The Arvada enterprise., 1919-12-04
y BOOTH HARRINGTON

life We have lett to uS Tor making uE
to ourselves from old unhapplnsss and
mistakes. But now ws're faced with
not the slander and not our own fear
Of II. because we haven't any, but
someone else's fear Of it-your sons
And, oh, dearest woman in the world,
I know what your son u to you, and II
frightens me! Let me explain little
don't think he'll chanse-at twenty.
one or twenty-five 70 many things ap.
pear solid and permanent and terrible
which forty sees are nothing but dis.
appearing miasma. Forty can't tell
twenty about this: that's the pity Of
I'll Twenty can ind out only BY get
ting to be forty. And 20 We come to
this. dear: VIII you live your own life
your way. or Georges way! I'm going
little further. because 1t would be
fatal not to be wholly frank now.
George will act toward you only as
your long worship Of him, your sac
riflces-all the unseen little ones every
day Gnce he was born-will make him
act. Dear. 1t breaks my heart for you.
but what you have to oppose now is
the history Of your own selness and
perfect motherhood. I remember say
ing once that what you worshiped in
your son was the angel you saw in him
and I still believe that u true Of
every mother. But In . mothers wor-
ship she may not see that the VIII In
her son should not always be offered In
cense along with the angel. grow sick
with fear for you-for both you and
me-when think how the will against
~ two has grown strong through the
love you have given the angel-and
how long your own sweet will has
served that other. Are you strong
enough. Isabeli Can you make the
nEhti I promise you that II you win
take heart for It. you will ind % quick
" that It has all amounted to nothing.
You shall have happiness. and. In q
little while. only happiness. You need
only to write mo q line-I can't come
to your house-and tell me where you
will meet me. We viii come back in
Q month. and tho angel In your son
will bring him to you: promise It.
What u good In him win grow 20 nne.
once you have beaten the turbulent
will-but It must BE- beateni
"Xour brother. that good friend, 4
waiting with such patience; I should
not keep him longer am sayins
too much for wisdom. fear. But. oh.
my dear. won't you be strong-such q
little short strength It would need
Don't strike my life down twice, dear
this time I've not deserved II.
"EUGENN."
Concluding this missive. George
tossed It abruptly from him 20 one
sheet fell upon his bed and the others
upon the floor: and at the faint noise
OF their falling Isabel came. and, kneel.
ing, began to gather them up.
ibid you read II. dearf'
Georges face was pale NO longer.
but pink with fury. "Yes. I did"
"All Of itr' she asked gently, a. she
rose.
Certainly"
She did not look at him. but kept her
eyes downcast upon the letter In her
hands. tremulously rearranginx the
sheets In order - she spoke-and
though she smiled. her smile was a.
tremulous ~ her hands. Nervousness
and an Irresistible timidity possessed
her. I'll wanted to say. George" shs
faitered. n felt that if-if some day
It should happen-I mean. II you came
to feel differently about It, and Eu-
gene and THAT Ii II We found that Il
seemed the most sensible thing to do
l was afraid you might think It would
be little queer about--Lucy. I mean
if-lf she were your stcp-sister. OF
course. she'd not be even legally re-
lated to you, and II you-if you cared
for her"
Thus far abe got stumblinEly with
what she wanted to say. while George
watched her with 4 gaze that grew
harder and hotter: but here he cut her
Oh. II have already given up all ides
Of Lucy" he said. Naturally. ]
couldn't have treated her father % !
deliberately did treat him-I could
hardly have done that and expected hil
daughter ever to speak to me again"
Isabel gave . quick CRY Of compas
sion. but he allowed her NO opportunity
to speak. "You needn't think I'm
making any particular sacrifice" HI
said sharply. "thouxh I would. quickly
enough. II I thought II necessary In Z
matter Of honor like this. was inter
ested In her. and I could even say
did care for her: but she proved pretty
satisfactorily that she cared little
enough about mel The truth u. we'rs
not congcnial and we'd found tha,
much out. nt least, before she left. W,
should never have been happy: Oh,
was superior all the time. and er.tica
Of me--not vefy pleasant. that!
don't think she has the very decpss
nature In the world. and"
hut Isabel put her hand timidiy o,
his arm. "ticorgc, dear. this n only ,
quarrel; NIL young people have then
before they get adjusted. and yot
mustn't let"
III you pleased" he said emphatical