Year: 1870

been trained in the sublime logic of the
laws of naturei Doubtful: the two
sexes are profoundly unlike in mental
action; they must study each other
long before they can fully understand
each other.


81 suppose / should be dreadfully
punished for it," she went on, her
thoughts turning to the world beyond
death, that world which trembling faith
sees, and which is, therefore, visible to
woman.


81 am not sure," boldly admitted the
Professor, who had been educated in
Germany.


In order to learn something Of the
character of this young man, We must
permit him to jabber his nOndescript
ideas little, even though we are there
by stumbled and wearied.


"Not sure I" queried Bessie. "How
do you meant Don't you think suicide
sinfuli Don't you think sin will be
punishedf"


She spoke with eagernesS, dreading
to find her lover not orthodox, "A wo-
ful stigma in Barham on lovers, and in
deed on all men whatever.


Admitting thus much, l don't know
how far you would be free agent in
the act, lectured the philosopher. 81
don't know where the free agency be-
gins or ends Indeed, / am so puzzled
by this question as to doubt whether
there is such a condition as free agency"


"No such thing as free agency Z"
wondered Bessie. "Then WHAT"


"See here. Out of thirty eight mil
lions of Frenchmen a fixed number
commit suicide every year. Every
year just so many Frenchmen out of a
million kill them selves. Does that look
like free agency, or does it look like
some unknown influence, some general
rule of depression, come law of nature,
which affects Frenchmen, and which
they cannot resist The individual
seems to be free, at every moment of
his life, to do as he chooses. But what
leads him to choose? Born instincts,
conditions OF health, surroundings, cir
cumstances. Do not the circumstances
so govern his choice that he cannot
choose differently Moreover, is he
really an individuals Or is he only q
fraction of great unity, the human
race, and directed by its currenti We
speak of drop of water as if it were
an individuality but it cannot swim
against the stream to which it belongs
it is not free. Is not the individual
man in the same condition! There are
questions there which / cannot answer;
and until / can answer them ] cannot
answer your question"


We have not repeated without cause
these bold and crude speculations. 1t
is necessary to show that Foster was
what was called in Barham a free
thinker, in order to account for efforts
which were made 10 thwart his mar
riage with Bessie Barron, and for pref
udicss which aided to work a stern
drama in his life.


The girl listened and pondered. She
tried to follow her lover over the seas
OF thought upon which he walked but
the venture was beyond her powers, and
she returned to the pleasant firm land
of subject nearer her heart.


"Are you thinking Of me I" she ask
ed in low tone, and with an appealing
smile.


"No," he smiled back. 81 must own
that l was not. But l ought to have
been. l do think of you great deal"


"More than l deserved" she queried, +,
still suspicious that she was not suffici-
emily priced to satisfy her lOngings for
affection.


He laughed outright. "No, not more
than you deserve; not as much as you
deserve; you deserve great deal. How
many times are you going to ask me
these questions p


"Every day. A hundred times day.
Shall you get tired OF them I"


"Of course not But what does il
meant Do you doubt me I"


mo. But | want to hear you say
that you think of me, over and over
again. 1t gives me such pleasure to
hear you say it! 1t is such a great
happiness that it seems as if it were my
only happiness"


Before Bessie had fallen in love with
Foster, and especially before her en-
gagement to him, there had been q
time when she had talked more to the
satisfaction of the male critic. But
now her whole soul was absorbed in
the work Of loving. She had no
thought for any other subject; none
at least, while with him. Her whole
appearance and demeaner shows how
completely she is occupied by this mas
ter passion of woman. A smile seems
to exhale constantly from her face il
it is not visible on her lips, nor, indeed,
anywhere, still you perceive it; if it il
no more to be seen than the perfume Of
q flower, still you are conscious Of 1t.
It's no igurative exaggeration to say
that there is within her soul an inces.
SAINT music, like that of waltzes, and o.
all sweet, tender, joyous melodies. II
you will watch her carefully, and if you
have the delicate senses of sympathy
you also will hear it.


Are we wrong in declaring that the
old, old story Of clinging hearts is more
fascinating from age to age, as human
thoughts become purer and human
feelings more delioatei We believe