Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1918-05-03


Helen Fairfax turned her eyes back
to her lover with a murmured For
give me-" They were earnest eyes,
shining with q tremulous love-llght,
and she was a clever girl, with keen
mind and keener intuition, and he had
grown into the habit Of talking to her
freely Of his life, his profession, 10 q
way that surprised himself.
But tonight her attention wandered.
Tonight Of all nightsl Tomorrow he
was to sum up his great case. Surely
a woman should share the self-denial
of mans destiny. Was Helen, after
all, like other women-given to moods,
absorbed in the subjectlve-when the
veil was lifted? They had been en-
gagged six months; each day had been
a fuller revelation of her nature. Was
this the nearer view? All, no-banish
the thought Helen was Helen-there
was no more to be said.
He took up the lines of the argu-
ment Of his case and stated them to
her, clearly, concisely, as though she
were a man. This time her eyes did
not wander from his face; they deep
ened their pupils growing larger as
she gazed. How splendid he looked !
How alert; how alivel
How could she keep at this wide dis
lance. How incidental and how futile
sounded all that rapid flow of words
When would he have done, that she
might throw herself upon his breast?
"Don't you think so?" he asked her,
suddenly.
"Oh, Harold, l did not hear what
you were saying"
"Not hear what / was saying?
Haven't you been following? I never
needed your cooperation more your In
tellectual sympathy more, than / do
tonight. You know how hard / have
been working on this case; you know
what notable case 1t is. You know
also, that the eyes of the legal world
are upon me. My summing up tomor-
row will be a crisis in the beginning
of my career. Could you not follow
me by your sympathy-your
INTEREST,""
He waited to see the flash of pro-
test In her eyes, for some little lance
that she would thrust to cross his own,
but instead she nestled her head into
the curve Of his shoulder and whisp-
cred: Forgive me, l am moody to-
night; very moody and absent-mind-
ed"
1--WE have no right to be moody nor
DEAR" he answered
seriously, "where another's interests
are involved. 1t Is sign of weakness.
And there is something besides love.
A strong woman should keep even love
at bay when a man has work to do
not lure him nor tempt him with It.
do not like to say 1t, sweetheart, but
Il love you-and the wounds Of a
friend are faithful. am disappoint-
ed at your failure to sympathlze with
my work tonight"
Two big tears welled In her eyes, but |
she said no word. Had Harold Ford |
been a hero, knight Of chivalry, he
would not have stopped in his quest |
until he had found the source Of those
two tears; he was, however, only q
very busy man Of today. Not that the
TWO are altogether incompatible, but |
hat the combination is rare, and Har-
Did did not happen to be both In the
fullest sense; furthermore, he was
ieeply absorbed in an immediate prac-
.ical affair. 1t was striking II, and
line for him to leave her. Though he
;aid no more, and his goodnight salu-
alton lacked nothing outwardly, there
vas mental reservation which, to
he psychic sense of Helen, robbed it
If It's fullest bliss.
"Six o'clock tomorrow, DEAR" he Pc
)eated as he went out the door. "Six
''clock tomorrow" she answered.
Did her voice CULVER or was 1t fan
"? He was conscious Of saying to
himself as he passed down the steps:
Are all women alike. / wonder-af-
er all-tears and moods?"
The following afternoon, in the gath
ring dusk, he mounted the steps
gain. His attitude had changed. The
tress and irritation of an absorbing
fort had given place to a bouyant re-
lction. He had won his case, and won
in so brilliant way that the tri-
Imph was the smallest part of his self
Even the Judge had
aid words to make a young lawyers
leart take courage. But what were
he words, what was the triumph, what
vas anything, until he had shared 1t
With Helenf He could see her in the
altering dusk, as he waited, her eyes
listening delight He could hear her
ibrant 'Haroldl" Poor child, had he
'een harsh last night? An, no, only
inpatient for a moment-and frank
o make her the utmost that she was
apable Of being. II he had uninten-
lonally hurt her, he knew a potent
aim to heal with, to make her rejoice.
Why was the servant so eternally slow
a opening the door? How long they
we're making him waitl He rang
gain.