Evening star., 1913-08-10


happened long aso-"nat heavens were to have de-
scended upon earth just Tor two exceedingly foolish
and romantic young people. | can't that ny
thick head wouldn't spin just a bit. The Great
Romance, The Gneat Romance"
for a little space then and the Younger
stared at him rowning, for he felt that
situation being taken . his hands
and he anxious and uncomfortable
But when at length Stanley looked up again ace
stern.
Il have said that l understand thing her
side' said he. Your side is different You
a common advSsturer and. don't doubt with
the usual adventurous motive The lady may be sup
posed to have fortune of her own"
that" the other n a low voice
would give me great pleasure TO beat until
couldn't Standard | think l shall do it," But Mr..
Stanley shook scornful head
.Oh. this isn't where climb up your dignity
said he. Not at all You have dignity. just
a common. cheap thief. burglar who has tried
break into my house and steal You have no dignity
to stand on Abruptly he to his feet a
big man and looked dangerous. The other would have
had a poor chance him.
Don't presume said he, ION the l haven't
thrown off this bank you deserve! i may do 1t
yet" He took a back across the crcu-
lar If he wanted time rising temper
under control.
Il wish she here now he said after little
lie spoke the before him. but he was turned
partly pine shrubbery II wish all the fool
ish women here who Ike their happiness in their
hands and play with dange of something they
call romance l should say them all: There is no
life Of romanse No knowingly lived in this
world life of romance Romance is dream. a fancy.
mrase-something we see from long distance.
never will touch so long live. say that life
at this or that stage or history [
not. Put yourself in age and you will find
people pointing back few centuries say
ing We say that romance exists
here there nowadays. Go o such places and it
has fed before you. tell yoA again, it's a dream-a
mirage" He wheeled savagely upon the younger
And with your life-next the sround~ he
cried You make sick never had the
slightest intention OF trying gentle born
and bred woman to such an existence She couldn't
stand it for week, and you know 1t. Shed loaths
it and you in two days. Why. she couldn't
clean. She couldn't be decently clean-to say
nothing Of going without the most elementary
forts And talk rot like that q woman
who has dressed herself alone since she
born You make me sick" He threw himself
down again his bench. but after a moment he
looked up tone was mder less angry
Why" said he, 'she and I together come
closer to the true than you your squalid
restless wandering up and down the earth have
did speak.
YES" said the other length but there wa,
no ring of truth in his and Stanley calmly:
That's lie.' You haven't"
She and T." he on, wander over the world
too, but We 60 in comfort-luxury. IL you like-with
without friends. pleases us-not furtively
and in hiding from the respectable world. she'd
have to with you. We all the beautiful things
the world has to Offer them without the
bodily discomfort that robs things of their beauty
We beautiful music. hear it together and
1t brings closer together STILL There are certain
operas which mean SO much to that always go
to them alone together and We sit there dark
one-one where two before. That's nearer the
true romance than you ever reach. my friend.
why we've do everything together. feel
everything together. When somebody says something
that's particularly pat. makes little joke. she
looks up to If I've got it, and l her, and
laugh like two children.
"Oh, come! I'm getting tired Of this. think you'd
better go before 1 get too tired"
yet," said the younger man. standing his
ground, yet this only outside O things
It's more than a simple friendship. And, besides
you're only talking for yourself. You're showing only
Of fha hino Tho npint chn
doesn't love YOU She loves me and she's going away
with me-
Why you blamed adventurer!" do you
to you're taking yourself seriously in all
this? Do think don't know my wife after three
years? you think doubt her for little fraction
of a second? Love you! You make me laugh. You're
SO funny that you're not even insulting"
The younger seemed for the first time to lose
himself He raised his fist and shook it in
the air.
you'll see whether I'm funny e cried
shrilly~ You'll whether I'm joke not! You
wait "a few hours and see!"
stanley sprang at him without a word caught
him by. the with his hands. He did
strike the man, but he shook him terrier shakes
rat. las been said that he big man. and he
was strong as he looked He shook him until the
Younger mans arms tossed and tapped helpless at his
sides his head rolled weakly upon his shoulders
But there cry from behind, and the two
stood still. Stanley turned his head and his wife
was there hands pressed together over her heart
her face white and full of terror
Let him go, Tommy" she said. oh let him go!
IFS not all his fault It's partly mine Il-explain to
YOU. Only let him first
II want o throw him off the pier" said Stanley.
IT ct me throw him OFF the pier! Come and see him
swim" a sudden nervous over
wrought laugh half sob but she came and
touched his and Stanley's hands fell beside him.
please" she said. For my sake" Her husband
gave a sort o reluctant growl and the man he had
held staggered few steps away and stood there
breathing hard. his clothes all awry about him. He
stared under his brows at the other two and his
mouth moved and twisted. but no words came
I'm sorry" the woman said to him. 1T was
n.rtIv NV fault Yes. great deal fault
- seem to lost my head. But please go now
.nd don't come back Everything my husband has
said is true-true. All, please CO."
The man looked at her for a moment longer and
he seemed o about to speak, but no words came
- him Then turned He stumbled down
TO the sandy beach and moved off toward the west
And 40 he disappeared and they saw more OF him.
Rut when he gone Mrs. Stanley laid her face
unon her husbands breast and began to there
quite comfortably
"Oh Tommy" said, in little wall, i've been
such a fool! bad again, Tommy.
think perhaps you ought to beat me-"
- he nna ayEho fria to find opae-