The Washington times., 1919-08-02


was dependent on him for bigger
thing than my daily bread. He was
my man, and couldn't get away
from that
In that minute II flashed across
me that I couldn't let our quarrel
end in coldness and estranEement.
that must patch things up some
how.
The PsiHt Of View.
"Jim," said slowly and carefully,
doesn't your sense OF fairness tell
you that you'd never give up one Of
your friends just because I tried to
insist? Doesn't it?''
ut does-what of. it?" muttered
I jim.
''oh, then, is ii square to try to
force on me the thing you wouldn't
tolarSte?" r.
; = seThere you 60 round in a eircleT
cried Jim. ''HhveH't told you
sonce before that there has to be a
head to every househoId?"
"A head. bdt,noI q Czar. Jim. you
Heuldn't-bully me?" I stammered.
! srBully you? OF course not I'm
no brute"
e 'No, you're not. And now that
you see how il looks to me when
you forbid things and give me or
derS, won't you change your atti-
tude?'
Jim's jaw set. The veins stood
out on his forehead in a ragged
"Y." His eyes darkened under his
frowning broWs. We were just as
far apart as ever on the subject of
Anthony NorTeys and Jim's right
to forbid" and my duty" to obey.
That / could plainly see.
What do you expect me to dot"
he asked at last, with an ominous
coldness worse than his anger.
., what 90 expect you to do?"
I repeated slowly. ''Oh, Jim, want
you to do the big hne thing. want
you to: tell me that you know I'm .
reasoning human being with opin-
ions and feelings Of my own. /
want YoA to say that you know you
can trust me not to let those feel
ings run away with me or hurt
your dignity, ever. I want
You want a darn sight. more than
you're going TO get!" broke in Jim.
AND you talk like attract not like
real flesh and blood. Now make up
your mind to do as say, or
=. ''or what?" I asked tensely.
Jim. selected a cigarette from has
case, with great care. he shut the
case and tapped the cigarette on It
with three or four quick strokes,
after which he flung cigarette and
case on the table, jammed his hands
in his pockets and turned to me. He
studied me for a moment very care
fully as IL it were necessary in
that moment. for him to learn every
detail Of my face. He looked away
again before he spoke. But when
he did speak his voice was very
low and very steady.
Either act like o wife or-oh,
I think you can finish that sem
tenee for yourself, Anne"
A Bitter Conflict.
could, indeed. And all too well.
We had: come to the point in our
eonflict of ideals where 1t wasn't
possikIs for. either OF US to give IN.
What then: There was an obvious
soluttoh-a cruel selution-an i'm
possible ohe. We must compromise,
somehow. Yet Jim never would
yield. couldn't give in, 1t wasn't
my friendship with Anthony Nor
reys that was at stake. Much as
valued that, must have given IN
IL Jim had said:
Anne, I love you. and this friend
ship hurts me. Won't you sacrihce
il for me, DEAR"
couldn't yield to a command"
because that would have marked
the beginning of the end. It would
have meant the loss OF my own in
dividuality. the loss of the freedom
that belongs to every human soul
in the sanctuary Of Self.
Since there couldn't be yielding,
there must be effective compromise.
or else that other alternative that
wouldn't even permit myself to con-
template.
GJim." l cried desperately. "once
you suggested that I should let you
go your way and you'd let me go
mine. p. And we'd be good
pals. Maybe that idea Of
yours vas the best working agree
ment for u.s."
Jim picked up his discarded
cigarette and studied II attentively
for q moment.
In that moment ! skR1embered
vividly all my etnotioAe when Jim
ago. I had listsned,With sinking
heart. wondering whether all the
romance and poetry Rad gone out
OF our life together Now romance
and pretty hardly counted. so only
we could find a working agreement
for Hfe-togetheT.
PALSY repeated Jim at last
slowly and with an air that startled
me. because IL suggested relief.
pals all right, Anne. Pm
game"
I found myself laughing a little,
unsteadIiy--for these were the
very words with which ! had
answered Jim long ago.