Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-21

think love in your 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" Glen made a despond-
ing gesture with both hands as though
she sought words that would not come.
"Some men clap a wife on to them
selves" she went on, ''as you clap a
lid on to a hot fire. If the fire grows
cold quick enough the lid cracks. Some
just let the fire burn out and take the
dross with it. A woman knows that
there is always something left in the
man she loves. And even if she did
not know it, it would be the same. She
would rather give all for nothing than
never give at ALL"
Clients voice fell into lower key.
'The things you know that l do not
know! What a 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 is that life laughs at knOwl-
edge"
Glen 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.
1 am a mean thing in my own eyes as
l 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 pitilessly laying bare her sub
lection flame lit up his eyes and fred
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 fC 9
in her skirt. "My God, my Cod" he
cried. 81 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 it. When you
were little there was room there for
other things, but now that you have
grown up you have filed it-all Of it
every nook and Granny"
A 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 it close to her knees.
"If you want me. Glen, If you want
me, then there must be things left
| things l have never-could never give
| to anyone else. But l am ashamed
| to pour them into your lap must
| pour them at your feet"
"No," said Glen gravely, 81 do not
| want you to pour things at my feet
| It's got to be eye to eye or nothing
| and If there's any man left in"
| "Clem," broke in Alan, there Is
| enough man left in me if you'll only
I 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 dc
| you want?"
Alan hesitated. "a year." he said
| 'I'll make year do it."
! You can have six months" replied
u Glen and 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 mo-
/ count when human souls mount to thu
banquet of the gods, they sat side by
side and hand in hand on a big rocl
and stared with unseeing eyes at the
gray world. with you beside me,
said Alan, IAN skies are blue and filled
with the light Of single, steady star
:, Glen did not answer, but in her eye!
= content and knowledge, tenderness!
- and strength, pleasure and pain played
;. with each other like the lights ant
u dappled shadows under a swayinl
- - bough.