Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-13

and you dislike Epictetus, Charmian?'
~ detest himl lie was Just the kind
OF person. Peter, who. being unable 10
sleep, would have wandered out into a
terrible thunderstorm, in the middle OF
the night, and, being cold and wet ana
clammy Peter would have drawn moral
lessons, and made epigrams upon the
thunder and lightning. Epictetus, I am
quite sure, was a-personv'
He was one OF the wisest, gentlest and
most lovable Of all tho Stoicsl" said !.
Can philosopher possibly be lovable,
PeterY' Here I very absent-mindedly
took up fork, but, finding her eye upon
me, laid 1t down again.
You are very nervous, Peter. and very
pale and worn and haggard. and all be-
cause YOU habitually-overthink yourself; I;
and, indeed, there is something very far
wrong with a man who perseveringly
stirs an empty cup-with a forkl" And,
with laugh, she took my cup and. hav-
ing once more reflled Il, set It before
| me.
And yet, Peter--I don't think-no,
don't think / would have you very much
changed, after ALL"
you mean that you would rather I re-
mained the pedantlc. egotlstical crea-
| ture-"
Il mean, Peter. that, being a woman,
naturally love novelty. and you are
very novel-and very interesting"
Thank your said I, frowning.
And moro contradictory than any
woman!"
HUM said I.
You are so strong and simple-so wise
and brave-and so very weak and foolish
and timid!"
"Timid7" said l.
"Timld!' nodded she.
/ II am a vast fooll' I acknowledged.
And | never knew a man anything
like you before, Peterr'
And you have known many. under
stand?'
Very many"
''Yes-you told me so once before, 1
believe"
Twice, Peter; and each time you be-
came very silent and gloomy! Now you.
/ on the other hand" she continued, have
known very few women?"
And my life has been calm and un-
rufhed In consequence"
! You had your books. Peter, and your
horseshoes."
MY books and horseshoes, yes"
And were content?"
| quite content"
Until, one day-a woman-came to
| you"
Until, one day-I met a woman"
And them"
And then--I asked her to marry me,
CHAIRMAN" Here there ensued a pause,
! during which Chairman began to pleat
fold in the tablecloth.
That was rather-unwise OF you,
wasn't it?" said she at last.
How unwise?"
"Because-she might-have taken you at
| your word, Peter"
do you mean that-that you won't
| Charmian?"
| "Oh. dear. not l have arrived at no de-
cision yet-how could I? You must give
me time to consider" Here she paused
in her pleating to regard II critically
with her head on one side. ITO be sure"
said she, with a little nod. ito be sure
| you need some one toto look after you
that is very EVIDENT"
"Yes"
ITO cook-and wash for you"
ITO mend your clothes for you"
| YES"
And you think me-sufnclently COM
petent?"
"oh. Chairman, I-yes"
THANK you!" said she very solemnIy,
and, though the lashes had dropped, l
felt the mockery OF her eyes: wherefore
i took a sudden great gulp OF tea. and
| came near choking. while CHAIRMAN be-
gan to pleat another fold in the table,
| cloth.
"And so Mr.. Wharf would stoop to wed
so humble a person as CHAIRMAN Brown?
| Mr.. Peter Wharf would actually. marry
woman Of whose past he knows moth
ing?"
yes" said l.
THAT again, would be rather-unwise
wouldn't it7"
| "Why?"
| Considering Mr.. Vibart's very lofty
| ideals i'm regard to women"
what do you mean?"
! Didn't you once say that your wife's
| name must be above suspicion--lke cae-
sar's-or something Of the kind?"
| Ibid I?-yes, perhaps ] did-well?'
well. this woman-this Humble Person
| has no name at all. and no shred of repu-
tation left her. She has compromised
herself beyond all redemption in the eyes
OF the world"
but then" said 7. "this world and I
have always mutually despised each
| other"
dshe ran away. this woman-eloped
plished rake in London"
| "Well7"
"Oh!-is not that enough?"
| Enough for what, Charmian?" I saw
| her busy fingers falter and tremble, but
her voice was steady when she an
| swered:
Enough TO make any-wise man think
twice before asking this Humble Person
| toto marry him"
"I might think twenty times, and II
would be all one!"
| "You-mean--T
THAT IN CHAIRMAN Brown will stoop to
| marry a village blacksmith, Peter Wharf
Will find happiness again; a happiness
| that is not OF the sunshine-nor the wind
| In the trees-Lord. what a fool wasl'
Her fingers had stopped altogether now.
but she neither spoke nor raised her
| head.
"charmian," said I, leaning nearer
across the table. speak"
"oh. Peterl" said she. with a sudden
break In her voice. and stopped her head
lower. Yet I'm a little she looked up al
me and her eyes were very sweet and
| shining.
Now. as our glances met thus up from
throat TO brow there crept that hot. slow
wave Of color, and In her face and IN her
eyes I seemed to read 10y, and fear, and
| shame. and radiant Joy again. But now
she bent her head once more and strove
10 plait another fold, and could not
I while I grew suddenly afraid OF her and
OF myself and longed 10 hurl aside the
table that divided us. and thrust my
hand deep into my pockets. and. ind.
ing there my tobacco pipe. brought II
out ana fell 70 turning IL aimlessly over
and over. / would have spoken, only
knew that my voice would tremble, and
90 / sat. mum-chance. staring at my
pipe with unseeing eyes and with my