.. and we would be happy together ... and I would
be grateful, so grateful, to her!"
"Why you're the Saint Francis of the Radicals," Hildreth exclaimed.
"Please don't make fun of me ... I suppose you think me very foolish."
"Foolish?... No, I think you have a very beautiful soul. I wish every
man had a soul like that."
She took my head in her hands and kissed me on the brow.
"Hildreth, only tell me what I am to do?"
"I do not know ... theoretically I believe in freedom in sex ... I wish
to God I could help you."
"Why can't you?"
"Hush, you do not know what you're asking!"
"By the living Christ, I only know that I would crawl after you, and
kiss your holiest feet before all the world, if you helped me."
"Now I understand what Lecky meant when he spoke of the sacrificial
office of a certain type of women ... I only wish ... but come, we must
go."
I was on my feet beside her, as she rose.
"Yes, we had better go home," I spoke quietly, though my heart pumped as
if I had taken strychnine.
I put my arms about her, to steady her going, for she stumbled.
"Why, Hildreth, dearest woman, you're trembling all over, what's the
matter?... have I--I frightened you with my wild talk?"
"Never mind ... no, take your arm away ... Let me walk alone a minute
and I'll be all right ... I'll be all right in a minute ... it's just
turned a trifle chilly, that's all.
Pages:
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562