The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-14

Wnen you're Dfty-One you can.
II suppose So" she said absently
perhaps If it were a question O
choosing between a love that hadn'
any friendship in it and a friendship
+. But it can't be like that! Ca
it? Can't one have both? Can't a mai
love woman and be her friend an,
partner all at the same timer"
II can't answer for every man." h.
said refectively. "But I've notion
that nine out of a dozen, if vol
could get down to the actual bedrock
facts about them, would own up that Il
they were in love with a woman
really, you know-they wouldn't wan
her for a partner, and wouldn't BIZ
able to see her as friend. That's JUS
guess, of course. But there's one
thing know, and that is that
couldn't"
She gave aslittle shiver. "Oh, what @
mess it u" she said. "What a per.
fectly hopeless blunder 1t is !" She slid
down from the wall. "Come, let's
walk"
He fell in beside her, and they
tramped sturdily along for while in
silence. At last he said: ~ don't know
that can explain 1t, but don't think
I'd call it blunder that a strip of spring
steel can't bend in your fingers like
copper, and still go on being a spring.
You see, man wants his work, and
then he wants something that's alto
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. IT 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
a fact I'm proud of, but it's true-Tm
jealous of her. want to be everything
to her. I 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 it over bit longer,
md then went on: mo, I've been in love
with women I thought were lying to
me, cheating me; women I've hated;
I've known hated me. But I've
never been in love with woman who
was my friend" He had been tramp
ng along, communing with his pipe,
linking aloud. If he'd been watching
Roses face he wouldn't have gone so
ar.
"Well, if it's like that" she said,
ind the quality of her voice drew his
ull attention instantly-'if love has to
,e like that, then the game doesn't
eem worth going on with. You can't
i've with it, and you can't live-with-
ut it." Her voice dropped a little, but
aimed in intensity. "At least I can't.
don't believe I CAM She stopped
nd faced him. "What can one do?"
he demanded. She turned away with
despairing gesture and stood gazing
ut, tear-blinded, over the little valley |
he hilltop they had reached COM
handed.
"You want to remember this" he
aid at last. 'T've been talking about
lyself. I might have been different
my first love affair had been an al
,gether different thing. And I'm not,
hank God, a fair sample"
"My love affair brought me home
she said. There are two
{ them-twins-a year and half old
ow; and went off and left them;
# him. thought that by earning my
xn way, building life that he didn't
as you say, could win his
And have his love be-
DIES. don't suppose you would have
elieved there could be such a fool in
lie world as I was to do that"
He took while digesting this truly
nazing statement of hers. But at
st he said: "No, wouldn't call you
fool. I call fool a person who
inks he can get something for moth
g. You didn't think that. You were
illing to pay-a heavy price it must
I've been, too-for what you wanted.
nd I've an idea, you know, that you
'ver really pay without getting some
ing"
II don't know" she said raggedly.
'erhapS
There was a seven-thirty train to
wn, and they finished their walk at
e station. She got back to her apart
emit about nine. Two corners of l
lfte projected from under her door,
visiting card and a folded bit Of
per. 1t was Rodney's card, and on 6
he'd written: "Sorry to have missed
u. I'll come back at eight"
Her shaking fingers fumbled pitt
lily over the folds Of the note, but c
e got it open at last. It was from Q
II, too. 1t read: b
Dear Rose: This is hard luck. I sup G
Sc you're off for a weekend some :.
ere. I want very much to see you.
hen you come back and have leisure h
me will you call me up? I know q
W busy you are, so I'll wait until I !,
IT from you. RODNEY.
When the telephone girl switched O
: to the information desk, and the /.
ormation clerk said. 'Mr. Rodney a
1rich? Just moment" and then:
r. Aldrich is in fifteen naught five," "
dry contraction in her throat made N
for her to speak. She "
Ildn't answer his first "Hello," and +.
said n again sharnIv "HellO what r,