The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-02-05
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going to be pensive there are others"
Alan glanced at her. "Alix," he
said, mfmicking her tone, II see in you
the makings of an altogether charming
woman. I'm not speaking of the
painstaking veneer-1 suppose you
need that in your walk Of life-but
what's under 1t. There may be others,
as you say. Pretty women have taken
to wearing men for bangles. But don't
you make mistake. I'm not a ban.
gle. I've just come from the unclothed
world of real things. TO me man is
just man and, what's more, a woman
is just woman"
GLOW un-American," said AK.
'It's more than that" said Alan,
'it's pre-American."
Alix was thoughtful in her turn.
Alan caught her by the arm and turned
her toward the west. A yawl was just
crossing the disk of the disappearing
sun. Alix felt thrill at his touch.
"1t's sweet little picture, isn't it?"
she said. "But you mustn't touch me,
Alan. It can't be good for U.S."
$50 you feel it too," said Alan, and
took his hand from her arm.
During the voyage they were much
together, not in dark corners but wag-
ing their battle in the cpen-two swim.
mers that fought each other, forgetting
to fight the tide that was bearing them
out to sea. klan was not philander-
er to snatch an unrequited kiss. To
him kiss was the seal on surrender.
But to Alix the game was its own
goal. As she had always played 1t,
nobody had ever really won anything.
However, it did not take her long to
appreciate that in Alan she had an
opponent who was constantly getting
under her guard and making her feel
things-things that were alarming in
themselves like the jump Of ones heart
into the throat or the intoxication that
goes with hot, racing blood.
Alan's power over women was in
voice and words. If he had been hid
eous it would have been the same.
With his tongue he carried Alix away
and gave her that sense of isolation
which lulls woman into laxity. One
night as they sat side by side, single
great rug across their knees, Alan laid
his hand under cover on hers. A CULVER
went through Alix' body. Her closed
hand stirred nervously but she did not
really draw it away. "Alan," she said,
1--WE told you not to! Please don't.
It's common-this sort Of thing"
Alan frightened his grip. "You say
it's common" he said, because you've
never thought it out. Lightning was
common till somebody thought it out.
sit beside you without touching you
and we are in two worlds. l grip your
hand-like this-and the abyss be.
tween us is closed. While hold you
nohing can come between"
Alix' hand opened and settled into
his. For while they sat silent, then
Alix recovered herself. "After ALL"
she said, "we're not on a desert island
but on ship with eyes in every cor
ner."
Alan leaned toward her. "But If
We were, Alix! If we were on desert
1sland-you and L"
For moment Alix looked into his
burning eyes. She felt that there was
nre in her own eyes, too-a fire she
could not altogether control. She dis
engaged herself and sprang up. Alan
rose slowly and stood beside her. He
I'D not hook at her parted Lips and hot
rheeks: he had suddenly become lam
guild. ''That's it," he drawled. "eyes
In every corner. wonder how many
morals would stand without other PEG.
PIES eyes to prop them up?''
Towards the end of the voyage Alix
faced, wide-eyed. the revelation that
the stakes of the game she and Alan
had played were body and soul.
"Alan," she said one night with droop-
Ing head, give had enough. l don't
want to play any more. I want to
quit" She lifted terrified eyes to
him. The foil of artifciality had been
knocked from her hand. She was all
woman and defenseless.
Alan felt trembling in all his
limbs. II want to quit too, Alix," no
said In his low vibrating voice, but
I'm afraid we can't. You see, I'm
beaten, too. While I was just in love
with your body we were safe enough,
but now I'm in love with you. It's
the kind of love a man can pray for
In vain. No head in it; nothing but
heart. Honor and dishonor become
mere names. Nothing matters to me
but you"
Tears crawled slowly down Alix'
cheeks. She stood with her elbows
on the rail and faced the ocean so no
one might see. Her hands were locked.
In her mind her own thoughts were
running. Somehow she could under
stand Alan without listening. If only
Gerry had done this thing to her. she
was thinking, the pidless wrackins
misery would have been Joy at white
heat She was unmasked at last-but
Gerry had not unmarked her. Not
once since the day of their engage
ment had Gerry unmarked himself.
Alan was standing with his side ia
the rail. his eyes leaving her face only
to keep track OF the promenaders 50
that NO officious friend should take her
by surprise. He went on talking. "Oui
judgment is calling to us to quit but
It y calling from days ago. he said.
1--WE wouldn't listen then and it's only