The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-09-04
CHAPTER v.
Back to Life.

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 fguratively en-
crust the hearts of shy and lonely men.
these vanished under her warm II 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 a 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. 1t
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 first
steps down. And never had her sym
pathy gone out SO quickly to any NOR
tai Elsa had horror Of loneliness.
and this man seemed to be the living
presentment Of the word. What strug-
giles. and how simply he recounted
them! What things he had seen. what
adventures had befalIen him. what ro-
nance and mystery! She wondered
II there had been a woman in his life
and II she had been the cause Of his
downfall. Every day Of the past ten
years lay open for her to admire or
condemn. but beyond these ten years
there was q Chinese wall. over which
she might not look. Only once had she
provoked the silent negative nod Of
his head. He was strong. Not the
smallest corner Of the veil was she
permitted to turn aside. She walked
hither and thither along the scarps and
bastions Of the barrier. but never
found the breach.
will you come and dine With me TO-
night" she asked, ~ they left the
boat.
mo, Miss innocence"
That's silly. There isn't . soul
know here"
But" gravely he replied. there
are many here who know me-"
Which infers that my invitation b
unwise?"
Absolutely unwise. Frankly. ]
ought not to be seen with you"
why? Unless, indeed. you have
not told me the truth. Where's the
harm?"
For myself. none. On the boat It
did not matter 30 much. It was a stu.
alton which neither Of us could foresee
nor prevent have told you that
people here look askance at me b.
cause they know nothing about me.
save that came from the States. Aud
they are wise. should be q cad II
accepted your invitation to dinner"
Then am not to see you again r
The smile would have lnred him