Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-27

trust me. The things I know that you
do not know shove the duty Of denial
on to my shoulders. I could give you
an empty shell. but I won't"
Alan had not looked at Glenn. He
had talked like one rehearsing a les
son, with his eyes far away in the gray
world. He dropped the bit Of bush.
and his hands. locked about his knees.
gripped each other till the knuckIes
and fingers showed white against the
tan of his thin wrists. When he
stopped speaking Glen turned curious
eyes upon him. rs that all?" she
asked.
Alan sprang up and faced her. "An?
Alp" he cried. Isn't it enoush?"
Glenn rose TO her feet In her uplift-
ed right hand she held her agate
headed riding whip. Alan's eyes fas-
tened on it as she meant them to do.
Then. with a full, free swing, she flung
it from her. The whip. weighted by
the agate head. described a long curve
through the air aud plunged into the
brush far down the mountain side
That" Glen cried, her eyes flashing
into his, ''for the beacon. l kept it for
you. 1t was too good for you; you
would not take 1t, so there it goes"
Her lips trembled and she. snapped her
fingers. ut is not worth that to me-"
"Clemr' cried Alan, protesting.
Don't speak" said Glenn; you have
said what you had TO say. Now listen
to me. You are blind, Alan, or worse
than that, asleep. I'm not a thin
legged elf with skirts bobbing above
my knees any more. You can't make
me swallow my protests today with.
Glen, you mustn't this and you
mustn't that There's one thing you've
closed your eyes on long enough. I'm
a woman, Alan, bone, spirit and a
great deal of flesh. love you, and
you say you love me-"
Alan started forward, but Glenn held
him off with a gesture "What do you
think love in you? The things you
have spent? The things you have
thrown away? Has a woman ever
fallen in love with a man because he
was perfect?" Glenn made a despond-
ing gesture with both hands as though
she sought words that would not come.
Some men clap q wife on to them
selves" she went on, ''as you clap q
lid on to not fire. If the fire grows
cold quick enough the lid cracks. Some
just let the fire burn out and take the
dross with 1t. A woman knows that
there Is always something left in the
man she loves. And even If she did
not know it, 1t would be the same. She
would rather give all for nothing than
never give at ALL
Clem's voice fell into a lower key.
''The things you know that / do not
know! What child you are among
men. A half-witted woman is born
with more knowledge than the wisest
Of you ever attains and the first thing
she learns 10 that life laughs at knowl-
edge"
Glenn stopped speaking and her eyes
that had wandered came back to AL
ans face. She drew quivering breath.
Her face had been pale, but now the
sudden color surged up over her throat
and into her cheeks. She put up her
hands to her forehead. "Oh," she
gasped, you have driven me too far.
am mean thing In my own eyes as
I am in yours"
At first Alan had stood stunned by
the words in which she had poured out
her oVerburdened heart, but as she
went on pittlessly laying bare her sub
lection fame lit up his eyes and fired
his blood. Now he sprang forward and
dragged her hands from her face
MEAN, Glen? Mean in my eyes?'
Then his tongue failed him. He sank
to the wet grass at her feet, took her
knees In his arms and hid his hot face
In her skirt. my God, my God" he
cried. II am mean, but what there
is Of me has knelt to you by night and
worshiped you by day. When you
were little you were in my heart and
you have grown up to 1t. When you
were little there was room there for
other things, but now that you have
SAOW IL NY SOu uaSC AllEu kl-dil VI 1t
every nook and granny"
4 tremor went through Clem's body.
She rested the fingers of one hand on
Alan's head and tried to turn up his
face. But he held 1t close to her knees.
IF you want me, Glen, If you want
me, then there must be things left
things have never-could never give
to anyone else. But I am ashamed
to pour them into your lap-I must
pour them at your feet"
"No," said Glenn gravely, 81 do not
want you to pour things at my feet.
It's got to be eye to eye or nothing,
and II there's any man left in"
"Clem," broke in Alan, there Is
enough man left in me If you'll only
give me time. Time to groom him.
You can understand that, Glen? You
know what grooming and a clean
stable will do for shaggy horse?"
Glenn nodded. How much time do
you want?"
Alan hesitated. "A year," he said.
'I'll make year do it."
"You can have six months" replied
Glenn md added with smile, THAT'S
ten per cent under Office estimates"
Then forgetful Of hours and meals
and the little things in life that do not
L, Il Il