The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-21

! he met her he came toward her quickly
enough. and held her hand longer than
was necessary, but today he simply
turned and nodded and smiled oddly at
| her, as though he were rather more
curious to see her than glad. So she
walked over beside him. and they stood
looking out at the carriages and ham
SONS on Piccadilly.
1T is very nice to see you again"
she said. 1T was just a chance-I saw
your name in large red letters at
Waterloo Station as we came in lie
wds regarding her intently. as though
he were trying to recolect where he
had seen her before. Il didn't know
whether you could come or not she
went on. You are in such demand
now, they tell me-
"Ot course you know very we'll" he
said, with that directness which was
one Of his most satisfactory qualities.
that I would have come. whether /
had had engagements or not. But l
had meant not to come at first"
"Oh, you had meant not to at first"
she repeated. She sat down behind the
tea things, and began moving them
about. He seemed TO her to be labor
Ing under a mood or some excitement,
and she thought 1t best. to give him
time to develop It.
Yes" he said. slowly and distinctly,
II thought would not come. because
did not want TO introduce you to the
kind Of man you do not care to know.
How tragic" she said. May
make you some tea?"
| II did not mean to be tragic he
went on. impassively. 1T Is quite true
am not at all the man you used to
know. No one can know that better
than I. And had so much liking for
you-and for the man you used 10
know-that I thought 1t would be
kinder to US both if let you go home
without seeing me again
But YOU did come
Yes, I came" he answered. after
some moments consideration. be
cause. l suppose. I still believe in
miracles. and because I had forlorn
hope that il could get a good strong
! tonic and my conscience could have an
electric shock. 1t might begin to work
again. 1t was just chance. | hadn't
, MUCH ~ DSIAGNC ~ "OHAo'
She occupied herself for some little
time with the cups In front Of her,
and said: "Of course 1t is very manly
and brave in you to tell me this-to
say, Here I am in very bad way, and
II you cannot help me no one can
That makes It so pleasant for me. Or
course you have no responsibility in
the matter at all. 1t Is something you
cannot possibly mend. What baby
it Isl"
No" he said. doubtfully. as though
he had been weighing her words and
had found them wanting. lit is not the
least use. II doesn't hurt me at all.
1t sounds like something I had learned
at school. had hoped it would.
have gone so far now. or have gone
so low. that l can quite recognize the
force of all the arguments on the other
side, and go the wrong way without a
pang.' He looked up and smiled. 1t
is too late l am quite hopeless"
You are quite changed" she said,
dryly.
Changed! Thank you" He laughed
unpleasantly. That is the mildest
word any one has used yet. But I've
really no right to complain: the strong
est things they say are quite true"
What! all they say?"
well. II the particular stories they
have told you are not true. others
tequally discreditable are. It's the
same thing"
She rested her chin on the knuckles
of her hand and studied him for some
time.
i think" she said. "he has been
sitting up very late at night. and has
not had sleep enough; he has been
playing and working too hard. and he
has been taking himself too seriously
or course" she added. with the air Of
one who wishes to be quite fair there
are some things a man must 60
through with which we women go
around"
Thank YOU" Thorold said. grimiy.
You are very good. but l have ex-
cuses enough. can supply them my =
self"
The girl showed no sign Of annoy
ance at this. but still regarded him
thoughtfully THE only saving clause
l see," she said, lis your saying YOU
hoped something might step in to help
you. OF course. If 4 man wants to be
saved from himself he has won half
the fight. and he must win the other
half. too No young woman is going
to do it,
The pathetic part OF IT is he an
swered. that don't want to be helped
or to be saved. I said l did. but
don't. really. like 1t better as it is.
And it only makes it worse TO pretend
to be any better than l am, and 10
cheat myself and my friends into
thinking l am. A man is no better
than what he wishes to be at his worst
moment. You cannot judge him by
what he happens to want to be when
he Is worked up TO do great things and
inspired by other people. I like to
waste my time and to have no respon-
sibilities, and like dangling in bou-
dolrs better than working. and l like
the cheap admiration Of lot Of fools
better than the esteem OF a few
friends; and can't for the life Of me,
see why I should live lie to them and
myself. and cover up the true badness
that's in me. And I am not going 70
any longer. II cared to be fine and
strong. it would be natural enough and
easy to be so: and il don't care for
that, it Is only hypocrisy and waste OF
time to be anything that looks like 1t.
l came here today to tell you this my
self. so that there could be no longer
any doubt in your mind, and l don't
want you to waste any more thought
or friendship on any one as unworthy
OF both as myself. | felt l was do
cclving you. and I wanted YOU to know.