The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-06-06

pen to he one OF them
"Nor am afraid OF you. Mr. Nc
AdOo. she countered 81 was for one
moment that day in the theater. You
startled me. having caught me-
Having caught you in II contemp
tible act" he interrupted quietly
"Trying to cast doubt upon the SINGER
/ to you"
The amused CLEAN died out Of her
eyes She flushed angrily
81 have constitutional antipathy
for men OF your type. Mr. McAdoo"
People don't do that sort of thing
merely because of constitutional an.
/ tipathy had done nothing to ha N
! you You had nothing to gain by at.
tacking my mOtives-of which you
could know nothing-or by making
Paul Remington discontinued 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
wordsworth call it contemplate"
"You are right" she said quietly
at was contemplate. and | have been
ashamed of myself ever since. ! was
ashamed when you caught me at it.
had no right to do it. no excuse. |
! apologize"
! An ugly sneer twisted his mouth as
he replied. IT'S easy enough to apollo
gize. but what good is 1t after the mis-.
chief is done2"
II hardly expected you to be gener-
ous," she answered his sneer gravely.
/ "But now-what? You didn't come
here merely to convict me of dis.
honorable act, | supposeT'
Hardly Pm busy man. sup.
pose | came TO make a useless re-
quest "
what is the request, or is it com
mandT
He looked at her steadily for 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 60"
at seems" she replied mockingly.
''that 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 l care nothing for
his happiness-at least what you mean
by the word. You don't mean happi-
ness, Mrs. Gilbert. You mean to glut
the appetite, TO yield to the mating in
stinct. TO follow the lines of least re-
sistance. Only the very strong can
afford happiness as you mean II. 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.
toms greater true happiness do
care"
But what about me?"
He is nothing TO you"
"As you mean II. no-just now. But
for the future. why not? You never
can tell. Mr.. Remington is talented.
He is magnetic. like him better than
like most men. II is quite possible
that I shall in time develop q deeper
interest in him. And. besides. Mr..
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 happinessT'
She concluded her question with a
smile.
Mrs, Gilbert. your happiness did
not, does not, enter into my calcula-
tons at all"
Winters early dusk was falling out
side, leaving only the freight TO light
the room. She was very beautiful as
the soft glow fell upon her face.
Were good deal alike, you and l.
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 have the excuse
that life hasn't treated me very kind.
| ly, and neither excuse is valid. | sus-
pect You're not slave to conscience
and I-well. I'm afraid III 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 a 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 ill both oui
wants. He is your one friend. He
cares for me because he thinks | pos
sess qualities | don't possess. but
which he-he makes we want to ac
quire. I'm not in love with him. bu
I'd hike 10 be. He seems my only
hope Of escape from becoming thu