color came off on my eager hands.
I picked out a country, and sailed away. Like you, I thought I could
never be happy, never even smile, again. Look at me.'

"He looked. I guess my face radiated bliss. The idea was so lovely. He
was impressed--I could see it. 'I'm supremely happy,' I told him. 'I am
my own master. I wander where I will. No woman tells me my hour for
going out, or my hour for coming in. I wander. For company I have her
picture--as I saw her last--with twinkling feet that never touched
earth. As the spirit moves, I go. You can move the memory of a woman in
a flash, my boy, but it takes two months to get the real article
started, and then like as not she's forgot everything of importance.
Ever thought of that? You should. You're going to be as happy as I am.
Study me. Reflect.' I waved my carpet-slippered feet toward the palms. I
had certainly made an impression on Alexander McMann.

"As we walked back over the sands and grass-grown streets to the hotel,
his heart got away from that cupid's lunch-counter, and he was almost
cheerful. I was gay to the last, but as I parted from him my own heart
sank. I knew I had to go back to her, and that she would probably give
me a scolding about the carpet slippers. I parted from McMann with a
last word of cheer. Then I went to the ship--to her. My wife. That was
the lie, you understand. She traveled everywhere with me. She never
trusted me.

"We were due to sail that night, and I was glad. For I worried some over
what I had done. Suppose my wife and Alexander McMann should meet. An
estimable woman, but large, determined, little suggesting the butterfly
of the footlights I married, long before. We had a bad session over the
carpet slippers. The boat was ready to sail, when McMann came aboard. He
carried a bag, and his face shone.

"'She's sent for me,' he said. 'Marie wants me. I got a letter from my
brother. I'll blow into Kansas like a cyclone, and claim her.'

"I was paralyzed. At that minute a large black figure appeared on deck.
It headed for me. 'Jake,' it says, 'you've sat up long enough. Go below
now.'

"McMann's face was terrible. I saw it was all up. 'I lied, McMann,' I
explained. 'The idea just came to me, it fascinated me, and I lied. She
did turn me down--there in the wings. And she shed that tear I spoke of,
too. But, when I was looking over the railroad folders, she sent for me.
I went--on the wings of love. It was two blocks--but I went on the win