Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-19
By HAROLD MACGRATH
CHAPTER V.
Back to Life.

for the subtle changes wrought in the
man and woman. Those graces Of mind
and manner which had once been the
mans, began to find expression.
Physically, his voice became soft and
mellow; his hands became full OF
emphasis; his body grew less and less
clumsy, more and more leonine. 1t
has taken centuries and centuries to
make the white man what he is to-
day: yet, single year OF misfortune
may throw him back into the primor-
dial For it is far easier to retro
grade than to go forward, easier to
let the world go by than to march
along with il. Had he been less in
terested in Elsa and more concerned
about his rehabilitation, self-analysis
would have astonished Warrington.
The blunt speech, the irritability in ar
gument, the stupid pauses, the painful
study of cunning phrases, the sus-
picion and reticence that figuratively
encrust the hearts of shy and lonely
men, these vanished under her warm
il careless glances. For the first time
in ten years q woman of the right sort
was showing interest in him. True.
there had been other women, but
these had served only to make him
retreat further into his shell.
II the crust Of barbarism is thick,
that of civilization is thin enough. AS
Warrington went forward, Elsa stop
ped, and gradually went back, not far,
but far enough to cause her to throw
down the bars of reserve, to cease TO
guard her impulses against the in
vasion of interest and fascination. She
faced the truth squarely, without
palter. The man fascinated her. He
was like portrait with following eyes.
She spoke familiarly Of her affairs
(always omitting Arthur: she talked
of her travels, Of the famous people
she had met Of the wonderful pageants
she had witnessed. And she secretly
laughed at reproachful conscience that
urged her to recall one Of those laws
Elsa herself had written down to fol-
low: That which forbade a young
unmarried woman to seek the compan-
ionship of a man about whom she
knew nothing. 1t was not her fault
that, with the exception of Martina
who didn't count, they two were the
only passengers. The condition OF al
fairs was directly chargeable to fate;
and before the boat reached Rangoon'
Elsa was quite willing to let fate SHIFT
and set the scenes how it would. The
first step toward reverision is the
casting aside of ones responsibilities.
Elsa shifted her cares to the shoulders
of fate. So long as the man behaved
himself, so long as he treated her
with respect, real or feigned, nothing
else mattered.
The phase that escaped her entire
ly was this, that had he not pro-
gressed, she would have retained her
old poise. the old poise Of which she
was never again to be mistress. 1t
Is the old tale: sympathy to lift up
another, first step down. And never
had her sympathy gone out so quickly
to any mortal. Elsa had an horror OF
loneliness, and this man seemed 10
he the living presentment Of the word.
What struggles, and how simply he re-
counted them! What things he hao
seen, what adventures had befallen
him, what romance and mystery! She
wondered If there had been woman
eh ho6 hApn the
cause of his downfall. Every day OF
the past ten years lay open for her 10
admire or condemn, but beyond these
ton wears there was a Chinese wall,
over which she might not look only
once had she provoked silent mega
tive nod of his head. He was strong.
Not the smallest corner of the veil was
she permitted to turn aside. She
walked hither and thither along the
scarps and bastions of the barrier Out
never found the breach.
"Will you come and dine with me
,onight?" she asked, as they left the
boat
NO, Miss Innocence"
That's silly. There isn't soul
know here"
But" gravely he replied, there are
many here who know me-"
(which infers that my invitation
is unwise?
Absolutely unwise."
"Tea?"
Frankly, I ought not to be seen
with you"
why? Unless indeed, you have
not told me the truth"
"I have told you the truth.
Then. where's the HARM"
For myself. none. On the boat
il did not matter so much. 1t was
situation which neither of us could
foresee nor prevent. l have told you
that people here look askance at me
because they know nothing about me-
save that l came from the states.
And they are wise. l should be a cad
if | accepted your invitation to dine.
Then. I am not to see you again.
The smile would have lured him
across three continents. "Tomor-
row. I promise to call and have tea
with you. much against my better
judgment"
"Oh. if you don't want To come
Don't want to GOMEZ"
Something in his eyes caused Elsa
to speak hurriedly. Goodbye until
tomorrow"
She gave him her hand for a mo-
ment. stepped into the carriage. which
already held Martha and the luggage.
and then drove off To the strand no.
tel.
He stood with his helmet in his
hand. 4 fine warm rain was falling,
hui he was not conscious of it. 1t
seemed incredible that time should
produce such a change within the
space of seventy hours. A little more
"a little less. AS she turned and
waved a friendly hand. he knew that
the desolation which had been his for
ten years was nothing as compared to
that which now fell upon his heart.
\ l.. l.