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him； that she； and only she； can steady him； cheer him； keep him
true to the work he is in the world to perform。 It is called the
〃mothering〃 instinct。
Frances felt this mothering instinct toward the sensitive；
imaginative； charming Stedman。 She believed he had but two
thoughts； his art and herself。 She was content to place his art first。
She could not guess that to one so unworldly； to one so wrapped up
in his art； the fortune of a rich aunt might prove alluring。
When the transport finally picked up the landfalls of Cavite
Harbor； Lee； with the instinct of a soldier； did not exclaim：
〃This is where Dewey ran the forts and sank the Spanish fleet！〃
On the contrary； he was saying： 〃When she comes to join me； it
will be here I will first see her steamer。 I will be waiting with
a field…glass on the end of that wharf。 No； I will be out here in
a shore…boat waving my hat。 And of all those along the rail； my
heart will tell me which is she！〃
Then a barefooted Filipino boy handed him an unsigned cablegram。
It read： 〃If I wrote a thousand words I could not make it easier
for either of us。 I am to marry Arthur Stedman in December。〃
Lee was grateful for the fact that he was not permitted to linger
in Manila。 Instead； he was at once ordered up…country； where at a
one…troop post he administered the affairs of a somewhat hectic
province； and under the guidance of the local constabulary chased
will…o'…the…wisp brigands。 On a shelf in his quarters he placed
the silver loving…cup； and at night； when the village slept； he
would sit facing it； filling one pipe after another； and through
the smoke staring at the evidence to the fact that once Frances
Gardner and he had been partners。
In these post…mortems he saw nothing morbid。 With his present
activities they in no way interfered； and in thinking of the days
when they had been together； in thinking of what he had lost； he
found deep content。 Another man； having lost the woman he loved；
would have tried to forget her and all she meant to him。 But Lee
was far too honest with himself to substitute other thoughts for
those that were glorious； that still thrilled him。 The girl could
take herself from him； but she could not take his love for her
from him。 And for that he was grateful。 He never had considered
himself worthy； and so could not believe he had been ill used。 In
his thoughts of her there was no bitterness： for that also he was
grateful。 And； as he knew he would not care for any other woman
in the way he cared for her； he preferred to care in that way；
even for one who was lost； than in a lesser way for a possible
she who some day might greatly care for him。 So she still
remained in his thoughts； and was so constantly with him that he
led a dual existence； in which by day he directed the affairs of
an alien and hostile people and by night again lived through the
wonderful moments when she had thought she loved him； when he
first had learned to love her。 At times she seemed actually at
his side； and he could not tell whether he was pretending that
this were so or whether the force of his love had projected her
image half around the world。
Often； when in single file he led the men through the forest； he
seemed again to be back on Cape Cod picking his way over their
own lost road through the wood； and he heard 〃the beat of a
horse's feet and the swish of a skirt in the dew。〃 And then a
carbine would rattle； or a horse would stumble and a trooper
swear； and he was again in the sweating jungle； where men； intent
upon his life； crouched in ambush。
She spared him the mockery of wedding…cards； but the announcement
of the wedding came to him in a three…months…old newspaper。 Hoping
they would speak of her in their letters； he kept up a somewhat one…sided
correspondence with friends of Mrs。 Stedman's in Boston； where she now
lived。 But for a year in none of their letters did her name appear。 When
a mutual friend did write of her Lee understood the silence。
From the first； the mutual friend wrote； the life of Mrs。 Stedman
and her husband was thoroughly miserable。 Stedman blamed her
because she came to him penniless。 The rich aunt； who had
heartily disapproved of the artist； had spoken of him so frankly
that Frances had quarrelled with her； and from her no longer
would accept money。 In his anger at this Stedman showed himself
to Frances as he was。 And only two months after their marriage
she was further enlightened。
An irate husband made him the central figure in a scandal that
filled the friends of Frances with disgust； and that for her was
an awakening cruel and humiliating。 Men no longer permitted their
womenfolk to sit to Stedman for a portrait； and the need of money
grew imperative。 He the more blamed Frances for having quarrelled
with her aunt； told her it was for her money he had married her；
that she had ruined his career； and that she was to blame for his
ostracisma condition that his own misconduct had brought upon
him。 Finally； after twelve months of this； one morning he left a
note saying he no longer would allow her to be a drag upon him；
and sailed for Europe。
They learned that； in Paris； he had returned to that life which
before his marriage； even in that easy…going city； had made him
notorious。 〃And Frances；〃 continued Lee's correspondent； 〃has
left Boston； and now lives in New York。 She wouldn't let any of
us help her； nor even know where she is。 The last we heard of her
she was in charge of the complaint department of a millinery
shop； for which work she was receiving about the same wages I
give my cook。〃
Lee did not stop to wonder why the same woman； who to one man was
a 〃drag；〃 was to another； even though separated from her by half
the world； a joy and a blessing。 Instead； he promptly wrote his
lawyers to find Mrs。 Stedman； and； in such a way as to keep her
ignorant of their good offices； see that she obtained a position
more congenial than her present one； and one that would pay her
as much as； without arousing her suspicions； they found it
possible to give。
Three months had passed； and this letter had not been answered；
when in Manila； where he had been ordered to make a report； he
heard of her again。 One evening； when the band played on the
Luneta； he met a newly married couple who had known him in
Agawamsett。 They now were on a ninety…day cruise around the
world。 Close friends of Frances Gardner； they remembered him as
one of her many devotees and at once spoke of her。
〃That blackguard she married；〃 the bridegroom told him； 〃was
killed three months ago racing with another car from Versailles
back to Paris after a dinner at which； it seems； all present
drank 'burgundy out of the fingerbowls。' Coming down that steep
hill into Saint Cloud； the cars collided； and Stedman and a
woman； whose husband thought she was somewhere else； were killed。
He couldn't even die without making a scandal of it。〃
〃But the worst；〃 added the bride； 〃is that； in spite of the way
the little beast treated her； I believe Frances still cares for
him； and always will。 That's the worst of it； isn't it？〃 she
demanded。
In words； Lee did not answer； but in his heart he agreed that was
much the worst of it。 The fact that Frances was free filled him
with hope； but that she still cared for the man she had married；
and would continue to think only of him； made him ill with
despair。
He cabled his lawyers for her address。 He determined that； at
once； on learning it； he would tell her that with him nothing was
changed。 He had forgotten nothing； and had learned much。 He had
learned that his love for her was a splendid and inspiring
passion； that even without her it had lifted him up； helped and
cheered him； made the whole world kind and beautiful。 With her he
could not picture a world so complete with happiness。
Since entering the army he had never taken a leave of absence； and he
was sure； if now he asked for one； it would not be refused。 He determined；
if the answer to his cable gave him the address； he would return at once；
and again offer her his love； which he now knew was deeper； finer； and
infinitely more tender than the love he first had felt for her。 But the cable
balked him。 〃Address unknown；〃 it read； 〃believed to have gone abroad in
capacity of governess。 Have employed foreign agents。 Will cable their
report。〃
Whether to wait for and be guided by the report of the
detectives； or to proceed to Europe and search for her himself；
Lee did not know。 He finally determined that to seek for her with
no clew to her whereabouts would be but a waste of precious
moments； while； if in their search the agents were successful； he
would be able to go directly to her。 Meanwhile； by cable； he
asked for protracted leave of absence and； while waiting for his
answer； returned to his post。 There； within a week； he received
his leave of absence； but in a fashion that threatened to remove
him forever from the army。
The constabulary had located the will…o'…the…wisp brigands behind
a stockade built about an extinct volcano； and Lee and his troop
and a mountain battery attempted to dislodge them。 In the fight that