Poor Max (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1898 Excerpt: ... "Failure," he said slowly, his voice sad, permeated through and through with uneventful notes. He threw up his hands quickly as though to ward off something. "Failure," he repeated; "it's a beastly adhesive sort of word. Curious that you of all people should have spoken it." "Oh But, Max" "I know, my heart, you didn't mean it for me; but the cap fits. Some one had to say the word once. I--I think once is enough," he added slowly, speaking jerkily. There were odd little twitches about his lips, in his fingers and his limbs, and the veins on his forehead stood out like cords. "Whoever fails, my Judith, it won't be you. Although," he added, with a wistfulness that made her numb and dumb, " I don't believe you'd care a hang for the most flagrantly shameless defeat for yourself so long as you could see victory anywhere ahead for me. Oh, you poor, poor little fool what makes you such a woman, Judith; such an imbecile, incomprehensible, dear and most wonderful woman? It--in your case--it doesn't pay " "Max " He stood up with a strange, remote dignity quite new to him. "I mustn't stay chattering, little woman," said he; "I have something to finish." She sprang to him and caught his hands. "But mustn't I come too?" she cried. "No, dear, not this time. I daresay," he added with an odd, haunting laugh, " I won't be very long. I can do most things quickly." She stood where he left her, shivering. "He's seen himself," she thought at last with horrified eyes, "he's seen himself as he is. Oh dear Oh--what will happen next? What will this bring?" She tried to think; but this was beyond the reach of reason. She tripped and floundered in a fog of doubts, awful, grotesque, tormenting. "Will it last?" she panted; "can it last? God is a reasonable Being; He never made Max fo...