"But worst of all, John Campbell-- If this be worst--this early episode So nipped my leaves and browned and curled them up To whisper sharply with their bitter edges, No one has seen a bridal wreath in me; Nor have I ever known a woman since That some analysis did not blow cool A rising admiration." "Now to think This girl lies dead, and while we drink a beer You tell me that the story is a lie, The girl was good, walked ten miles through the dark To save her honor from a ruffian-- That's what you were, as you confess it now. And if she did that, what is all this talk Of such a rat as Green, of Alma Bell?-- It isn't true." "The only truth is this: I took a lasting poison from a lie, Which built the very cells of me to resist The thought of marriage--poison which remains. I wonder should I tell the coroner? No good in that--you might as well describe A cancer to prevent the malady In people yet to be. Let's have a beer. John Campbell said: I learned from Elenor Murray The kind of woman I should take to wife, I married just the woman made for me." "If you can say so on your death bed, John, Then Elenor Murray did one man a good, Whatever ill she did to other men. See, I keep rapping for that waiter--I Would like another beer, and so would you." * * * * * So now it's clear the story is not true Which Mrs. Eaton told the coroner. And when the coroner told the jurymen What Mrs. Eaton told him, Winthrop Marion Skilled in the work of running down a tale Said: "I can look up Eaton, Campbell too, And verify or contradict this thing. We have departed far afield in this, It has no bearing on the cause of death. But none of us have liked to see, the girl's Good name, integrity of spirit lie In shadow by this story." Merival Was glad to have these two men interviewed By Winthrop Marion; so he found them, talked, And brought their stories back, as told above Which made the soul of Elenor Murray clear.... * * * * * Paul Roberts was a man of sixty years, Who lived and ran a magazine at LeRoy. _The Dawn_ he called it; financed by a fund Left Roberts by a millionaire, who believed The fund would widen knowledge through the use Of Roberts, student of the Eastern wisdom. This Roberts loathed the war, but kept his peace Because the law compelled it. Took this time To fight the Christian faith, and show the age Submerged in Christian ethics, weak and false. He knew this Elenor Murray from a child, And knew her rearing, schooling, knew the air She breathed in at LeRoy. And in _The Dawn_ Printed this essay:--