe
| and me. A merciful CODA kind
! loving ust and merciful God" he
/ burst into a At Of incongruous laugh
ter. which stopped short as no clapped
! his hands to his stomach and Their
! TO his head. what ats mer' he
rasred: II feel as though I had swat
/ lowed hot coals-snd nv hend--and
| my eyes-I can't see" The pain left
! returned. ~What's wrong with Thu
s.arboard anchor. IT'S movins. IT'S
changing. It's s-wnat? What on
earth is TT On end-and tho wind
iass--and the spare anchors--and the
davits-all alive-all moving"
/ The sight no saw would have been
lorrid TO a healthy mind. but 1t only
moved this man to increased and un'
comfortable merriment. The two raila
below leading to the stem had arisen
before him in a ehadowy triangle:
and within II were the deck-fittings
he had mentioned, The windlass had
become a thine OF horror, black and
forbiddinE. The two end barrels were
the bulRing. lightless eyes OF non
descript monster. for which the cable
chains had multiplied themselves into
innumerable legs and acles. And
this thins was crawling around with
In tho triangle. The anchor-davits
were many-headed serpents which
danced on their tails. and the an
chors themselves writhed and sqnirm-
ed In the shape of immense hairy
caterpillars, while faces appeared on
the two white lantern-towers-Krin
ming and ieering at him. With his
hands on the bridge rail. and tears
streaming down his face. he laughed
at the strange sight. but did not
speak; and the three. who had quietly
while below on the promenade deck,
the little white figure, AZ though at
tracted by his laughter. turned into
the stairway leading TO the upper
deck. =.
blank wall OF gray fog. and Rowland
found sanity to mutter: They've
drugged mo-" but In an instant no
stood In the darkness. OF a garden
one that he had known. In the dis
lance were the lights of house, and
close to him was young girl. VINO
turned from him and ned, even as he
called TO her. 3
% Nv 4 supreme effort Of will. ne
brought himself back to the present
to the bridge he stood upon. and TO
his duty. why must It haunt me
through the years. he eroaned;
drunk then-drunk since. She could
have saved me. but she chose TO
damn me-" He strove TO pace up and
down, but staggered. and chung to the
rail: while the three watchers APP
preached again. and the little white
aguxe below climbed the upper bridKs
STEPS. a.....~. ....x.
bied as he stared into the fog: cause
ana effect 1t explains the Universe
end me-" He lifted his hand ant
SPOKE loudly. as though to some un
SON familiar of the deep. VIVA
will be the last effect Where is thu
scheme of ultimate balance--undel
the law Of the correlation OF energy
Will my wasted wealth OF love b,
vatbaraA ava uyairheH and whar