The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-09-07


when you're fifty-one you can"
II suppose So" she said absently.
Perhaps II II were question of
choosing between love that hadn't
any friendship in II and a friendship
But II can't be like that! Can
1t? Can't one haye both2 Can't man
love a woman and be her friend and
partner all at the same timer"
IL can't answer for every man." he
said reflectively. "But I've a notion
that nine out of dozen, IL you
could get down to the actual bedrock
facts about them, would own up that II
they were In love with a woman
really. you know-they wouldn't want
her for . partner, and wouldn't be
able 10 see her rs a friend. That's just
a guess, Of course. But there's one
thing i know. and that is that
couldn't"
She gave little shiver. ooh. what
mess 1t is~ she said. what a per-
fectly hopeless blunder 1t isl" She slid
down from the wall. "Come. let's
walk"
He fell in beside her. and they
tramped sturdily along for a while in
silence. At last he said: II don't know
that can explain 1t, but don't think
I'd call ID a blunder that n strip of spring
steel can't bend in your fingers like
copper, and still go on being a spring.
You see, a man wants his work, and
than no on.nnthin0 haf aIe
gether apart from his work. Loves
about as far away as anything he can
get. So that the notion of our work.
ing ourselves half to death over the
same job. and then going home to-
gether-"
EYES," she admitted. 81 can see that.
But that doesn't cover friendship"
He owned that it didn't. "But when
I'm in love with a wOman--this isn't
q fact I'm proud Of. but It's true-I'm
jealous of her. want to be everything
to her. want her to think nobody else
could be right and be wrong. And
want to be able TO think the same Of
her." He thought 1t over bit longer.
and then went on: mo. I've been in love
with women ! thought were lying to
me, cheating me: women I've hated |:
women I've known hated me. But I've
never been in love with woman who
was my friend" He had been tramp
ing along, communing with his pipe,
thinking aloud. II he'd been watching
Roses face he wouldn't have gone 80
far.
'Well, IL It's like that" she said,
and the quality Of her voice drew his
full attention instantly-''if love has to
be like that, then the game doesn't
seem worth going on with. You can't
live with 1t, and you can't live--with-
out it." Her voice dropped little. but
gained In intensity. AT least I can't.
l don't believe / can" She stopped
and faced him. "What can one dor"
she demanded. She turned away with
despairing gesture and stood gazing
out, tear-blinded, over the little valley
the hilltop they had reached com.
handed.
"You want to remember this" he
said at last. 1--WE been talking about
myself. / might have been different
If my first love affair had been an al
together different thing. And I'm not.
thank God, fair sample"
my love affair brought me home
and-kids." she said. There are two
Of them--twins-a year and half old
now; and I went on and left them; ;
left him. l thought that by earning my
own way. building life that he didn't
surround. rs you say, could win his
friendship. And have his love be-
sides. don't suppose you would have
believed there could be such a fool In
the world as I was to do that"
He took a while digesting this truly
amazing statement Of hers. But at
last he said: mo, wouldn't call you
fool. call fool person who
thinks he can get something for moth
ing. You didn't think that. You were
willing to pay-a heavy price it must
have been, too-for what you wanted.
And I've an idea, you know, that you
never really pay without getting some-
thing"
81 don't know" she said raggedly.
Perhaps -
There was a seven-thirty train to
town, and they finished their walk at
the station. She got back to her apart
ment about nine. Two corners Of
white projected from under her door.
visiting card and a folded bit Of
paper. 1t was Rodney's card. and on
It he'd written: "Sorry to have missed
you. I'll come back at eight"
Her shaking fingers fumbled pitt
fully over the folds OF the note. but
she got II open at last. II was from
him, too. II read:
Dear Rose: This IL hard luck. I sup
pose you're on for q weekend some
whore. I want very much to sec you.
When you come back and have leisure
for me will you call me up? I know
how ousy. you arc, % III wait untn ]
.hesr from you. RODNEY.
When the telephone girl switched
her to the. information desk. and the
information clerk said. "Ar. Rodney
Aldrich? Just a moment" and then :