Arms and the Woman

em to be cavalrymen, petty officers.

ps, it would be just as well for you to go to your room and remain there till they are gone. A

They may

to that,"

" she

to see new faces,"

s you, sir,"

ey are look

y reason why I w

e deter

a

d I; "you had be

r what

offensive tactics,"

rang out

s only for his barmaid, his beer and his knoblauch? Never

cried in dismay.

s He

," sa

but a line of their beautiful blue-green could be seen,

leasant duty of punching his head." If I c

e very

things which add threef

She looked at

she knew that it was only because I clinched my fists till the nails cut, that I did not do the very thing I feared the

n furbishing up the utensils, just

resentatives of the King came in noisily. They gazed admiringly at Gretchen as she poured out their beer. She sa

. The German cannot disassociate an E

red nothing to me whether he took me for an En

ough which he surveyed m

fraulein?" he asked

hen,"

s the toll

nant started for her, but she waved him off. "Nothi

closer t

I asked, blowing the ash f

"Gretchen, we shall return to-night, so you may lay two plates at a separate table," with an eye on

said G

one;" and Gretchen m

off my pipe. They were soo

s angry," sa

wled. "What right h

wish Gretchen al

d all day, then some strangers come, and you are all smiles. You

look at me,"

e a man who didn't know whether he loved her for ce

cried, start

his tobacco, so must a woman have her coquetry. It was rather unfair of Gretchen, after what I

e world had come from Phyllis's face; a shadow had come between. Oh, I knew the symptoms. They were not new to me. They had visited me some five years back, and had clung to me with the tenacity of a creditor to a man with expectations. When a man arrives at that point where he wants the society of one woman all to himself, the matter assumes serious proportions. And a man likes to fall in l

t. I should have gone away the day after my arrival. Here I was going into my second week. My assistant in London was probably worrying, having heard nothing from me during that time. As matters stood it was evident that I could not be true either to Phyllis or Gretchen, since I did not know positively which I loved. I knew that I loved one. So much was gained. I

chen," said I, "you would h

d my impotence, for he

at my feet. I followed it with my eye till it became lost around the b

them together!

s head to one side as

rk

chen. If I could see them together, you know, I could tell positi

nd of the limb and sat down.

y don't y

et by the laughter whic

behind me st

a better confi

how much she had heard of the one-sided dialogue. "Will yo

question?" with in

Gretchen not revoke the pr

w, Herr," said

hat a beautiful woman was made to be loved." Everyth

urned as

do not go. Forgive me;

nd," she replied with

er why I asked

s to be yo

for me to ask whe

But I was a hypocr

you would say

stage." I knocked the dead ash from my pipe and stuffed the bowl with fresh wee

g down, the space o

s it leaves my throat it looks like a tangible substance. Rea

ears," sai

hand. It was a woman's love. For five years I watched it curl and waver. In it I saw many castles and the castles were fair, indeed.

following the course

ght forth the subject of affinities, and ventured to say that some day I might meet mine. I scoffed inwardly. I have now found what she said to be true. The love I

o her to whom you gave

me as disdainful. "You

m. I shall leave to-morrow, Gretchen. I shall feel as Adam did when he went forth from Eden. Whatever your place in

fugitive from-the law, the King, or what you will. You are a man; man forgets. You have just illustrated the fact. His

ove any o

sense you mean. It was not wri

re you, and what

ne? Nothing! Wh

only answer y

nly answer I

ch awed me. It was power and resolution, t

ou?" I was growing reckless because I felt awed, which seems rathe

There was no alarm in her

r forgive yours

rgive myself. But I know that if I ask you to let me kis

retched toward me. "And

t also respect you,

m so

al adieu. After supper I lit my pipe (I shall be buried with it!) and went for a jaunt up the road. There was a train at six the next morning. I would leave on that. Why hadn't I taken Gret

d directly toward the inn. Even in the dusk of twilight there was something familiar about that stride. Presently the ma

d "Jericho" distasteful an