Williams news., 1915-12-23
CHAPTER V.
Back to Life.


 Back to Life.
 The two days between Prone and Rangoon were distinctly memorable 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 em- phasis; his body grew less and less clumsy, more and more leonine. The blunt speech, the irritability in argu- ment, the stupid pauses, the painful study of cunning phrases, the suspi- cion and reticence that figuratively en- crust the hearts of shy and lonely men, these vanished under her warm if care less glances.
 If the crust of barbarism is thick that of civilization is thin enough. As 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 invasion of interest and fascination. She faced the truth squarely. The man fascinated her. He was like g. portrait with fol- lowing eyes, She spoke familiarly of her affairs (always emitting Arthur) 1; she talked of her travels, of the fa- nous people she had met, of the won- derful pageants she had witnessed. It was not her fault that, with the ex- ception of Martha, who didn't count, they two were the only passengers. This condition of affairs 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 phase that escaped her entirely was this, that had he not progressed she would have retained her old boise, the old boise of which she was never again to be mistress. It is the old tale-sympathy to lift up another first steps down. And never had her sym pathy gone out so quickly to any mol tai. Elsa had a horror of loneliness and this man seemed to be the living presentment of the word. What strug gles, and how simply he recounted them! What things he had seen, what adventures had befallen him. what TO nance and mystery! She wondered if there had been a woman in his life and if she had been the cause of his downfall Every day of the past ter years lay oper for her to admire ol condemn, but beyond these ten years there was Chinese wall, over which she might not look. Only once had she provoked the silent negative nod o1 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 ant
 bastions of the barrier, but never
 found the breach.
 ] will you come and dine with me to night?" she asked, as they left tht boat.
 : "No, Miss Innocence"
 That's silly. There isn't soul know here"
 "But," gravely he replied, "ther' ) are many here who know me-" , Which infers that my invitation fl l unwise?"
 Absolutely unwise Frankly, ought not to be seen with you" , Why? Unless, indeed, you hay, } not told me the truth. Where's tn, harm?"
 For myself, none. On the boat i did not matter so much. It was situ
 ation which neither of us could forese nor prevent have told you tha
 people here look askance at me be 3 cause they know nothing about me F save that came from the States. An
 they are wise. 1 should be cad if 3 accepted your invitation to dinner"
 Then I am not to see you again
 The smile would have lured hir :. across three continents. Tomorrow promise to call and have tea with yoJ '- much against my better judgment"
 "Oh, if you don't want to come Don't want to come!"
 Something in his eyes caused Els to speak hurriedly. "Good-by until t. , morrow"
 T, She gave him her hand for a m O ment, stepped into the carriage, whic
 already held Martha and the luggag 2 and then drove off to the Strand hote D He stood with his helmet in h g hand fine, warm rain was fallin ir but he was not conscious of it.
 seemed incredible that time shoul e produce such a change within tf
 space of seventy hours, little nor little less As she turned and wave f. a friendly hand he knew that the des IS lation which had been his for ten yea er was nothing as compared to that whit It now fell upon his heart. She was fe unattainable as the north star; al SC nothing, time nor circumstance, cou
 bridge that incalculable distance. H Id heart hurt him. He must see her l
 more after the morrow. Enchaptme ad 1 and ha nnineSS were two words Mhii