The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-06-17

browed ideals, wouldn't you like to own
this?"
mo. Not if 1 had the wealth of
Croesus."
"Why notT'
"It's q crime to rob the world of
these masterpieces of genius. They
should be the free inheritance and in
spiration of all the children of men,"
Nan gazed at Stuart in vague be-
wilderment and then q mischievous
smile crept into the corners of her
mouth.
You're trying to throw dust in my
eyes, but can tell you what you are
really thinking. You are really Won
dering why the wicked prosper
you are wrong" he replied slowly.
why the wicked prosper has never
worried me in the least. The first big
religious idea 1 ever got hold Of was
that this is the best possible world God
could have created-because it's free.
Man must choose, otherwise his deeds
have no meaning. A deed Of mine is
good merely because 1 have the power
to do its opposite If 1 choose. In this
free world, step by step, 1 can rise or
fall through suffering and choosing"
"Oh, Jim," Nan broke in softly, 1--WE
made you suffer horribly. You have
the right to be hard and bitter"
He looked at Nan cautiously and be-
gan to study her every word and
movement and weigh each accent. Did
she mean what her words and tones
implied? In a hundred little ways
more eloquent than speech she had
said to him tonight that the old love
Of the morning of life was still the one
living thing. He put her to little tests
to try the genuineness of her feeling.
He threw off his restraint and led her
back to the scenes Of their youth.
When dinner ended she was leaning
close, her eyes misty with tears, and
faraway look in them that told Of
memories more vivid and alluring
than all the splendors OF her palace.
Stuart drew a breath of conscious tri-
umph, and his figure suddenly grew
tense with desperate resolution. But
only for moment
He frowned, looked at his watch
and rose abruptly.
II must be going, Man," he said with
sudden coldness.
"Why, Jim," she protested, 'it's only
10 o'clock. won't hear Of such a
thing"
Yes, I must" he persisted. "I've
an important case tomorrow. I must
work tonight"
"You shall not go!" Nan cried. ave
waited nine years for this one even
ing's chat with you. Come into the
music room, sit down and brood as
long as you like I've planned to
charm you with an old accomplish
ment of mine tonight"
She led him to a rich couch, piled
the pillows high, made him snug, drew
a harp near the other end and began
to tune its strings.
Stuart gazed at the paintings on the
ceiling and in a moment was lost in
visions of the future his excited fancy
began to weave.
A voice whispered:
"Unless you are coward, grasp the
power that is yours by divine right of
nature. Why should you walk while
pygmies rider Why should you lag
behind the age IN this fierce struggle
for supremacy The woman who sits
before you Is yours If you only dare
to tear her from the man who holds
her by the fiction Of dying customs!"
He felt his heart throb as another
voice within cried:
"Yet why should /, an heir to Inn
mortality, whose will can shape a
world. why should I live a beast OF
prey with my hand against every
snanY
The answer was the memory Of dirty
finger nails closing on his throat while
mob Of bowling fools surged over
his body and cursed him for trying to
save them from themselves. Again he
heard woman's voice as she held his
head close, whispering:
"I've something to say to you, Jimw
His lips tightened with sudden de-
cision. The golden gates of the for
hidden land swung open and. his soul
entered.