The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-08-21

his arms. passively suffering his hot
kisses. her eyes closed, her face white.
My dear. my dear. Don't you see:
You're fighting against the thing that
means your happiness. I'm not afraid
to ask now for | know | can give you
far more than you'll ever have other
wise What l want to do isn't SO ter
ribe. 1t is very simple. | can't see
why few are so strongly against it
And it doesn't mean the sacrifice you
think. Already it has brought victory
and the consideration of men you so
much desire. In the end. if we have
the spirit to fight and watt His
stammering phrases halted He be |
came aware of her closed eyes. her |
unresponsiveness. She opened her |
eyes and looked at him. His rough |
| clasp relaxed. She shook her head and |
| pushed herself away. leaning back in
the seat.
"Ah." she murmured, ''it is too late,
You can't make me want you enough"
| ut isn't too late if you care
"1s caring everything? You know 1t
| isn't. If it were you wouldn't make
conditions. You would use your brains
your talents. to work out career You
would have accepted Senator Muir
chell's Offer
"You think that?' he cried. "Ther
you don't care!''
"Ah." she said resentfully. you can
say that? Do you think could unsex
myself as l have done for yon for
fancy? L But you wouldn't under
stand. 1t is very practical matter.
Life isn't all moonlight. 1t is all very
beautiful to give ones life to an ideal.
And you're very splendid now in the
flush of your first victory. You would
he still splendid fighting brave. los
ing fight while you were young. but
when you We're a broken down. middle
aged failure. cast aside. ii career out
Of the question. do you think that l.
1t wouldn't be romantic then. Id be
always looking up at the men l once
knew. the men who We're conquering.
doing big things. and Td-regret. And
I'd hate you then"
ut seems" he cried bitterly. II in
spire little confidence. I'm told by
every one before | have tried long.
while l am still winning. that Pm
doomed to be a failure.''
Now it Is you who will not see." She
became more gentle. do you think
could care for weakling? 1t isn't
! you we distrust but your ideal !
know more of politics than did year
: ago. Your dream will get you only
disappointment. Even the big men
who have done the fne good things for
! this country used the forces they found
at hand. compromised with evil to
create good. And their good stands"
. Suddenly she leaned toward him and
r placed hand on his arm. Look.
john" She pointed to the north star
: cleaning palely in the moonlight.
"rhat star Is beautiful but it is very.
: very high. Can't you understand? Ask
me to go with you to the mountain top
and l will go. l will help you climb.
but to that star-and | can't
. She had shaken him, as she could al
:. ways shake him, set him to question.
ing the real value Of the purpose that
o through forces over which he had Eo
control, as it seemed, had grown until
it filled his life, excluding all else. Her
T hand still rested on his arm, yet be
found strength to answer:
s. you've said it yonrself-caring ISM
everything"
He got to his feet slowly. She, too
i rose. With sudden jealous cOntrac
v ton cf her heart she realized how lit
tie Of the grief she had thought to SCI
,t was in his look Strength was there
70 the strength to suffer and to with
stand, and something else. almost
glow, the reflection Of a spirit handet
9. down to this man across the genera
u. tons from an age of martyrs Wn
I were glad to pay for their faith. witt
\ a great price he was paying for III
HI faith. and it became the more preciou
III to him
I She found the need to Justify hersel
\ before him.
4 "At least" she said unsteadily, "yo
81 will remember that ! didn't preten
a until it was too late for you to escap
n me and then worry you into going IN
way, as many women have done. II
not quite so selfish as that. Am
3 wholly contemptible?"
4 He judged her generously
u You aren't contemptible 1t is Onl
q that YOU don't love. Love doesn't hai
81 Gle or try to drag down. You h3v
Il mistaken. honestly mistaken. SOM
Il thing else for it. If you cared-b'
M YOU don't You will find that ~
W soOn'
For a little she looked ut him VI
: waverinsly Then her strength seen
ed to wilt.
You are right. suppose. and hay
missed great deal Goodby,' al
. | wont In tho hnnSA