Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER v.
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 EN-
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.
II the crust of barbarism Is thick
that of civilization is thin enough. AS
Warrington went forward Elsa stopped
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 portrait with fol-
lowing eyes. She spoke Familiarity OF
her affairs always emitting ARTHUR |;
she talked of her travels, Of the ia
nous people she had met, of the won
derful pageants she had witnessed. II
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 1t would
The phase that escaped her entirely
was this, that had he not progressed
she would have retained her old poise
the old poise of which she was never
again to be mistress. 1t Is the ole
tale-sympathy to lift up another frs
steps down. And never had her sym
pathy gone out so quickly to any NOR
tal Elsa had a horror of loneliness
and this man seemed to be the living
presentment of the word. What strug
giles, and how simply he recountet
them! What things he had seen, wha
adventures had befallen him. what 70
nance and mystery! She wondered
If there had been a woman In his lift
and II she had been the cause Of hi
downfall Every day of the past tel
years lay open for her to admire o
condemn, but beyond these ten year
there was a Chinese wall, over whicl
she might not look. Only once had sh
provoked the silent negative nod o
his head. He was strong. Not tn
smallest corner of the veil was sh
permitted to turn aside. She walke
hither and thither along the scarps an
bastions of the barrier. but neve
found the breach.
Twill you come and dine with me t
night?" she asked. as they left tn
boat.
mo, Miss Innocence"
That's silly. There isn't a, soul
know here"
g But" gravely he replied. "thel
= are many here who know me-"
Which infers that my invitation
g unwise?"
Absolutely unwise.s Frankly. (
ought not to be seen WITH you" 2
t. why? Unless. indeed. you ha,
It not told me the truth. Where's Il
Y harm?"
For myself. none. On the boat
10 did not matter so much. 1t was a sit
alton which neither Of us could fores,
y nor prevent. ! have told you tn
people here look askance at me
70 cause they know nothing about n
~ save that came from the States. Al
30 they are WISE should be cad II
-. accepted your invitation to dinner"
- Then ! am not to see you again
10 The smile would have lured h