The Washington herald., 1914-05-06
The Rebnth.
By JOHN ID. BARRY.

BY JOhN ID.
man and woman loved each other. They be.
leyed that their love was the most beautiful thing
in the world, the most wonderful. They resolved
to do everything in their power to keep it alive in
their hearts. Each day they were afraid that some
thing would hurt it. Most of all they feared the
strife of men, the enmities and the jealousies.
So they resolved to flee from the haunts of man.
kind. They went to the top of high mountain.
There they should be alone togetherl When they
had settled themselves they looked rapturously into
each others eyes. Now they need fear no longer.
They should have each other forever.
They were so happy that they did not think about
the world at all. After a few months fear entered
the lives of the two.
They did not know what it was. But it was
there. 1t was unmistakable. 1t made each of them
suffer.
At first each hid the suffering from the other.
Then each blamed the other for the suffering There
were moments when they would reproach each other.
These would be followed by forgiveness and
by new tenderness.
Gradually the reproaches increased The tender
declined. At times they longed to escape from
each other. Then, suddenly the truth broke upon
them. 1t their love that was tormenting them.
From blessing it was changing into curse
What they had fed the world to escape from was
heTS lheT love was destroying not their
happiness only, it destroying itself
"Oh what shall we do?" said the woman clasping
her hands.
I'VE must go back to the haunts of men," said the
man. you need more distraction"
The woman agreed to go back, not because she
believed that she needed distraction but because she
believed that he did.
Once in the world again. the two tried to distract
themselves. They mingled with others who like
themselves. loved or had loved They found that
these lovers. too seeking distraction from each
ether
as love. then. so unendurable:" thought each of
the two. and neither dared to ask the other
For each afraid the other was asking the same
question.
Some of the lovers they met openly declared that
love an illusion. a deceit. The only thing to do
was to keep changing the object In this way love
could be kept heautiful-for a time
This talk terrified the lovers still more For such
love as they had left they still wished to keep But
zach day their love grew to be greater torment
Nevertheless. they still kept their faith in il III
they only knew how TO deal with it they might vet
make it again source Of happiness This time it
was the who suggested possible solution.
I'VE have thought only of ourselves" she said
We have believed We could separate our love from
S llS OF w { nave smut ourselves on from
hose most in need of love. Suppose we try to let
our love be TO them of service. Then. per-
laps we shall escape this torment"
The man hesitated There is no service in the
world that is worth doing he said "for men live in
he realm of hate"
Then let Us go into the realm OF hate" the woman
:ried. 1T cannot be than the scf-indulgence
We live in And perhaps, if we offer love there
We shall find a few that will accept il"
So into the depths they went where the sufferers
rom hate crowded together, the millions.
AT first the millions were suspicious Of these two
They have some motive" they said They belong |
o the exploiters They wish to profit further from
Is by becoming familiar with our misery and COM
airing it with their good fortune"
From day day. in their pity for the suffering they
aw about them the became distracted from them
elves and from each other. And the more they |
tilted the more they served.
Then for the first time, they began to understand
What love meant
I'VE thought it for ourselves" they conhded
o each other. But now we know it was for the
sorId"
At that moment they looked into each others eyes
nd they saw love there. more beautiful than it had
cen before. wonderful
"How strange not to be afraid" said the woman
md the man. taking her hand, replied. There's
othng to be afraid Of"