Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-04-02

the man, almost as a%bsently. 'but
there are times when ten boys picked
boys" lie stopped MS II he were
lost In some far "reminiscences.
A silence fell to the end OF the meal,
which co'ncided with the sudden end
Of the troplc dny.
The mnn spoke 10 the ervnnts for
the FIRST time. They cleared the
table, set II again with glns5es and
Liquors, cigars, cigarettes and coffee,
and moved II slightly to one side.
Then, from the nearby hut, they
brought out two cushioned wicker
chairs, homemade but comfortable.
Andren sank Into hers with u peculiar
feeling OF well-being mixed with sus.
pense. The man sat down opposite
her, the table within easy reach OF both
but not between them. Something
swayed with n Jerk above their heads.
Andrea, startled, looked up just In time
to see an enormou white disk unroll
from Its edges. letting fall In n circle
around them a snowy mesh OF bob
blnet.
They, and nll they needed for COM
fort, became enclosed In nm insect
proof cage that swayed softly to the
evening stir OF air. The servants
weighted down It's edges with fiat
stones and then 1T two acetyleDe
lnmps TINT stood outside on stands
plnced nj right angles to the couple
within the net so that the eyes OF both
were spared the glare.
The man poured coffee and llqueurs,
III Andrea's cigarette, chose n cigar
for himself and sat down. During the
coffee they eyed each other In silence,
taking each others measure. at is too
bad" he said finally, "that we can't
take this hour for itself alone and
drink together a cup OF peace and
stiffness and comfort"
His words were half a question and
II was so that Andrea understood them.
She drew n deep sigh. shrugged her
bare shoulders and turned squarely to
her companion. at is too bad" she
said, repeating his words with bitter
emphasis, "thut I can't forget TINT on
this night ! lcse everything that mat
ters-too bad I can't brush catastrophe
and ruin inside for the sake OF n fool
moon and n cigarette"
As she spoke, the man braced him.
self. Everything that matters" he
repented. "Ruln what have you lost
that matters1 Wherein have you been
rulncdf"
The girl stared NJ him, open.eyed.
"You know who I am, what I stand
for In my world, and how TINT world
will make n chasm that | can never
recross after this night and you can
sit there and say II doesn't matter and
ask where's the ruln3'
The man looked away from her tense
face. "rhe things that matter" he
said quietly. ARE henlth-hrst OF body
and then OF soul-honor that can stand
alone. and the flame OF an inner lamp.
There Is nothing else that really counts
nnd you've lost none OF these. As for
ruin" He turned his eyes back to
her and In them was a CLEAN OF quiz.
zlcal challenge. "Shnll ! define ruin
for your"
"plense do" said Andrea, unsmillng.
Ruin" said the man. rs burial
Whether IT'S Pompeli or an entire civ.
llzntion lying under strata OF a ter
thousand years stride OF tlme-or On
individual rotting under the sod OF
conventions, It's all one and the same
thing. Routine is a tomb, and when
YOU go 80 deep In It's foul air that you
can't keep burning the flame Of that
inner lamp | mentioned, why your,
dead to every intent and every pur
pose. Tint Andrea Pellor, il ruin"
He used her name without prefix
but without familiarity; simply as q
corollary to his stark frnnkness. She
renllzed this almost subconsclOusly
Her thoughts fingered on the substance
Of whit he had said, but when sh,
spoke she proved herself a woman
speaking OF names. what Is yoursf'
she asked.
"Mlne1 My name" said the man
startled out OF his role. He staret
absently through and beyond her
why. ! haven't anyhow. Not tim.
amounts TO anything" His eyes cam
back TO her. "Cail rue Mr.. white Mar