The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-29

10 lDe slralSn1orWardly-yo wouldn'
do it."
He looked at her In amaZement.
What do you mean?" be gasped.
ITS only because yon haven't the
right that you do it-by suggestion. =
Ethel pursued.
How can you say that?" And he
put all the heart he was capable OF into
the question
You don't deny it." she said quietly
He breathed hard and then said bit
terly:
What contemplate opinion you
must have of me!'
Then we're quits. aren't wer'
How" he asked.
Haven't yun one of me?"
"Of you? Why. Ethel
Surely every married man must
have contemplate opinion of the wo.
man he covertly makes love to. ii he
hadn't he couldn't do 1t. could he?"
Once again she leveled her cold. i'm.
passive eyes on Brents flushed face.
Il don't follow YOU" was all Brent
said.
Haven't you had time to think of
an answerT
Il don't know what you're driving
at" he added
Ethel smiled her most enigInatical
smile.
NO? think you do" She waited
a moment. Brent said nothing This
was new mood of Ethel's 1t bafiied
him.
Presently she relieved the silence by
asking him:
"What happened last night?"
He hesitated Then he answered:
I'D rather not say I'd sound like a
cad blaming woman"
"Never mind how it sounds. Tell it.
1t must have been amusing"
Amusing" He bent over her again
"Oh, the more look at you and listen
to you the mere realize | should new.
er have married.
WHY did you:" came the cool ques.
ton.
Brent answered with all the power
at his copmand Here waS the mo
ment to lay his heart bare that Ethel
might see.
2 Have you ever seen Il young bare,
fresh from its kind. run headlcag into
a snare? Have yUu ever seen Il young
man free of the tranlmcls Of college
dash into net! did! wasn't trap
wise
He paced the room reStlessIy. all the
self pity rising In him He went on;
"HeavenS. what nurslings we are
when we first feel our feet. We're
like children just loose trcIu the lead.
ing strings, Anything that g!itrrs
catches us Every trap THAT is set fur
our unwary feet we drop into | did
dropped in. caught hand and foot. niGd
and soul"
"Soul:" queried Ethel. with note
of doubt
Yes" he answered.
Don't you mean body?" she sug
gesteG.
Body, mind and SOUL! be said. with
an mir Of tinaIity.
well. body anyway" summed up
Ethel
"And for what?" he went on. "For
what? Love. Companionship! That
is what we build on in marriage. And
what did | realize? Hate ard wran.
Cling: wrangling. just as the common
herd. with no advantages, wrange
and make 1t part of their lives, tie
zeSt TO their nnnn. It's beer NY curse
why wraEgling?" Grnwled Ethel.
"She didn't understand"
"You?" asked Ethel. in surprise.
"My thoughts. my actions"
"How curious!'
"You mean you wouldT
"Proba5ly."
I'm sure OF it." He tried to take
her hand She drew it away and set.
tied herself comfortably to listen again:
"Tell me more about your wife"
"The slightest attention shown to
any other woman meant ridiculous,
humiliating scene"
"HumiliatingT'
Aren't doubt and suspicion humil.
iating"
"They would be compliment In
some cases."
"How?"
'They would put fictitious value on
some men"
lyon couldn't humiliate in that way"
be ventured slowly.
''Ne don't think l could. II man
showed preference for any other
woman she would be quite welcome to
him"
NO man could~ said Brent insin.