The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-12-01

discussion which she had Thought 10
close weeks before.
Are you trying TO infer that am
to he a part of that happinessTs she
asked none too promisingly.
"You ought TO know, | said all my
life
And there suddenly Barbara laughed.
81 suppose now they'll marry and
live happily ever after she exelaim-
ed. with an attempt at airiness.
Most certainly" asserted Steve. al
though her mirth puzzled him. why
is it funny to your
1T isn't, but-yes, it is too, now
that its no longer thing one need
worry about, That's always the trou-
BILE with emotions which are too In
tense. They're either very sad to con-
template or very, very absurd. And
they will persist in exchanging faces,
to the confusion of the onlookers. Gar
ry was so dangerously in love with
Mary Graves, you see."
HE was in love with an idea the
man contradicted fatty. "He was in
love with just that. And it is not safe
for any man to live alone with an abb
stract conception of anything. He's
bound sooner or later to lose his grip
ON tangible things if he does. He's
likely to start destroying property to
further the cause Of labor or liable to
10 hs,
to jobs I'm certain some of them never
wanted-kings and that sort, | mean
figuring on solving the social problems
of men and women who must solve
that problem themselves. Perfection
is a fine thing to anticipate; expecta-
tons Of it arc dangerous. And women
aren't made that way"
"No?' Her voice slid coolly upward.
mo" he told her and smiled with
that serenity she had come TO know so
well. Not even you, though l. sup
pose I'd about annihilate any one else
If he ever limited at il" He chose to
be didactic in tone, mo, you're not
perfect You've too much intelligence
for that Why, right now you're fight
ing with your brain against the die
tates of your heart, and If you were
above mortal error in Judgment you'd
know that you are wasting your time"
"Your opinion has the merit Of sin
cerity," she said, although looking
back upon IA certain day, | can't
help but wonder whether You haven't
been guilty of mouthing pretty moth
ings for my poor ears.
'That proves my point right now. y
He was imperturbable. You're beg
ging the question to gain
"You said"- she flashed and then
grew red.
Il said Id let you ask 10 pardon of
me. / said Id let myself find no flaw
in you. But how does that embarrass
nv present argument? Flawless per-
lection would be mighty difficult
thing to live with day in and day out.
Living with a. woman who never made
a mistake could have no appeal for
me. Shed always be emphasizing my
own shortcomings. You become con-
sistent and you'll catch. me yawning
some day; grow logical and you'll al
most scare me ont Why. you're a
girlw
Her laughter was like bell on the
still air.
"And you-you still sit there and in
sist that perfection has no attraction
for you? When you've. just described
without knowing it the-the sort OF
girl you think is perfect"
His lips curled in way to quicken
any woman's pulse.
"You have me beaten" he laughed
His eyes, dark as was the shadow upor
his face. made her breath unsteady
81 would like to watch you play pokel
with Fat Joe. Your game would puz
: zle him more than little. Yes, you've
! surely left me without leg on which
to hobble off, because it would bC
small spirited in me, wouldn't it, If
were to tell you that you are the ex
: ception that makes my general ruiz
hold sound? | wouldn't, however, pre-
scribe such a degree of perfection TO
any other mans daily diet. 1t would
I prove his destruction"
4 "Your own superiority, Of course
\ rendering you immunep
maybe" At least whether she knew
it or not, she loved his serenity. May
a be-and maybe I'm an exception too"
He sat very still She had turned
:. away once more.
h you'll be back again in the springT
a he asked with that gentleness he save
| for her alone.
z II hope-I think So The smallnes
i OF her voice angered her. She feignet
II a short. carefree laugh. UNLESS | an
q too busy. Getting married seems t
become more and more complicate,
!, problem Of proper costuming, doesn'
! It, with every passing season."
: She couldn't have told why she sal
4 it. She was trying to think of some
r thing else to say which would be kind
= err by far. And then, half lifting hel
!. he had swung her around to him. Flo
4 a moment he held her, face close t
|. that small, frightened face buried /
t its deep collar, while she struggle
uselessly against those hard arm:
which tried not to hurt her, Her lip
g continued to rebel long after her eye
?, had closed-long after body and brai
were uuiescent