Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1913-12-19

him, won't approve Of my dFopping
in to smoke cigarette With you, and
talk things over when they lie heavy
on my Mid, and--and-st came 10
me. as was passing. that / should
miss it-DIck."
Airlie murmured an indlstinet some
thing about hoping that she and Pris-
ella would be good friends.
DONE interrupted the woman
sharply, between a mans wife and
his women friends there is a great
gulf fixed. and they are wIsest who
do not attempt to cross Il. IL
am glad you are going to marry.
Dick, and / am glad its Priscilla.
You are very masculine, Dick. and
she is the kind of clinging. ignorant.
bound to be your ideal. ! understand
the fascination of that kind of woman
the sort Of woman who has been
kept safe and sheltered In her home.
like pearl In cotton wool. and who
has never known anything of the
hard and sordid struggle for bread, or
the temptations and the fight of life"
They are like white lilies that the
dust has never smirched," said the
man softly, "and we who are toiling
in the CRIME lift worshiping eyes
upon them"
Yes" she replied. ''it is the woman
who does not know, and does not
understandable never understands
before whom a man pours out the in-
cense OF his soul. Il is just because
she is SO ignorant OF all that makes
the life OF man like you that such =
woman fascinates him."
when | first saw Priscilla" Airlie
said, "she was coming down a daisy
strewn path In the early morning, and
the young day was not more fresh
and fair. nor the flowers about her
feet whittier, or more innocent than
she. was sick of women with paint
ed faces. and the turmoil of the town.
of women who talked in epigram, who
could analyze to the last hair the
psychic interest of the latest prob
lem play, and she came like vision
OF the heaven we worldlings have
lost"
Marrying an angel 10 risky ex-
pertinent for mortal" returned the
woman with a grim humor, and, did
you ever think. Dick. that what we
call a good woman Is the best thing
on earth, and the narrowest and
hardest? Oh" she held up her hand
as he began to speak. Il know what
you are going TO say--that women
like I am are brave and helpful and
strong and companionable. That In
true. Dick. but men like you do not
fall in love with us. We know too
much. We have rubbed shoulders
with sin. and misery and we are no
longer shocked at things. We are
only sorry-or amused We see
things like men sec them, and so,
understand, that when man like
you meets a woman who has never
touched cocktail. or smoked cigar
cite. or seen a problem play. or read
q novel that wasn't an expurgated
edition, her very ignorance and in
nocence grips him with It's charm
its difference.
You haven't wanted to marry me,
Dick, and I haven't wanted to marry
you. for in a way we have both want
ed TO go back to the elemental Your
ideal has been innocence and igno-
rance. Mine, the strength that one
could cling to as to the rock OF ages.
You have found your pure. prim lit
tie Puritan Priscilla I have found"
and she broke of 10 strip the long.
long glove from her hand and show
a cleaning diamond.
What, you are going 10 be mar
ried. too" cried Airlie.
She nodded. mo one you know.
A man | knew years ago, out west
primitive creature, with aboriginal
ideas OF right and wrong ard duty
and faithfulness, who has not learned
to console himself for a broken heart
by analysing its throbs for a maya
zine eticle, as we have. or to dissect
his friends In the interest Of psyche.
logical study. We have our virtues.
you and I, Dick. and those OF our
kinship--we are merry and open hand
ed. and we laugh with those who
laugh and cry with those who weep,
but one can't live on omlette soufie
always. you know. and one wants a
grander strain to march through life
than the music OF cap and bells.
You and I've shall be very hap.
by. Dick. In our new lives. but don't
you think-don't you fear that some
times we shall be very tired? Won't
there be times when our hearts shall
be heavy for the old life? When the
grand opera win get upon our nerves.
and make us long for opera comique?
When the ignorance and innocence OF
your Priscilla win be dust and ashes
IN your teeth. and the rock ribbed
seriousness OF my husband Will be
burden on my sOul7
'Then-ah then, Dlck--we viii long
for the old life. the old discussions.
the old friends who were broken