Page:The One Woman (1903).pdf/197

 tragedy, doubt or moan, each life be its own, original and masterful, each man a god, arrayed and beautiful!"

Overman laughed softly.

"So fine as that? You're great on the frills. You have dressed it up nicely. But when two of your man-gods, arrayed and beautiful, get their eyes, set on the same woman-god, still more beautiful, arrayed or unarrayed, you'll hear the rattle of the police wagon in the streets of Heaven, with the ambulance close behind."

The banker grinned and fixed his eye on his friend with a quizzical look.

"Don't be a monkey," Gordon scowled.

"Why not? You propose to go back to forest life."

"I propose to make human society a vast brotherhood," the preacher cried, with a wave of his arm.

"Well, don't forget that Cain killed his brother Abel for less than a woman's smile."

"Society is lost unless some great upheaval shall clear the rubbish and we build new foundations on truth and fellowship and freedom."

Overman put his hand on Gordon's knee.

"Frank, I'm a godless, crusty bachelor, but I read history. Destroy the integrity of the family and the salt of the earth is lost. The whole thing will rot."

"But I propose to purify and glorify the home its life by building it on love."