The weekly Iberian., 1919-11-15

rather Il weapon, the only probe maj
can pierce the armor of individuals
for of course You know that every per
sonality wears shell, thick or thin.
close Joined or loose"
She turned her eyes and looked him
mp and down feetingly. "What else
will your philosophy do for me?' she
asked.
"What clSe?" he repeated ut will
make you gloriously indcpendent--re-
duce you to the three elements of con
tent-health, honor and an inner
flame"
Lets begin with the inner flame"
she suggested. 'It sounds mystic"
"But II isn't" he replied IT'S the
most practical thing in the world, Am
btion. Illusion, youth, nrc few Of It's
commoner appellations, but the one
that comes nearest to impriSOning 1t In
a phrase is. breath of life"
Andrea studied him almost impa-
| tientIy; iuWardly she was rcbclling
tremendously mt finding herself 50 con
even mt the moment calmly doing her
great wrong If he had spoken rs
didactically about his precious phil
oSophy she would have found herself
ut once; but he hadn't. In that point
more than In any other lay the charm
charm? We'll, call it charm, anyway
of this unusual male
Having thought the matter out with
n view to hearing him browse some
more, she said, Cant you bring 1t n
little nearcr?"
"I'll try" he answered after Il pause.
Breath of life is that quality which
holds back man from marrying for
money and urges another to the de
Scrtian of wife and children because
he's bored. that makes n preacher leap
from the pricking pinnacle of dogma
To the heart of the Red Light district
and his own destruction, that leads the
king bull of the herd 10 impatient paths
of lonely meditation. In short, It's
the perpetual vigilance Of self Mt the
apparent risk of the soul"
"Sort of subImated egoism," re
marked Andren.
"Selfshness, you mean?" He shook
his head. ITS not even on Tint plane;
it's so much over 1t that seltishness as
a quality is merely one of the pebbles
on the beach below 1t that the sen has
been grinding down to uniform char
r;etti p, htn
it's flame; dead, 1t doesn't even leave
Il corpse"
Andrea yawned. "Now honor" she
said.
won't you talk littleY" said the
man. Defining is great game and
don't want to hog all the fun. Speak
for your class. What's honor?"
Andrea thought for minute; then
anywhere this side of the Rubicon."
she paused.
"And with men?" he urged.
with men It's the art of not get
ting caught"
"Capitall" he exclaimed.
res, SHe UlUTInuTPu. i Thought
you would like those answers" He
stared at her, but she kept her face
innocent of malice. "Now tell me
what honor really Is"
II believe you could have told me-
he answered, except for the fact that
your exceptionally good taste bars
sincerity. It's what Is left of morality
when you're sure no one Is looking"
Andrea stitled another yawn. Some
of the things you say" she gasped.
"are almost clever enough for book
to read In bed"
81 beg your pardon. I'm sorry" said
the man and clapped his hands loudly.
A bundle under the tree, wrapped up
head and all in a blanket, resolved it.
self into Bathtub rubbing sleep out of
his eyes; arose, seized rope on a
pulley and hauled. The circular mos
quito net rolled up from about the
table.
'Will you go to your room and tell
me if you have everythingY asked the
man tsE,yorvfhfp ppppccory I mpun "