Why not let people _be_ what they were?
Why not let them be themselves, instead of what one thought they would be from what one knew of their lives?
It was so easy to see marks when one knew of things which one's philosophy held would leave marks.

It seemed a fairer and a saner thing to let human beings be what their experiences had actually made them rather than what one thought those experiences would make them.
Captain Prescott had blighted a Cuban woman's life--for his own pleasure and vanity.

With Ann it may have been the press of necessity, or it may have been--the call of life.

Either one, being driven by life, or drawn to it, seemed less ignominious than trifling with life.
Why would it be so much worse for Captain Prescott to marry Ann than it would be for Ann to marry Captain Prescott?
The man who mended the boats would back her up in that! Through her somber perplexity there suddenly darted the sportive idea of getting Ann in the army! The audacious little imp of an idea peeped around corners in Katie's consciousness and tried to coquet with her.
Banished, it came scampering back to whisper that Ann would not bring the army its first "past"-- either masculine or feminine.

Only in the army they managed things in such wise that there was no need of committing suicide.