The Glenwood post., 1924-12-18
ceeyrish. By IIttl.. Br.vn and C.

him, as though he were a pupil, great
and elemental things.
MYRTLE" he declared, you surprise
me very much. I never dreamed that
you would feel like that. Supposing,
then were to say to you: Come away
from here with me tomorrow; come
up to London and be my companion
there'?"
You could not do that" she said
simply. you could not offer me so
terrible and so ugly an insult Surely
you understand that then did not
know that you did not love me?"
81 see." he nurmured.
81 loved you." she went on, her eyes
lifted little to the interlaclng boughs
of the trees under which they were
passing, when you came like prince
to the gate where stood shaking with
terror, and laughed at my fears.
loved you when you pointed to the end
Of the road and promised to take me
there. loved you in those first few
moments, and just as it seemed to me
then that had loved you before was
born, so l know that l shall love you
after l die. That is just the kind of
wisdom which even children have.
Where was simple and ignorant was
that l did not understand that love
could be one-sided. thought that love
belonged to two people. Now know
very differently"
"Myrtle-" he began.
She checked him gravely.
To-day" she continued, "ttere is
more for me to say than for you. be-
cause am rather glad that you should
understand. Only you must not talk
sorry, but think that he is foolish.
I was peasant child and / knew
nothing. But wise. clever man like
Christopher should understand It
seems to me absurd that he should
think 1t possible that might love him.
1t is so absurd that I do not believe
his love is n real thing think that
he will soon forget"
what is to become of you, then,
Myrtile?" Gerald demanded
She looked up at him with smile.
what happens to all those Others"
she asked who go through life as
shall go through 1t? They are very
content. Very many pleasant things
come their way. They are spared
great deal Of suffering. So 1t will be
with me. Now that we have had this talk
Gerald, can speak to you, perhaps,
little more frankly. l watch you so
closely that l see things which others
might not notice. You were without
actual happiness before because you
did not understand what happiness
was. Now you are unhappy. That Is
SO sad"
"Yes," Gerald admitted, II am un-
happy"
There is some one for whom you
care?'
He had no idea of evading the issue.
He replied at once. simply and d.
rectly.
ut is Mademoiselle de Poniere. whom
met at Monte Carlo, and who used to
go out witt, me in the car. have
met her again.,
"And yet you are not happyi"
II am not happy" Gerald acknowl-
edged, "because l have not the least
idea whether she cares for me or not.
She is very mysterious. She has
troubles which she will not let me
share"
1t seemed to him that MYRTLE
smiled They were out Of the wood now
and crossing the park.
"All that you tell me is very
strange" she confessed. II do not
pretend to understand 1t. One hears,
Gerald, that In your way you have
cared for very many women. That is
rather n pity, but. II 1t is true, you
perhaps do not know your own mind
Are you sure that you love this young
lady?".
II only know that she makes me feel
and suffer as no one else in the world
has ever done" he answered little
drearlly.
They were approaching the house
now. MYRTLE laid her fingers timidly
upon his arm.
ut seems to me, Gerald" she said,
with rather pathetic smile, that we
have changed roles You asked me to
walk home with you that you might
talk to me about christopher, and now
we have finished all that and 1t is your
own affairs only which remain"
"There is nothing about my affairs
which even lends itself to discussion"
Gerald sighed.
Not at present." MYRTLE assented,
"but In the end there, must come hap
pIness, because where there is love
there Is always happiness. May say
one word mOre?"
"Go ahead" he answered.
ut is of your father Why Is he
so troubled about you"
Gerald frowned.