The Western outlook., 1916-03-11

formed the same operation on Il

about her features, but nobody COM
mented upon that fact. Even in 2215
it was the privilege Of young women
to smile.
The operations completed, the pro-
fessors solemnly shook hands with the
victims
TN three hours" said the middle
professor, the symptoms should be-
gin to take effect. This is lis o'clock.
At 11S, therefore, you will both be-
come a menace to society. At that
hour the boat will be waiting to con-
vey you to your island home"
The professors withdrew, leaving
the young victims together in the lab
oratory of the science building. Stu
ated on the seashore, in the curve of
the wooded heights of Brooklyn, 1t
was an ideal spot for experimentation.
The hum of the great distant city
only came family to their ears.
In three hours time the vessel
would anchor off the dock to carry
them away to the South seas, there to
deadly virus had been eliminated.
The young man shuddered as he
thought of the awful fate in store for
them. Now that the act was irrev-
ocable he began to think of the sac
rifice. He remembered a hundred
friendships, the college days when he
had been the heart and soul of his
set. All these memories he must leave
behind him, to go out to savage
island with this nurse.
Yet, as he glanced at her, he began
to feel novel interest in her that
he had never felt before. Life with
her would at least be companionable.
He was not so sure, now, that he had
done a foolish thing.
"Do you regret the sacrifice, 27 F
F 7?' he inquired, curiously
"Not a Bit" answered the young
woman.
May ask why you are smiling?"
She smiled more significantly. THAT
is my secret" she answered. "Some
day / will tell you"
"When?"
When we are alone together
"But we shall never be more alone
than we are now"
II know. But you see, A SO w p
IA, the virus has not yet begun to take
effect in you
Il know it hasn't. / wonder how it
will feel. They say that the first sign
is fever. l wish had shorter name
for you"
The girl still smiled at him. He was
half piqued and half indignant.
Don't you begin to feel the effects
of the virus?' ne inquired.
mot yet she answered. II don't
believe ever shall,''
why not?"
"That is part of the secret, too," she
said.
He turned Indignantly He had
meant to turn away. Instead Of which,
to his surprise, he found that he was
standing nearer to her than he had
ever stood before. And, as his arms
went cropping blindly for some mysteri-
Gus purpose he found that they had
closed about her and were holding her
fast. The harder he tried to escape
her, the more tightly he held her.
The girl made no attempt to es-
cape, but continued smiling What is
it? he whispered. And suddenly the
realization came to him.
'It's the poison-the love virus!"
he exclaimed.
The girl nodded. She nodded so hard
that her wealth of hair came tum-
bling down from under the hideous
hood. He caught strand between
his fingers and pressed it to his lips.
What am I doing? Why am / do
ing this?" he cried. is it's it the
symptoms?"
She nodded again. "It begins that
way" she answered.
What curious disease" said the
young man, thoughtfully. do you
know, l don't believe / shall really
mind being exiled with you on our
island. Of course, a woman's COM
doesn't expect the same intellectual
companionship that a mans company
affords. And then, l don't know that
shall have very much to say to you.
But you will be useful for cooking
my meals, and sometimes | will tell
you things, and"
The girl for the first time uttered a
hearty laugh. The young man seemed
in daze He passed his hand across
his forehead.
will be delightful helping each other
in the little things Of the day, and in
the evenings well sit and chat by the
camp fire and compare notes and ex-
periences-"
The silvery ripple of her mirth
seemed to fill the room. Again the
young man was struck silent.
why are you laughing at me?" he
cried at length. Don't you want my
devotion? Don't you want me to wait
on you, to learn from you, to sit at
your feet as your slave? Is there
somebody else you prefer? / can
hardly wait for the boat to arrive.
HI-II believe I|ove you. Is
this lover"
"Yes, this is love" said the girl.
How do you know? Do you love
me? Do you feel the virus?"
NO" she answered, thoughtfully
81 am sure now that am immune
against it. / didn't tell those old pro-
fessors, but all women are"
why? Why? Why?" shouted the
young man.
Because, you see," she answered.