The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-02-04

money: but soon-x-very soon. You ar,
right: I can't control anything now
not even myself. 1 must give up m,
lions, after ALL"
"When?" said Speed.
"Soon-I don't know. I'm tired
really tired. I want to go home"
Home! Have you ,one?, he asked
with faint sneer OF surprise.
"Yes, rather extensive lodging
bounded east and west by two oceans
north by the lakes, south by the Gulf
Landlords a relation my Uncle
SAM"
Arc you really going home. Scar
lett2" he asked curiously.
~ have nothing to keep me here,
have II"
mot unless you choose to settle
down and marry"
I looked at him: presently my face
began to redden; and, What do you
mean?" l asked, angrily.
He replied in q very mild voice that
he did not mean anything that might
irritate me.
1 said. speed, don't mind my tom
per; can't seem to help 1t any more |:
something has changed me, some-
thing has gone wrong"
perhaps something has gone
right" he unused. looking up at the
lying trapeze, where JacquelinA
swung dangling above the - tank,
watching us with sea- blue eyes.
After moments thought I said
speed: what the a:. devil do you mean
Nov you're angry again." he said.
mo. I'm not. Tell mo what you
mean"
"Oh. what do you imagine I mcan,"
he retorted. do you, think I'm blind I?
Do you suppose I've watched YOU all
these years and don't know yeu?. Am
an ass. Scarlet? Bo tar. An I?v
NO; not an ass" 's'' .,
Then let me alone-unless You want
plain speaking instead Of bray" y
II do want it," g
(WHICH" 80 "
You know; 60 on"
Am l to tell you the TRUTH"
AS you Interpret it-yes" ~
very well. my friend; then, at your
respectful request. beg TO inform you
that you are in love with Madame do
Vassart-and have been for months"
i did not pretend surprise: knew
he was going to say Il, Yet It enraged
me that he should think 1t and Ray II.
You are wrong" I said. steadily.
mo. Scarlet: I am right"
You are wrong" I repeated.
Don't say that again." he rctorted.
III you do not Know It. you ought TO.
Don't be unfair: don't DO cowardly.
Face II. man! BY Heaven. you've got
TO face It some time-here. yonder,
abroad. on the ocean, at home--no
matter where, you've got to face II
some day and tell yourself the truth"
His words hurt me for moment;
then. a. ! listened, that strange
apathy once moro began to creep
over me. Was 1t really tho truth no
had told me? Was II? Weli-and
thenf What meaning had II TO me?
or what help was It? OF what por-
tent? OF what use? What door did
closed upon myself 80 many years
ago! -
Something of my thoughts ne may
have OWNED as I stood broodlng in
the sunny tent. staring listlessly at
my own shadow on the floor, for he
laid his hand on my shoulder and
said; "Surely. Scarlet. II happiness
can be reborn In Paradise. IL can be
reborn here. know you: J have
known you for many years. And in
all that time you have never fallen
below my IDEAL"
what are you saying. Speed?"
asked. rousing from my lcthargy TO
shake his hand from my shoulder.
THE truth. In all these years OF
Intimacy familiarity has never bred
IN me; am not your equal
In anything: II does not hurt me to
say NO. ] have watched you an a
younger brother watches. lovingly.
jealous yet proud OF you, alert for a
falling or a weakness which I never
founder IF ! thought ! found n flaw
In you, knowing that IL was but part
OF character too strong. too gener-
Gus for me to criticise."
Speed" ! said, astonished, ZERO
lou talking about mo about me-a
n failure at that?
You know Tn a failure--a nobody
! hesitated. touched by his kindness.
Your loyalty to mo In all ! have.
wish II were true that ! am such a
man as you believe me 10 be-
at IL true" he said. almost sullen-
~. 1T IL we're not, nc man would
say II OF you-though n woman might.
Listen to me, Scarlet. tell you that
Il man shipwrecked on tho worlds
outer rocks-if he does not perish
makes tho better pilot afterward." ''
But persisted. Speed"
at In not true" he said, violently:
but YOU will n you don't steer a
lruer cour' than you have. Scarlet,
me-"