The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-04-15

headed riding whip. Alan's eyes fas
tened on it as she meant them to do
Then. with full, free swing, she flung
1t from her. The whip. weighted BIZ
the agate head, described long curve
through the air and plunged into the
brush far down the mountain side
"That," Glen cried, her eyes flashing
Into his, "for the beacon. kept it for
you. 1t was too good for you; you
would not take it. so there it goes.'
Her lips trembled and she snapped her
fingers. ut is not worth that to me-
Glen" cried Alan, protesting.
Don't speak," said Glen; "you have
said what you had to say. Now listen
to me. You are blind. Alan, or worse
than that, asleep. I'm not 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
woman. Alan, bone, spirit and a
great deal of flesh. love you, and
you say you love me-"
Alan started forward. but Glen held
him off with gesture. "What do you
think l love in you? The things you
have spent? The things you have
thrown away? Has a woman ever
fallen in love with 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 hot fire. If the fire grows
cold quick enough the LID cracks. Some
Just let the fire burn out and take the
1ross with it. 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 lower key
THE things you know that l do not
know! What child you are among
men. A half-wittcd woman is born
with more knowledge than the wisest
Of you ever attains and the first thing
she learns is that life laughs Mt 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 checks. 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
[ am in yours"
At first Alan had stood stunned by
the words in which she had poured out
her overwhelmed heart, but as she
went on pitilessly 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 eyesy'
Then his tongue failed him. He sank
to the wet grass ut 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 yor
were little you were in my heart ant
you have grown up to It, When yo,
were little there was room there fol
other things, but now that YOU have
grown up you have filled fall Of it
every nook and granny"
A tremor went through Clem's body
She rested the fingers of one hand OH
Alan's head and tried to turn up his
face. But he held it close to her knees
"1f 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 am ashamed
to pour them into your lap-l must
pour them at your feet"
"No,' said Glen gravcly. 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 i'll
"Clem," broke in Alan, "there Is
enough man left in me if you'll only
give me time. Time to groom him