The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-03-04
M1aCow P 11I
SEHSs.SsJCGsn. By Robert JC. Stead
<Ta& Utb}fYrCgSSS1<yP1<AE Quhof
X SEY3MN$( kitchener. and ether poems
81 N.I1 N9t/ Y

=
sudden disappearance. stripping the
incident Of all but vital facts. Bert
Morrison was all sympathy. "Its n
big story, you know" she said. hut
we won't think of II that way. Not
n line. so far as am concerned.
Edith Duncan Is the girl we need. A
sort Of adopted sister TO Dave. She
may know more than any Of us"
But Edith knew absolutely nothing !;
nothing except that her own heart was
thrown into turmoil OF emotions.
She spent the day and the evening
where Dave might likely be found.
And the next morning she called on
Irene Hardy.
In spite Of an efforts nt self-control
she trcmhlcd as she pressed the bell.
She had never met Irene Hardy; 1t
WIS going 10 be a strange experience,
introducing herself To the woman who
had been preferred over her and who
I had apparently proved 81 unworthy Of
that preference.
She had difficult things TO say. and
even while she sand them she must
fight q battle To the death with the
jealousy of her natural womnnhood.
and she must be very. very careful
that IN saying thiugs which were hard
to say she did MOI say hard things.
And. most difficult Of an. she must try
10 pave the wav to reconciliation be-
tween Dave aud the woman who stood
between her and happiness.
Irene attended the door, rs was her
custom. Her eyes look IN Edith's face
nnd figure with mild surprise. Edith
was conscious Of the process Of a
quick intellect cnd,uvorlng ~ classify
her-solicitor. music teacher. bust
nrss Cirlq And In that moment of
pause she saw Irenc's eyes and n
strange commotion Of feeling surccd
through her So This was the woman
Dave had chosen to love!
40. one docs not choose whom one
win love; one loves without choosing
! Edith WIS conscious Of that; she knew
that ln her own ne And even as she
locked this first time upon Irene she
became aware OF subtle attraction
caJhrrlng about her; she felt some
thing of that power which had held
Dave To- single course through all
these Years. And suddenly great
now truth was born In Edith Duncan
Suddenly she realized that n the stee
M any time prove unfaithful to the
uagnei The fault les not In the stce
hut In the magnet What n change oi
view. what q reyerslon Of all accepted
things came with the realization al
that truth which roots down into the
bedrock of all nature!
won't You come In7" Irene wa
/, sewing. Her voice was sweet and mu
steal. but there was note of sadness
In IL which set responsive chords
a-tremble all through Edith's heart.
81 am Edith Duncan" she managed
TO say. Il think | have something
to say that may interest you"
There was quick leap in Irene'i
eyes: the leap Of that intuitive femi
nine sense of danger which so seldom
errs In dealing with IFS own sex. an'
il vet So unreliable n defense from
the dangers Of the other. Mrs. Hard!
was In the living room.
won't you come up 10 my work
shopT" Irene answered, withou
change Of voice. and they ascende'
the stairs together. 81 draw little.
Irene was saying. talking fast. "Oh
yes. have quite commerciallzed m!
art. such as Il is. But haven't los
my soul altogether. ] daub in colo
n M le-yes, dauh. that's the word
But it Keeps ones soul alive" Sh,
treubed. and her voice choked; sh'
put out her arm 10 a chair Whel
she turned her face there were tear
ON II. TELL me-Edlth," sh,
said. "You know"
II know some things" Edith man
aged 20 say. II know. now. that l ID
not know all. Dave and l are OLE
friends. My father took liking e
him and he used often to be in on
house. And we got 10 know eacl
other very well, and he told me abou
you long ago. And last night | foun'
him az his rooms. almost mad an'
swearing 10 shoot Coward. AM
then he told me that-that-"
"Yes2 Yes? What did he tell you
! am not afraid"
Edith turned her eyes 10 where tn
white crests of the mountains cut lik'
a crumpled keel through sea of inf
mite blue. "lle told me he saw Con
ward here upstairs .
and Coward made a boast. And h
would have shot him, but you rushed
upon him and begged him not TO. HI
said you would have taken the bulle
yourself rather than II should fine
Coward"
"Oh oh :" the girl cried In the pair
Of one MORALLY hurt. "HOw could h
think that? l didn't care for him
for COnward-but for Dave. l knew
there had been "A quarrel dldn'
know why-and | knew II Dave sho
hint wasn't In elf-defense-what
ever II was. he couldn't plead that
and they'd hang him, and that was al
l saw. Edith. that was all | saw, anC
would-yes. would rather have
taken the bullet myself than that thai
should happen"