Angels and Women (1924)

ALLIMADES’STORYA MONTH has passed since I began myjournal; nothing has happened worthrecording until today when I found an opportunityto question my father. Mother wentearly with Aldeth to gather grapes for drying,and I had my tasks as usual in thecypress grove. When they were finished,knowing that candor would be most acceptable,I said: "0 my father, on my birthdayby chance I heard a conversation betweenyourself and mother, in which you spoke ofbeauty as a dangerous gift, as being thecause of a dreadful condition of the world,and of your own unhappiness. Would youkindly tell me the meaning of your words ?"An expression of deep pain crossed hisfeatures as he replied: "Perhaps the time hasnow come, my daughter, when it is properto tell you what must sooner or later cer-20