The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER ~.
Two Days Of Paradise,

she was annoyed or amused. The
mans action was absurd, or would
have been in any other man. His ad
vice to her to go home was downright
impudence: and yet the sight Of the
parrot cage dangling at his side made
1t impossible for her to take LASTING
offense. Once upon time there had
been a little boy who played in hei
garden When he was cross he woulo
take his playthings and go home. The
boy might easily have been this mar
Warrington, grown up.
OF course he would come and apolo
gize to her for his rudeness. Perhaps
he had resented her curiosity; perhaps
her questions had been pressed toe
hard; and perhaps he had suddenly
doubted her genuine interest. At any
rate 1t was a novel experience. Anc
that bewildering likeness!
She returned to her chair and opened
the book again. And as she read heI
wonder grew. The diction was ex
quisite; there was style; but now as
she read there was lacking the one
thing that stood for life-blood. It die
not pulsate in the veins of these
people. Until now she had not recog
nized this fact. and she was halfway
through the book. What had happened
to her since yesterday? To what cause
might be assigned this opposite angle
OF vision, so clearly defined?
The book fell upon her knees ant
dreamily she watched the perspective
open and divaricate The low bank,
with their golden haze of dust, the
cloudless sky, the sad and lonely white
pagodas, charmed her; and the Ian
guor Of the East crept stealthily into
her northern blood. She was not con
scious of the subtle change; she only
knew that the world of yesterday was
unlike that of today
Warrington, after depositing Rajat
In the stateroom, sought the bench or
the stern deck. He filled his Guilty
with purser-loaned tobacco and roundly
damned himself as a blockhead. He
had forgotten all the niceties of civi
lization; he no longer knew how to be
have. The first young woman in al
these years who had treated him as ar
equal, and he had straightway proceed
ed to lecture her upon the evils OF
travelling alone in the Orient!
And yet he had told her the truth
1t was not right that a young and at
tractive woman should wander about
in the East, unattended save by o
middle-aged companion. 1t would pro
woke the devil in men who were moi
wholly bad. Women had the fallible
idea that they could read human ma
ture, and never found out their mis-,
take until after they were married
He knew her kind. If she wanted te
walk through the bazaars in the eve
ming she would do so. II man fol
lowed her she would ignore the fact
II he caught up with her and spoke she
would continue on as If she had not
heard. If a man touched her she would
rely upon the fire Of her eyes. She
would never call out for help. Some
women were just that silly.
He bit hard upon the stem of his
pipe. What was all this to him? Why
should he bother his nead about Q
woman he had known but few hours:
All. why lie to himself? He knew what
Elsa, usually quick and receptive, did
not know. that he was not afraid OF
her, but terribiy afraid of himself. For
'7t'v in the Fast. men
and women, souls and deeds. And be
was something like the pariah dog;
spoken kindly to. 1t attached itself i'm.
mediately and enduringly
He struck the Guilty against his boot
heel. Why not? 1t would be only for
two days. At Rangoon their paths
would separate; he would never see
her again. He got up He would go
to her at once and apologize. And
thus he surrendered to the very devil
he had but moment gone SO vigor.
ously discountenanced.
He found her asleep in her chair.
The devil which had brought him to
her side was thrust back. Why, she
was nothing more than a beautiful
child! A great yearning to brother
her came into his heart. He did not
disturb her, but waited until five, that
grave and sober hour. when kings and
clerks stop work for no logical reason
whatever-tea. She opened her eyes
and saw him watching her. He rose
quickly.
Il was very rude little while ago.
VIII you accept my apologies%
"On condition that you will never
take your playthings and go home"
He laughed engagingly. You've hit
1t squarely. It was the act Of a petu.