The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-07-24

like your | would go into politics seri-
nnsly. would master methods and
conditions and adapt them to my pnr-
pose would keep on until the organ
izatioD was mine. And then when my
power was secure | would remove. lit
tie by little the evils | saw. and when
! had finished and measured my COM
promises against the good had done
know the balance would be in my In.
vor'
But he merely smiled bitterly. And
l suspect that hy the time I'd got the
power in the fashion you describe. ia
have become The sort Of man that
doesn't use his &c wer for good"
What are you going to do about it,
About the election?" He shrugged
his shoulders in Indifference. Let 'em
beat me. suppose. | haven't thought
ahead as far as tomorrow
Now that It's all over can admire
your refusing to make that speech 1t
was splendid in a way, Yor see. I
can appreciate unselfishness in the alb
stract or when II can't be remeded,"
Il told you that wasn't ulselfsh. IL
was involuntary" he insisted But
| can add to the evidence-your kindly,
even if mistaken. interest in me and
my future. And you mustn't sheer at
yourself" he added gravely
She turned to look fairly into his
eyes. do you still think it necessary
to let me down easily?" she asked
qnietly
His body became rigid. nails biting
into palms in the effort not to take
her in his arms. For. without reason
ing. he knew that to accept now what
she masked had offered would be to
place himself in her power And that
he dared not! For a long moment their
eyes clung, then at the Same instant
they both looked hastily away.
The silent minutes heightened us the
cob drew them slowly up the face Of
East ridge. Behind them Ia. the vai.
drous as in the pal!or of night: but
they looked steadfastly ahead
TO his credit be it written John did
not think carpingly Of her boldness-
let us use the word he used. courage.
His longing was not lessened because
she had abandoned the woman's weap-
on Of inlirection for the mans frank
ness. Yet his hold on himself did not
relax-it became even the more secure.
And he wondered at the strength now
revealed within him. able tc rests, the
temptation Of her. He knew all that
she was, and he knew, too, that he de-
sired. would always desire. her above
all good things that life holds. yet be-
tween them stood an ideal that was still
essential to him. And he believed that
he had strength to put her-the tempta.
tion-away from him.
He put aside his self measuring.
From what? What was he to do that
made impossible the taking of this girl
by his side. his to take?
He had said in answer to her ques.
ton. ~ don't know. Let them beat me,
suppose" He suddenly knew that
was not true. He must make his fight.
warm glow enveloped him. his blood
quickencd. He spoke aloud.
II will fight them"
She turned to look. at him again.
You have thought as far ahead as to-
morrow" she said steadily.
Further than that"
When he had helped her to aligbt at
her home both her hands were in his.
Tie did not release them. nor did she
seek to disturb his clasp. She met his
gaze unfalteringly.
Listen" he said gently. Il didn't
know that you cared. |. too. care-far
more than you will believe"
II know you care" she answered
simply. "And why you won't-take
me-
II have known it ever since our
ride" he went on. '"That is why have
not seen you since. and n poor man has
not the right to do more than ask a wo-
man used to luxury to share his life-he
must not try to persuade. And he has
not the right to ask any woman. unless
she can sympathize with him. help
him in his work. If she couldn't 1t
would bring her unhappiness and de-
stroy his work You-I-we are not
In sympathy And mans work. his
place in life. must come first"
"If could only be sure of myself"
she cried "Yon are so many things
that care for and you refuse to take
so many things that care for"
1.-THE things that you care for can
be had only at the expense OF the
things that are-that / hope are-indis.
pensable to me / don't mean to be
prisgish.''
You aren't prlggish," she answered
quickly. Then she went on: II won
der. can one make oneself over?
wish now that | could But then per-
hars that is only because it is-Dow.
Perhaps tomorrow. When ! weigh you
against the things ! have and want.
shall find you iacking.%
: He made no reply. He. too. was
= wondering Could she make herself
over: Could he make her over: lie
stood awkwardly before her for mo
ment. then turned us though to leave.
Are you going to relinquish me
wbolly?' Her voice was still steady
but III the moonlight her face wa:
very white Don't! this summer
tonight-you have aroused in me long
. iugs for something different. .Perhap!
I Continued on Page Four.