The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-02-17

I've had 10 years In hospitals. gov
eminent Offices manicure shops. and
smart circles. 10 I'm coming 10 think
that there's no such thing as n pure
minded girl The magazine girl. who
loves within tho limits Of the con-
ycnti0nA. doesn't exist Whom Hhe II
confronted with the situation brought
about b. her own impulses. when she
must either give herself or refuse
herself, uhs discovers herself as either
drawn, larky. or frightened Fear
may hold her back. but purltyl MOI
VI
sun Philip did not como. Did 1
want him TOT I don't love him. or
was this lover had thrown myself
away. and now We must meet on a
different footing: I sun had tho idea
that no would respect mo icas. but,
no. I, wasn't quite that was still
child enough 10 want tho respect OF
mon. but what 1 feared was more
complex no would stili want mo,
and didn't want him. not exactly: or
ho might want mo no more. Already,
and Etill Innocent. WA nniling OF
men whRt all women ask OF all men
too much. He was 20 be a ghost
and a material being. tho past and
The future a memory and hope.
We ask a lot or men, and. because
We never SGT H. wo always AJAX IL OF
other men.
But ali that didn't alter the fact
that sometime that day. no doubt, no
would como TO mo. would hear his
footsteps and l would band over the
typewriter, careless and watehful.
Them Then a kiss upon my Blended
neck. I would leap Into the mir. say
ing. How dare youl" thus express
Ing with dignity maidenly revolt.
did hear Philips footsteps be-
hind mo an | bent over my type
writer, and 20 remained. my fingers
on the keys. careless and watchful.
Nothing happened He did not kiss
my Bonded neck. I felt myself the.
Rtricnl In that pose, important.
frightened and flattercd. sun. moth
ing happened.
Softly he camo TO my side, drag
ging with him a chair. He took my
hands off the keys and looked into
my eyes with an air OF gentle merri-
ment He did not speak. but in each
palm laid hss II was no moving.
this little act Of alteration. that in
Htincuvely my fingers closed about
his chin. II WINS very sweet. and soon
aftcr ] let him llft mo from my chair,
take mo upon his knees. kiss me. /
thought loved him. and know did
not.
You're beautiful" he murmured,
and closed about me harder arms. A
sort Of urgency in HIS caresscs fright
ened mo. A now instinct warned mo
that now ! was delivered to him, and
n new caution told me that thia room
was dangerous How far already I
had progressed without desire /
was already seeking safety. And II
ended Ike that: there was no OK
PLANTATION. There was no Are you
angry" There was no beautiful for
givencSs, followed either by a pure
and rcdecming life, or by n rush into
the Wild excuses OF the girl who has
nothing moro to lose. Instead we
merely met at o'clock. walked in
tho park, dincd together publicly,
went TO n music hall. At half past
eleven he said goodbye TO mo in tho
dark passage at Balcombe Street. He
had been charming: had attempted
no more than would consent, had
fed mo, amused me, afforded me So
ciety, made mo feel in the restaurant
that ] was a good-looldng girl ac-
companied by n good-looking man,
and that those two hens In the cor
ner enviod mo.
Ono doesn't know what ono does
when ones n young GIRL. didn't
want to 70 to Cazzarino's again. but
when, as we parted, he asked mo to
dine there again the next night, |
hcsltated only n moment. clearly
realized that II went / could no
longer plead accident: nothing TINT
happened now could alter tho past,
but II | went Iscould not say that
! was without guilt.
Ho was holding me In his arms.
You'll Gomez" no whispered
IAN right" l said, III you want
me to-"
VII
Tho nrdor OF men Ia strange
thing. II rises 80 swiftly, and as
swiftly subsidies. think we soon
misunderstood each other, wo two.
and wonder whether men and wom-
on aro not Joined by their mlsundor-
standings, A new desire TO own him
entirely came TO me, not that in cool
moments I had Illusions as to the
depth OF my fondnoss. but because
Philip afforded mo now content
mont and I wanted to secure myself
against loss. ! wanted to marry him.
I did not suggest it; his llghtncas
mode me suspect that he would giyo
mo I'M ma aaxslx Na ha hnd fnlrn,, ,,,,