Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22

If unable to keep back the words, he said: II
came to care for Elizabeth Yeaton while en-
gagged to another woman. This woman held
me by her fascinating personality and beauty.
Her brilliant mentality obSessed me. She had
no illusions concerning men. She WIS sophisti-
Gated material Elizabeth was her ansithesis
Most Of us tire after little Of the continual
striving to live up to what Is expected OF US.
When that occurs the latent SavageneSs IN us
comes to the surface and we are ruthless In
our efforts to break away from an influence
that circumscribes our lives"
"And who IL this paragon Of sophisticatiou,
this woman who has no illusions concerning
men?" she asked caustically. mo. You need
not answer. I am more interested in Miss Yea
ton. Did she suggest you live up to q certain
tdeal?"
"She took 1t for granted This at first
amused me. Then it irritated me. But at last
became aware Of an increasing interest In
her. Aware, also, that my soul was struggling
for the best that was in me. Struggling against
the warp Of contrariety that has cost me 50
much in friends and success in life. That was
two years before met her in Canada. There
was no thought In my mind Of anything but
friendship. But wanted her friendship She
accepted mine with o carelessneSs that would
have been diverting If it had not hurt my
vanity. 1t had always been easy for me to
make friends. But it was long before made
the least Roadway toward friendliness on her
part.
II gave her every reason to believe cared,
as I did care, although did not realize how
much until it was too late. When she did give
her friendship knew loved her.
1T was then conscience got in its fine work.
I had found my Gethsemane. But I had no
thought she would suffer. have played about
before, but my playmates have always been of
my own kind. There was no one to be hurt
until" He drew deep breath, hesitated,
then went on.
GAS I surrendered to Elizabeth's charm the
spirit of opposition took possession of me.
Once said to her could not reach her level,
that she must come to mine. This she put
aside as she put aside other things humiliating
to a sensitive woman. She knew my faults.
I had spared her nothing. But she believed
that beneath the outer crust of my sins Of
commission there was a spark Of good that
would overshadow all else. She thought man
should not be judged by outward appearances
but by the glimpse one had Of his SOUL Yet I
did not ask her to marry me. Pauline Fair
banks held me. It did not occur to me to ask
for release.
"You cannot understand. I 90 not under
stand myself except that am held in an iron
grip that never relaxes even when I see the
result of my obGtinacy. And afterward is not
that took me to Elizabeth. knew was de-
pendent upon her truth and sincerity, traits
so rare In many women they 'glorify friendship
and defy love-"
Tor a moment there was silence, then he
] said in a voice Of uncomfortable emotion:
MARY Mary, I staggered into her presence
the day returned from South America Fever
ridden though was my dominant thought was
to reach her quickly. She had Just come in
from some entertainment and was drawing of
her gloves. That much remember as she
shrank from me she would shrink from some
dreadful thing that had been forced upon her
th0uQhf-Sba thOuOht-o E4n do
a futile movement with his hands At must
have gone mad. remember nothing but her
white shocked face and her movement of aver
sion. All else is blank"
Mary, more deeply moved than she cared to
admit took his rigid hand into hers as he
looked at her with somber eyes.
"I have not seen her since. That was two
years ago and today would give all possess