looked into his face and gave a cry-it was Herbert Stormout. Tenderly we bore him into a drug store nearby, and had a physician, whom the excitement had brought to the scene, minister to him. Meanwhile what had become of the ladies? When I finally thought of them I found them both pale and trembling, but sympathetic spectators of the work of revival. I took an arm of each and tried to lead them away; it was no place for them, I said. But they would not go; it was because of them that he was hurt, they argued; common decency compelled them to stay, they averred. I procured them chairs and they did me the great honor to accept them and sit in them. Presently Stormout came to, and soon his surroundings and position and the events leading thereto became clear in his mind. He tried to get up but could not, and just then his roving eyes spied Mother and Emily, who started to go to him. He, however, ignored them completely. To the doctor he said, "Take me home, doctor; take me out of here." Then turning to me, "Help me, Jack; I'm badly hurt." "Go to him, Jack," she said her voice trembled a little, in spite of her "go to him this evening. See that he reads this. Don't tell him who gave it to you-not, at least, until he asks. Jack, if, if I am anything at all to you go; go; or my heart will break. Go, Jack, go,' she cried, the last almost hysterically. Once more I realized that my philosophy had yet a long ways to go to cover the gamut of every-day tragedies, and shrugging my shoulders picked up my hat and went. He was lying as I left him, listless, hopeless, quiet, uncomplaining. If he were only groaning, or raving or shouting, if he were only delirious, but this-I glanced at the letter in my hand. A shock of some sort might work wonders; I prayed that this letter have the necessary voltage. me. "Herb," I called. He turned his listless eyes towards "Herb, I have something for you. I was urged to "I do not know," as in truth I did not. "No, it is for you," I answered. "I was told it was for your eyes alone. Let me help you sit up, Herb. Now read." I drew the sheet of paper out of the envelope and placed it in his hands. "Now read," I commanded. He glanced casually at the heading, "This is addressed to Miss Trufort," he said, handing it back. I assisted him into the doctor's phaeton. He grew worse on the trip to his house; the doctor and I had almost to carry him to his room. I stayed with him that night, and the next day and the next; indeed it was a week before I set foot in my home again. You see there are no nurses in Francisville, and I had volunteered to act as one. Mother and Emily were most kind. Daily they sent over delicacies, though goodness knows, Herb's mother supplied him with more than were good for him. Daily, too, did I answer their anxious inquiries, though I would not permit them to visit him. Of course, this was merely may dislike Emily, you have no cause for displeasure obeying the doctor's orders founded on Herb's wishes. When I finally reached home, I was besieged for the details of Stormout's injuries and his condition. "He will always be a cripple," I wound up with, "because the doctor says his spine is injured." "That is not the worst of it," I started in again, "he doesn't seem to care; he has no energy, no life; there is no ambition to get well again. Day in, day out, he lies there, hopeless, no light in his eyes, no animation. It is terrible." I sat down and cried. A little later a voice close by me said, "Jack," at the same time that a hand pressed my shoulder. I knew it was Emily before I looked up. When I did I opened wide eyes and gazed at her dumbfoundedly. A strange light had come into her face; her lips were pressed firmly. In her hand which shook slightly she held an opened envelope. "I know," I answered, vexed. "She said that I must see that you read this. Now, Herb, however much you against me. For my sake read the letter." He eyed me circumspectly a moment before he looked at the sheet again. I will never forget his expressions as his eyes devoured the page. The indifference that had so marked him, the indifference with which he perused the first few lines, vanished as a lightning flash. He became filled with interest, then consternation seized him. I saw him reread the letter, avidly, wildly. I saw him go over it a third time as a beast of prey attacks anew his victim. I heard him groan then, I heard him cry, "My God, my God, what have I done?" and I saw him fall back on his pillow, his face buried in its depths, his shoulders heaving. This was more than I had hoped for, and I became greatly alarmed. I tried to soothe him, begged him not to give way, to hold up, to be brave. I caught hold of his hand, and chafed it, rather roughly I fear. When he was once more calm, he raised his head from the pillow. A great change had come over him. That apathy had entirely gone. In its place I marked a contemplative mien, tinged with bitterness and loathing-but this was preferable to the other. "Jack," he said presently, "I want you to read that letter. I want you to know what a fool, a dolt, an imbecile a man can be. I must have been asininity itself. Read it." I did as I was bidden. I read: You know, Emily, how like a man I appear togged out in the evening dress that gentlemen wear. You remember, in enacting the role of the lover, with you as the leading lady, that I took you in my arms and kissed you. Emily, I happened to glance up and a man passed the window at the psychological moment. He saw; he could not help seeing; the blinds were up! This may amount to nothing; on the other hand it may involve your name, in a way I should regret to the end of time. Dear, write me if anything has occurred. I am most anxious. ... Emily was my He stared at me. "Can't you see? fiancèe. I was the man who passed by the open window; I beheld her in another's arms. What was I to think? What would you have done? I wasn't exactly sane I guess. I sent her a scurrilous letter next day, bitingly sarcastic, bidding her take her other lover; telling her I would brook no rival or competitor for her favors. I packed up and left at once. I gave her no opportunity for explanation." He stared gloomily out into the open. But it will be all for, old man. she I wanted to ease his now, tortured mind. "Yes," I said lightly, "I see. right, Herb; she will forgive you; loves you." "How do you know?" he asked, breathlessly, eagerly. "She sent that letter, that should be sufficient." He turned towards the wall then, and lay quiet so long that I thought him asleep. He wasn't, however, for presently I heard him mutter, "That's worse still; that complicates matters." "What does, Herb?" I asked. "What does what?" "Complicates matters-what you said just now?" "Why that she loves me. I am of no use now, Jack; no woman would want a husband like me, while of course, no man in the condition I am in, if he is any man at all, would accept such a sacrifice. It's preposterous to think of it. Emily cannot continue to love the thing I am; it is best for all concerned that she learn at once how hopeless the situation is. I think if she saw me, she would realize that." While he was talking I could barely restrain my tears. His resignation to the fate doled out to him; his calm assumption of the threads of a broken existence; and now, his decision to put out of his life the one thing that might still bless it—ah, he was indeed a man. "Jack," he went on, "I should like to see Emily again just once. Will you try and persuade her to come? Tell her I know how deeply I have wronged her, that I don't "Well," I said a trifle sharply. "Why did you ask deserve any favors from her, but tell her also I could bear me to read this-this drivel?" up better if she would just grant me forgiveness. Tell her I won't ask her again." "Drivel," he echoed, and I was delighted to see the scorn flash from his eyes. "Drivel? Do you call a thing drivel that separates two lovers, causes an innocent woman I know not what pain and anguish, and a pig-headed brute three years of torture-though he deserved it? Do you call that drivel? If she will only listen to me now -if she will only forgive me." "All right, Herb," I said as cheerfully as I could, though my voice choked. However, I fulfilled my mission, and not at all reluctantly. I was sure Herb was wrong; neither Emily nor any other woman under the circumstances would abandon him. I surmised what would happen when she I was still nonplused. "What is all this about?" I beheld him again. cried. And I was right. I had left them alone together and But I man. He when I returned two hours later, she had gone. beheld the effects of her presence on the stricken His eyes were wild, his face pinched and haggard. turned to me imploringly. "Jack, Jack," he groaned, "don't leave us alone again; for God's sake, stand by me. She is coming again this afternoon; stay by me, Jack, stay by me." He seized one of my hands and grasped it convulsively. "What's the trouble, old man,"I said soothingly. "Jack, she insists on carrying out the old bargain; she said she held herself still bound to me. I expostulated, worked myself into a frenzy of argument, even pleading, all to no avail. I finally got her to leave on the plea that I was weary. Jack, if you think anything at all of me, promise never to leave us alone again. I won't play the coward; I won't give in; with you here I can circumvent her. My will, alone, is po weak in her pres ence." No man who realizes his manhood can resist an appeal like that, especially when he views one who had it and lost it. I gave him my promise, though grudgingly, for I wanted to see him happy. When she came again, I saw how determined she was. She wanted him and he, supported by my presence kept fighting, fighting her desire. I was aiding him in his obstinacy and gave her no opporeunity; my presence was a bar to her pleading. She tried on several occasions to be alone with him, but I would not yield; I had promised. I incurred her displeasure and even my mother's who sympathized with her. And still I would not yield; I had promised. And though I hated myself for it when Herbert refused to release me, I stuck to my bond. Emily came to know of my promise, however, to know why it was given and determined to play the game herself, to circumvent us both. When a woman wants a thing it is of no avail to keep her from it; she is bound to get it. Herbert could now leave his room and get around on crutches. His injured leg was done up in splints; his spine supported by a plaster of Paris jacket. Emily and I used to help him about, one on either side, thus enabling him to walk out in the open air and sunshine. He needed no night nurse now. In the evenings I would see him safely beneath the covers, see that he had everything within reach that he might possibly want, and then take my departure, visiting him again the following morning. But one day this programme was interrupted. While I was still in that dreamy state 'twixt waking and sleeping, the fragrant aroma of coffee came to me, and when I became fully awake I found that there was real coffee. Aye and more, a trayful of delicacies, and a white piece of paper, a note: "What is up?" I wondered, but I wasn't long in finding out. Dear Son (read the note): Sorry to inconvenience you any, but there is no other way, dear. You have no right to interfere in Emily's affairs. You will be a prisoner in your room, from which you cannot emerge until you agree to remain away from Herb's today. I know you have promised him, but you were free to be at his side then. This absolves you. As soon as you are ready to comply, knock on the floor three times and I will open the door for you. Your Mother. I sat down and laughed until the tears came into my eyes. "Get ahead of a woman," I muttered, "not much. No man was ever clever enough." Then I began to cogitate the situation. After all, my heart was never in that promise to Herb, for it kept him from the love, the solace of a true woman. But it had been forced from me. Now I was forced to relinquish that promise and to tell the truth I was glad I was forced If I could decently have done so, I would have knocked compliance at once, but for propriety's sake, I had to show a certain amount of outraged obstinacy and offended dignity. to. Accordingly I waited an hour, hugely enjoying the situation before giving the signal of capitulation, and when Mother opened the door, I stalked out past her, terribly indignant. Poor Mother, I saw how much she felt this enforced restraint put upon me; I can see her beseeching, yearning face yet. I was not long indignant, I can tell you; in five minutes I went up to her and kissed her and graciously forgave her. But all that day I was restless, wondering much how the final outcome was to be accomplished, though I could picture just what it would be. To my mind the final outcome had been for a long time a foregone conclusion: Herb would be made to yield. It was not until towards evening, however, that my suspense was lifted. I saw her coming up the garden path in jaunty, happy strides and I needed no interpreter. I held out my hand before she could speak a word and mine were the first words spoken. are torturing me?'. But I had to be cruel in order to be kind. We were in the reception room, aunt; I was sitting beside him on the divan. I placed my hand on his shoulder and compelled him to look at me. 'Herb, dear,' I said, 'enough of this foolish fencing. I know that you "I congratulate you, Emily," I said. "He is a good love me. I will not desist, I will not leave you until you fellow. You both deserve happiness." tell me that you do.' She beamed radiantly. "Thank you, Jack," she said. "But, oh, it was hard. Yes, I won out," she went on, smiling now, a wonderful light in here eyes. "I had literally to force his consent. I knew all the time it was out of love for me he was holding back. Ah, poor, dear Herbert." Motehr came out at this juncture and the two embraced and kissed repeatedly, interspersed with crying, sighing and the running of the entire scale of human emotions as interpreted by women. My presence was forgotten. Mother finally said, holding Emily at arm's length and gazing at her as a lover might, “And it came out as you wished, dear Emily. I am so glad." "Yes, Aunt Julia," answered Emily. "After a hard fought battle, I won. He was so obstinate, so unyielding. Again and again he erected barricades of arguments against me, which I had to tear down. He told me that he would always be a cripple; I waved aside that objection. He told me that I needed a protector, a strong arm to shield me. I laughed and answered that for once at least the weak would shield the strong. He said he should be a weight, a burden all of his life. I told him that I needed just that for an even balance, I had entirely too much ease on the other scale. "When he found these arguments would not move me he tried another tack. He said that he did not believe in marriage; that marriage was a snare, love an hallucination. He did not believe in either; in fact, he was a woman-hater. "I said: "You did not always believe so. I can hear your vows yet, Herb. No man ever uttered more ardent ones. Emily smiled. "Aunt, he squirmed then; he couldn't answer me for a moment. Then he said, 'I have grown wiser since. Illusions vanish with the years.' "What caused them to vanish, Herb?' I asked. I had him there; he could formulate no reply that would help him. Every angle of retreat was blocked, save one -and that he took. "'Please, please,' he begged, 'can't you see that you "A cry broke from him. 'I am only a poor, waste hulk,' he said. 'What do you want with a man like me?' "I felt then that I had won. torted happily, 'but the one, the for me. 'No waste hulk,' I reonly man in the world Can't you see I want you, you only? Herb, dear, give in. You need me.' "He shook his head. 'I will never be a man again, Emily.' 66 'Whatever you are, you I want', I gave back. 'Kiss me, Herb,' I said. "'Don't, don't, Emily, for Heaven's sake, stop.' He tried to push me away. "Kiss me, Herb,' I repeated, clinging to him. 66 'Emily, Emily,' he cried. His two arms were around me them. He drew me close to him-I found he was not a bit weak. "After that we talked for an hour. We will be married next month." Emily and mother stood there in the gloaming, hands clasped while I remained alone, a thing apart. It was as if I had no existence, as if I were completely obliterated.. Yet I was forced to remain and see and listen, for I did not want to break the spell that was upon them both, by even so much as stirring. Twenty years have elapsed since then, but to me the drama is repeated every time I see Herbert or his wife. Oh, yes, he fully recovered; the manipulations of a famous surgeon finally restored him to wholesome manhood again; his infirmity entirely disappearing. As did "The Jolly Bachelors" also. Herbert Stormout's fall was a signal for our disintegration. Not only that, but for a quiverful of Cupid's arrows as well. For we proved true and loyal men to our leader and speedily followed his leadership in becoming traitors and benedicts. The last of the twelve was married within three years from the date of Stormout's apostasy. Cincinnati, Ohio. S. J. GOLDBERG, M. D. |