| Show the old settler my dear san Jua ners well I 1 began for she was wringing my reasons right out of mv me whether I 1 wanted to give them or not pardon my frankness but I 1 cant give you credit for being honest in your probes she flushed she had bad provoked lightening out of a clear sky and S she he glared straight at me without winking I 1 had not latitude for an inch of honorable retreat and I 1 studied the intense lines of her face keenly curious to know how the gathering fury would explode she had challenged me to give a reason and I 1 had been forced S d to give it as a counter challenge 1 I dont mean that as an in suit I 1 added for somebody had to say something but I 1 do amean mean it period oh the splendid fury of a woman especially the fury of some I 1 women prove it she hissed give me just one reason for calling my sincerity into question I 1 her lips twitched her eyes showed fire of indignation 1 I am desperately sincere she I 1 protested 1 I am crushed I 1 am in mourn mourning in J came to you for a word of comfort and I 1 get this I 1 you listen I 1 demanded youre unreasonable you come to me mourning over your son j killed in that wreck and when I 1 offered you the best and only r that I 1 know any thing about you refuse it as nonsense and affirm that you dont continued on page 5 the old settler continued from page 1 belive for a minute that there is a god a hereafter or that thero them is anything more to us when we die then when I 1 say no mora mom about it because you wont have hava it you pour out more of your 1 sorrows confiding to me that your remaining son is a highwayman and your daughter a prostitute and you expect me to venture some more com comfort fori and when I 1 dont do it you challenge ime me as heartless and without na t I 1 had taken her somewhat unawares and she was just getting ready to answer when I 1 went on tell me this if you are honest in believing there is no god and no existence after this life what difference does it make that your son is a robber and your daughter a harlot what sense would there be in their bothering to be anything else waybe why be so foolish as to bother your head about that it wont make any difference what they are she gasped and hesitated but her answer was still unframed framed i you answer me I 1 insisted you demand my reas reason on for saying you cant be honest in what 1 you say I 1 repeat it if theres tio rio hereafter what di ference does i it make how they live how you ive how I 1 live if there is nothing beyond why is this thing we call honesty to be e preferred beally what is honesty justice virtue love but a pack of foolishness ish ness oh well you know theres decency and nothing of the wrt sort I 1 interrupted rudely decency is just a figment of a diseased mind how much are you going to be better off in the end than your daughter for maintaining a life lifa of what you call decency if your boy should turn around and become a preacher or if he should be hung what difference could that make in the land kind of chang you believe in you come to mo me for comfort all I 1 can say is quit bothering your head about things of no consequence eat drink indulge be gay what sense is s there in being any other way i anyway I 1 had the last word hat what A sense is there in social ethics if theres no hereafter it 1 got ot up abruptly and departed Z by albert R lyman |
