The herald., 1919-08-28
AS a Man
StriVeth
r.
BY HARRY F. BOWLING
tCopyright.)

Isabelle spoke listlessly; there was
no infection in her voice; her tone
was negative.
Poor Adrian he was one of the I'M
III. Nothing ever becomes of such
men. They simply cease"
] tilted back my bamboo chair and
smiled indulgently at isabelle. We
had been celebrating the fifth ami
versary Of our wedding day, we had
dined comfortably, and now. loungfng
on the terrace Of our Monterey villa,
we were enjoying the restful hour Of
twilight.
delicious somnolence was steal
Ing over me, the issue of an easy con-
science and good digestion.
Isabelle reused me from my dream
ings: there was a tenSeneSs in her
voice out of keeping with her former
apathy.
Tell me, MariuS, is It divine or
only a human law, that no one woman
at one time may make more than one
man happy?"
Sounds like problem in geome-
try or an algehraical equation. Send
IL to the puzzle department" OBJ
served lazily.
She paid no attention to me but con-
tinued in the same strain.
II would never be the cause of suf-
fering TO any man-never willingly. II
have been so, 1t was through an mex
orable law"
"Oh. ss to Adrian Hope" l re-
marked airily, tracing her thought to
It's germ cell, ut was part of his unfit
ness. You couldn't help it,"
yet he was in earnest"
Too much in earnest for other peO-
pies comfort. He and his fiddle be-
came neighborhood nuisance he had
no more music in him than a-er-a
bumblebeew
"Bumblebees are rather melOdiCus,"
she corrected me. "And l think you
hardly do justice to Adrian Hope"
what! Did you enjoy his music?"
NO, but he tried so hard. was
sorry for him, and 1t worries me some
times"
Worries your" I was growing a
little impatient. "What worries you"
Adrian Hope left California the
very day of our marriage and has
never been heard of since"
HE went to the East Indies. I have
told you so many times-partly for
business, partly for pleasure"
And wholly for pain. My dear
Marius," she continued quickly. "Can
| help remembering he was desperate
ly In love with me, and 1 could never
reciprOcate his feelings, and he went
away broken-hearted, do you call that
going for pleasure. and are you jealous
because 1 feel sorry for him"
Il am not Jealous" answered qui-
city. "Why should be? Adrian never
had the ghost Of show"
Isabelle leaned her elbow on the
stone balustrade which separated the
terrace from the garden below, and
rested her chin in her open palm.
1.-THE Goddess Of Reflection'-what a
picture! If could put you on canvas,
lust as you look now !" 1 murmured.
She shook her head and smilsd
sadly.
you abandoned your brush and pal
,tte long ago, Marius. I'm afraid you
couldn't do It,"
Her last remarks caused me some
,in-pricks Of conscience. Since, Just
me year after our marriage Isabelle |
had inherited a comfortable compe-
ence. ] had entirely neglected my
studio on which 1 had formerly had
o rely for living. Ny art had not
'een art for arts sake.
"Oh, we'll, it's never too late to
nend," limited. "You see fate some
lines seems to point in one direc-
lon and then the unexpected"
But fate and the unexpected are
win brothers," a deep voice broke in
With the boom Of an ocean breaker.
l jumped to my feet.
Adrian Hope was standing only q
ew feet from me. 1 had heard no
ound Of his approach.
AS stepped forward to greet
.drian she retreated into the shadow
I the porch.
81 have been away a long time,
aven't II" Adrian began apologetical-
Y. II trust my sudden return hasn't
tartled you. It's hardly conventional.
fear"
Adrian shook my hand heartily, but
eemed utterly oblivious Of my wife's
resence
your present life, Marius," he
sked. presently, "is 1t happy, as men
all TT"
Perfectly happy" assented. lisa.
ellie will tell YOU"
"Ah, yes and five years ago l imag-
led myself perfectly unhappy"
Isabelle stepped forward into the
and saw that her cheeks
ere crimson. Adrian addressed him
ELF to me:
Come, talk to me of perfect happi-
ess, as men see 1t. You used to be
good talker, as talk goes"
He smiled and wrinkIed only one
,rner Of his mouth. His face in the
Moonlight was the color Of dead moss.
paid no heed to his sneering remark.
fter a prolonged silence he began
gain.
81 thought once that II was my
ilure m Droduca roc,Itc tbot r,,t |