The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-06-11
THE MAN WHO
DARED


probably XIII your respect for me,
| said, hurrying into the confession
lest my courage fail. She sat be
side me. pale with forebodlng.
Il told you long ago that At one
time had TO battle drink" ! began
"Well. my cups ran away with m'
the other night--the night ! dldn'
come home. was up ON the Bar
barry ConHt-drnnk
Thru the open window. flutterin,
tho dainty chintz. came breatt
OF acacia from Golden Gate park
In It's sweetness an elusive sens,
OF old dreams and ioyellnesa and
the Joyous responsibilities OF youth
clamoring 10 reign once more.
~ got drunk"--there was no
rrInclnp OF words-''and
danced with some Of the wou-
en- In a Pacific at hall. and BIG
Martln--cod. the shame and
lgnorlny Of 1.-The IL was who
carried me 20 oliver Hsrdlng's
office 30 that you might not
know. And oliver lied 40 that
you might not know. have
not had the courage 10 tell you
until now"
When had completed the diffi'
cult recital saw that she was wait.
ing 20 hear ntill more--admiasion
] OF further and even moro shameful
guilt
mo" exclaimed. sensing
her thought mo. not that.
Anna. ! wasn't olsloysl: I
haven't broken my vo~s. I
have told you all: there's moth.
Ing further. You believe me,
don't your
YES" she replied. quietly, ~
believe you. John. ! have
known about this for over q
week." she continued. with gen.
tie patience. slieneing my es-
elsmstion Of surprise. Martin
told re"--ano she shuddered
with extreme ioathinq.
lie told me In a vils way. He
tried TO make II serve his purpose
You can guess what that was. I've
waited for days for you to tell mo.
knew you would because. John,
we do love each other. and love
must grow by honesty ard frank.
ness. az we'll 40 trust and forgive
ness.
Il felt that much that Martin told
me was lics-how much did no,
want 10 decide until you had con.
fided IN me.
"Oh. John" she cried, suddenly
thrown out OF her seifcontrol, I'm
so glad !, was mostly lics--wha,
Martin said about you. I'm not NJ,
10 Judge you or 10 be exacting with
you-not n Girl like mc,-bu, I'm
glad II wasn't anything else"
Then. even tho ] was tho sup
plant. had TO comfort her while
shc sobbed out the misery and aus.
penss and pain OF the past week
Again that poiKnantiy swec, breath
OF acacia flu,tered into the room
this timo like a benedlc,lon.
And. looking back over our
life together. 7 think II was that
summer evening. sitting In the
simple but habitahle new home
! had won thru intense effort,
that Anna and were truly
welded. For " was In that hour
Of my confession and her for.
elveness and the understanding
of how we must help each other
over the rough spots. that JesL
ousy and doubt passed away.
by and by ] noticed thnt I. was
that pathetic gray dress ehe was
wearing--which she had worn for
80 long now. II struck me like a
blow. II was a token OF my un.
reasoning suspicious. and her dumb
protest against them.
Anna" ] said, you are going 10
throw that gray dress awny forever.
] made bonus of $50 today. and
IT'S going for fine new dress for
you tomorrow. Wen burn this one
right now. II you'il get into that
lovely ashy-rose gown"
She caught the deeper rignifI.
canoe OF my words. She caught in
them the dawning OF n new day for
us. and with glad cry she flung
her arms around me in ecstacy.
"you don't know what u
means for me 20 hear you cay
that. john" she laughed. half
hysterIesily. ~ have known all
along. You have been Jealous
Of me. You were fearful and
worried and sick. you poor boy,
and doubts came to you. They
made you--wefi. different
those doubts. But now you're
the old, gentle. splendid. cheer.
fol John again. I'm the hap
piest girl In the world"
When she had donned her ashy.
rose gown we stood looking out OF
our kitchen door at the new garden
we had started.
John" she said. you no and
sprinkle the radishes. while I fry
the potatoes" She gave me n gen.
tie shove thru the open door. After
all" she said. gardens and pota.
toes are awfully important Items In
life. aren't they. John7 They sort
OF nj In with the things that last
AND IT'S ONLY THAT WHICH
ABIDES THAT COUNTS. Go ana
water the garden"
tTHE FND1