Beverly banner., 1925-06-05

will never hear me talking about the
love of youth. am not old, but the
passion and idealism Of love have gone
worn cut perhaps in taking risks and
jarring to pieces within while like a
carved marble on the outside. No,
will not make love to you"
mo-" said Brena, giving affirmation.
He played with the furs little
more.
"Ten months ago scraped together
all the money could and threw it
into a final play. That's neither here
nor there. / am now worth a little
over two million dollars, am through
with business, with trading, with spec
ulation, with this office, and with Dali
las, Texas forever" s,.ez3s.
"And now" asked Brena.
He laughed. "That is iti-What?"
The fur stole on the desk in fronr of
him he smoothed gently with his open
hand sBrena made no suggestion as to
what he should do with his life, and
after moment he went on, "There is
left tome now collecting books, travel,
perhaps an opportunity to do some one
q kindness now and then and taking
good care of my health. shall buy a
painting occasionally. Can you think
of anything elsef''
To Brena the problem was new; she
did not have ready answer.
Il have burned out" said Parnalee.
II am ashes"
OF this he spoke cheerfully as If he
had repeated 1t over and over to him
self until 1t had lost it's blackness and
now gave the strange pleasure that all
final conclusions Of human limitations
and disasters give at last when they
are accepted.
"You see, am not a great man." he
explained ut was necessary for me
to throw all of myself into the fight
every resource / could summon. | do
not smoke. / know as much about
smoking as any man alive. l have
measured its effect with accuracy. 1t
Is a greater devitalizer than alcohol.
But i do not drink, either. / have
conserved and guarded all my sensa-
tions until l have none. All my life
my last twenty years Of life-I have
promised myself indulgences -indul-
gences of gigantic and exquisite de-
sign, but now that l can have them,
this bbdy Of mine rejects them all, re-
fuses them all. Fate laughs in my ear
and says, You're done for The most
sensu3us pleasure you shall have will
be tho flavor of that apple sauce you
have Eaten for lunch for fifteen years
and Will eat for lunch for the rest of
your fays.' Isn't this grim joke,
Miss SelcossT
81 DO not know" said Brena uneas-
lily.
Eveh in the dark he sensed her de-
sire tS go.
DO MT leave me-" he said with
voice which almost broke into low
sob. fYou are the only one who can
understand"
"AlE right she said, astonished that
she had become important to anyone.
I'm sorry, Mr. Parmalee"
LET me tell you something else" he
went on. 81 have dreamed of a GER
tain prestige-a kind of background
Of life that l would enjoy when l was
ready. To that end have given lib
orally ito campaign funds Next year
if / wish l can be minister to Portu-
gal. Personally / think this is grim
jest. 1t is the system, however"
Brena clasped her ungloyed hands
in her lap and thrust her arms out
until it appeared that she was express
ing something Of the thrill Of imagina
ton which the picture of diplomatic
life in a European capital had given
her.
"But l shall not take the Office,
said Parmalee.
Brena uttered an exclamation.
mo, / shall not take it. Fedo not
want more brilliance. / want more
dim light. like the dusk. do not
want to see my name in printed let
ers. 1 never want to see it again.
do not want men and women to say,
That is Compton Parmalee.' want
all strangers to neglect me. want to
live in dim light-like this-now In
this Office"
He sighed.
1--WE made many mistakes" he said
II want now to become buried, to be
unseen-like a ghost"
Brena protested. There are so many
things you can buy with your money"
she said.
"Only one" he replied sharply
"And that"
rs YOU"
She pushed her chair back from the
desk with both her hands.
You need not be alarmed" said his
calm voice II have stated 1t purpose
ly at It's worst. 1t is better for you to
have this thought presented at first
and perhaps we can overcome 1t later,
put 1t in the terms the world will
use; Dallas will say, He bought her
But. after all, we will not be in Dal-