American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-09
AS a Man
Striveth

BY HARRY r. BOWLING

'Poor Adrian he was one OF the un-
ht. No'hing ever becomes Of such
men. They simply ~cease.''
/ tilted back my bamboo chair and
smiled l|ndulgently at Isabelle. We
had been celebrating the fifth ami
versary Of our wedding day, we had
dined comfortably, and now, l%ounging
on thckterrnce Of our Monterey villa.
we were enjoying the restful hour OF
twilight.
A delicious somnolence was gteal-
ing over me, the issue Of an ensy con-
science and n good digestion.
Isabelle reused me from my dream
ings there was n tenseness In her
voice out OF keeping with her former
opnthy.
"Tell me, Marius, Is It q divine or
only n human law, that no n woman
ut one time may make more than one
man hnppyT
sounds like q problem In gcome-
try or an algebraical equation. send
It TO the puzzle department" ] OBJ
served lnzlly.
She paid no attention to me but con
tinued in the same strain.
81 would never be the cause Of suf-
fering to any man-never willingly. n
Ihave been so, It was through an inex-
orable law"
"Oh, MS to Adrian Hope" ! re-
marked alrlly, trnclnR her thought to
Its germ cell. at was part Of his unfit
ness. You couldn't help H."
"Yet he was in earnest"
'Too much In earnest for other peo-
pies comfort. lie and his fiddle be-
came n ~nelghborhOOd nuisance; he had
no more music In him than a-er-a
bumbicbee !"
'Bumblebecs are rather melodlous,"
she corrected me. And ] think you
hardly do Justice to Adrian Hope
"Whatl Did you enjoy his music1'
"No, but he tried so hard. ! WINS
sorry FOR him, and II worries me some
times"
"Worries your I was growing a
little impatient. "Whnt worries your
"Adrinn Hope left California the
very dry OF our marriage and has
never been heard OF since"
Gle went to the East indies. ! have
told you so many tlmes-partly for
business, partly FOR PLEASURE"
"And wholly for pain. My dem
Marius," she continued quickly. "Cnr
help remembering he was desperate
iy In love with me, and | could nevel
reclnrocate his feelings, and he wen
away broken.hearted, DO you call tina
going for pleasure, and are you Jealous
because | feel sorry for hlmf"
81 am not Jealous" | answered qul
city. "Why should | her Adrian never
had the ghost OF n show"
Isnbelle leaned her elbow or thu
stone balustrade which separated tn,
terrace from the garden below, ant
rested her chin in her open palm.
"The Goddess OF Refectlan'-what
picture L IL | could put you on canvas
Just as you look now" I murmured.
She shook her head and smile,
sndly.
"You abandoned your brush and pal
cite long ago, Marlus, I'm afraid yo
couldn't do H."
Her last remarks caused me som
pin-pricks of conscience. Since, jus
one year after our marriage Isabel
had inherited a comfortable comp,
tence. had entirely neglected m
studio on which | had formerly In
to rely for a living, My art had ne
been art for arts sake.
"Oh, well, It's never too late I
mend,n limited. "You see fnte SOM
times seems 70 point In n dire
tion and then the Unexpected"
"But fate and the unexpected al
twin brothers." a deep voice broke
with the boom OF an ocean breaker.
jumped TO my feet.
Adrian Hope wns standing only
few feet from me. | had heard !
sound OF his approach.
As | stepped forward to gre
Adrian she retrented into the shade
OF the porch.
II have been away q long tin
haven't II" Adrian began arologetic'
ly. ~ trust my sudden return hasl
startled you, It's hardly convention
l fenr."
Adrian shook my hand heartily, b
seemed utterly ohlivious OF my wifi
presence.
"Your present life, Marlus,'
asked, presently, as Il happy, as m
call III"
Perfectly happy" | assented. 81
belle will tell YOU"
"Ah, yes and five years 6 l imi
ined myself perfectly unhappy"
Isabelle stepped forward into
moonlight. and ! saw that her chez
were crimson. Adrian addressed hi
self 20 me:
"Come, talk to ME OF perfect hau
ness, as men see II. You used 20
a good talker, as talk goes
He smiled and wrinkled only
corner OF his mouth. His face In
moonlight was the color OF dead mC
I paid no heed TO his sneering rema
After q prolonged silence he bel
again.
II thought once that II was