The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-31
XIX (contlnued)

Nh \SSus"'SSS<
"You write singularly pure Eng
iish, in spite OF what seems to me
a marked individuality OF style
and-ah-your apparent delight In
slang!" Her voice was quite even
although her eyes had glowed and
sparkled and melted at his poetic
phantasma of her past las what
woman's would not?. Il find a
rather painful effort to be-what
do you cali It? hiEhbrow?-in some
of your writer's"
"The youngsters. I went through
that phase. We all do. But we
emerge. l mean, Of course. when
we have anything to express.
Metaphysical verbosity Is a friend.
~ refuge. But as rule years and
hard. knocks drive us to directness
Of expression. But poets
must begin young. And New York
is mot exactly q hot-bed OF ro-
nance"
do you think that romance is
impossible in New York;" she ask
ed irresistibly. aa
"1-oh-well, what is romance?
OF course. it is quite possible to
fall in love in New York-although
anything but the ideal setting. But
romance!"
Surely the sense Of mystery be.
tween a man and woman irresisti-
bly, attracted may be as provoca-
tive in a great. city as in q. feudal
castle surrounded by an ancient
forester on one Of my Dolomite
lakes. 1s It not that which consti-
tutes romance - the breathless
rembling on the verge OF the un-
explored-that isolates two human
beings as automatically am pick
ing up your vocabulary-as IL they
were alone on q star in space? Is
it not possible to dream here in
New York land surely dreams
play their part in romance" Her
fingertips, moving dellcately on the
surface OF her lap, had q curious
suggestion Of playing with fire.
Zone needs leisure for dreams"
He stood up suddendly and leaned
against the mantelpiece. The at
mosphere had become electric. "A
good thing. too % far as some of
US are concerned. The last thing
for colpmnist to indulge In Is
dreams. Fine hash he'd Rave Tor
his readers next morning."
do you mean to say that none
OF you clever young men fall in
love?" ''.''' ''' -
Every day in the week. some OF
them. They even maryland tell
fatuous yarns about their babies.
No doubt some Of them have even
gloomed through brief periods Of
unreciprocated passion. But they
don't look very romantic to me-"
Romance is impossible without
Imagination, should think. Aching
for what you cannot have or failing
in love reciprocally with charm
ing girl is hardly romance. That is
a gift-like the spark that goes to
the making of Art"
Are you romantic" he asked
harshly. "You look as II born to
inspire romance-dreams-like a
beautiful statue or painting-but
mysterious as you make yourself
and. l believe, are in essence
should never have associated you
with the romantic, temperament
Your eyes-as they too often are
Oh, mol"
1T is true that have never had
q romance" 81"
"You married-and very young.
"Oh. what is. young love! The
urge OF the race. A blaze that ends
in babies or ashes. Romance!"
You have-other men have
loved you" :.
European men-the type my lo1
was cast with--may be romantic
in their extreme yotfth--I3: have
never been attracted by men II
that stage Of development. so !
may only SUPPOSE but when, a
man has learned to. adjust passion
! to technique there is not much 70
| nance left in him."
Are you waiting for your 70
nance, then? Have you come t
this more primitive civilization t
find 1T" ~.
She raised her head and looked
him full in the eyes. No. did moi
believe in the possibility then.
May l have a high.ball?"
Certainly" $ = , - :.
4 He took his drink on the Other
side Of the room. Itlwas seyera
minutes before. he returned to thu
Hearth. Then he asked 1 withou
looking at her:2"How do you ex
pect to find romance Il you shh
yourself up?"