The midland journal., 1916-05-05

think ] love In your The things you
have spent? The things you have
thrown away2 Has woman ever
fallen in love with 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 wife on to them
selves" she went on. ''as you clap
lid on to a hot fire. II 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"
Clem's voice fell into 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 is that life laughs at knowl-
edge.r
CIem stopped speaking and her eyes
that had wandered came back to Al
ans face She drew a 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
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 fame lit up his eyes and fred
his blood. Now he sprang forward and
| dragged her hands from her face.
Mean, Clem? 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
lis 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 1 have never-could never give
Ito anyone else. But am ashamed
to pour them into your lap--I must
pour them at your feet"
NO." said Glenn gravely, II 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, Glenn? You
know what grooming and clean
stable will do for a shaggy horse?"
i Clem nodded. "How much time do
you want"
Alan hesitated. "a year" he said.
"I'll make year do it.
1 You can have six months" replied
Glenn 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 not
count when human souls mount to the
banquet of the gods, they sat side by
side and hand in hand on big rock
and stared with unseeing eyes at the
gray world. with you beside me-"
said Alan, "all skies are blue and filed
with the light of single, steady STAR"
Clem did not answer. but in her eyes
content and knowledge, tenderness
1 and strength, pleasure and pain played
with each other like the lights and
dappled shadows under swaying
bough.