Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-15

a
hold good for six months. and during that six
months l shall help many of your poor people
and they will help me.
Harold and l are breaking off our engage
rnent. which is very creditabe to Oh, I'm
not coming to the settlement because I'm sad
over that. I'm happier tonight than I've been
in long time when | was trying to be happy.
| sha 1t try to be happy any more; | shall
make other people happy-that's easy.
Harold and l are fond of each other-we
shall be friends forever if we do not marry.
We have both found out that there is something
wrong. that the feeling between is not deep
enough for marriage. He has been a great con-
venience. and should miss him dreadfully ii l
were not coming down to You to take up
interests and try to find a mission.
| really loved once. you know,-my soldier
who died for CUBA when he ought to have lived
for rne.-but he thought it was Gods call to
Crusader. l had rather love him dead than
another living. If l ever love again as l loved
him and another so loves me as he loved me,
shall marry: for the sweetest work woman
can have in this world is to keep her own house
and rock her own babies cradles. You know
that. We all know it, women Perhaps in
some com-ade in earnest work | may find my
new lover. Yet | do not think it can come
twice to one woman to give and receive such
love as l have known. Providence would be
partial SO 10 bless one woman Only humanity is
large enough fill my soldiers place in my life
Poor Harold. l have just been writing him
that men must not feed us on husks. | have
been despising him rather because he did not
love me more finely. How could he, when |
have been feeding him on husks? I'm coming
70 do penance. Oh, shrive mel MARTHA.
HE had watched the death of the letter.
had seen it leap into flame and then
silrivel away "A death of splendor," he
said slowly. He had read these words anew;
they stood out in fiery glory, I'VE love
friend not for what he is, but for what he is
capable o. becoming :. measure up to that
ideal strive against all powers of evil
soul growth highest and noblest
sell. and the splendor was over, and the
letter was dead
He looked at the face in the picture frame
over the nantel. the lovely, indolent, inso-
lent face of her to whom love meant some
body to attend her to play and opera, to
take her out in the dance, particularly to
lead the cotillion with her, somebody to send
her roses and violets, somebody to fold her
wrap telderly about her, somebody to whis-
per soft nothings into her ear, to press her
hand, 10 caress her. Then his eyes returned
TO the CRATE where the letter had died and
not even an ash remained to bear record Of
its final agony.
1t is easier" he repeated, "easier to give
roses and violets. 1t is not in me to love or
be loved 50.
y bell tinlled. A letter was brought
him. The messenger said there was no
answer, Sir"
Il was IN Martha's handwriting, bold,
rapid. flowing. He read it.
God bless the woman" he said. Il have
lost pearl OF great price. She is worth
more than have ever given her, than ever
could give her. Do we men misjudge them,
these women? Are they all alike, as she
says Do they all vearn for higher things
for themselves and for higher things for us?
Do they deliberately stihe these warnings
and play at frills and laces because they
think that pleases us better? Well, well, I'm
glad. glad. ere free l believe it was grow
ing so awful because l was beginning to feel
Tor her as her brother man. God bless the
woman
He lit another cigar. and looked into the
fire nusingly.
HAROLD.~ Was it the ghost of the letter
- that called him. He rose and turned
toward the voice.
In his doorway, framed by the draperies,
stood woman, long black feather droop-
ing from a great hat against her white
cheek. The eyes that looked into his were
enough to call soul from a sepulcher.
"Dorothea,"
Harold, l came to overtake the letter.
When | thought it over, l feared it might
IA i I,