The Irish standard., 1920-06-19

"ThInk Out Loud Some More"
you really serious. It's been
delayed too long already. 1t took me
two solid days to get my courage up
to 1t. And and now I'm here,
I don't even know how to begin."
He scowled heavily into the vacant
fireplace, and held out his palms with
q mechanic gesture as though to warm
them at an imaginary blaze. "You
know" he said absently, "your father
Is very extraordinary man-very."
The compliment to the doctor had
Its invariable effect upon her; she
glowed under It.
"I've always known that I'm
glad you realize it, too"
He stood erect, and faced her. II
do 1t came to me, when was
talking to him, what great privilege
It must be for you to have his advice
and his sympathy when you
need it. And there are so few-so in
credibly few-people who make you
feel like that. One in thousand. Or,
one in ten thousand. People who lift
you clear of your trivial little self
and make you think in terms of prin-
ciples. and not Of your own selfish
ldeas-and still don't preach. {.
It must be privilege"
1T isn't only for me-" she said. "He
has enough sympathy for anyone who
asks for 1t. He isn't very worldly
you've noticed that7 He can't believe
that anybody, or anything, is really
bad and perhaps that's why
people come to him so. OF course, it
may be that just because he's my IA
ther, L"
mo" Hilliard shook his head.
1--WE seen good many fathers, and
next to mine. My own was a
wonderful man, too, but never ap-
preciated him. And seeing the doctor
has made me wish oh, it's too
childish to talk about!"
IF you were really as old as you try
to be-" she said gently, you'd know
that 1t isn't ever childish to be serious
about such things as that. On the con-
trary! And yet there was time when
you wanted me to think you were well
over thirty. Why, Mr.. Hilliard, you're
a boy" Nevertheless, she regarded
| him not as one would regard
a mere youth, but with appreciably
more uncertainty.
Hilliard had flushed warmly.
| hot
think good many things that weren't
true"
"About your Her infection was an
invitation to further condolences, and
it drew Hilliard incontinently along
the path he had planned-and feared
to take.
"Some Of them," he admitted. "And
some were about you. The fact is,
-. I've come on a peculiar errand."
He cleared his throat violently; his
eyes suddenly adored her. "I've come
to straighten all that out. Please don't
imagine I've suddenly gone crazy or
,. or anything g Z. and please don't
take anything say tonight to mean
weakness, because, honestly, I've
thought about this so much that it's
rather disintegrated me but I've
got to tell you some things l don't
want to-" His shoulders squared In
resolution; and at the look of pain in
his eyes, Of pain and despair, her
whole womanliness went out to him
and had to be crushed, because she
Was, after all, q woman.
Her look to him was first Of aston
iahment ut his surrender. and. after
that of swift, inefkable pity for the un-
naned ferees which were Influencing
Tin. Womanliness hung in the bal
aoee; and then. In q lash oi perfect
esmpEshens1oo e his plight. shs knsw
tat shs could speak to him Without
reserve. He had passed beyeod tie
be1nds ef eonvsadeaalty; shs put
hssse8, msntally. at his sida
'R It hurts yea to ~ II" - ssid.
I've heWn you've been 6ecd
e NJ. Hew esuA hslD IT. And WY
1heulAn't zen have the right 70 thiak
ef IT. Why shouldn't yoa have The
right to be yourself1 Why shsulAn't
yen have the right to talk to ne, and
to expect me to hear you, and try to
understand1 You haven't thought that
my father 10 the only one of - to q
that, have your The reDeoo6 wAs H-
Quisite.
Ever since that day The time
you played to me-" he said, I've
fought against it-fought like the
very devil, and"
"Tve known that, teo-and you've
come to zee me % seldom. I'd hoped
! at least that you'd give yourself tha
chance you said you wanted"