The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-09
CHAPTER /.


the water on the sands. like the wind
blowing peacefully over the seas; then
with vigor andintensity like the beating
Of the fierce waves upon the shores;-
passionate, thrcbbing, pulsating, came
the voice Of Q violin from the half open
doorway. The notes would almost die
away and only the lingering memory Of
the melody remain, to be followed by
shrIeking and crashing that was savage
In it, contrast. Then In sweet. pathetic
cadence the violin would speak and the
iong-drawn. trembling notes tell sad
life story.
One could almost see man standing
alone on headland by the sea; the
waters below dashinR flercely against the
foot Of the cliff, seething upward and hiss
ing furiously; the sky dark and frowninR;
the whole aspect Of the earth unfriendly;
and the man himself with his hair tossing
wildly about his forehead and his eyes
strained in looking far away over tho
waters. Then the sky clears; the wind
ceases; the sea grows calm; the sun comes
out.
With q few short notes the violinist
ended his Improvisation, and began to
play gavotte with many runs and trills.
He was thus engaged when q tall, fair
haired man came up the staircase two
steps at time and. hearing the music,
paused for moment at the doorway.
Then be pushed open the door without
ceremony and entered the room. II was
one Of the many drawing rooms VII - al
ways accompany certain bache', =
ment houses, and was furnis'' o
best Of taste, being hung with j -
tries; on the walls were pictures a.... ger
man favors. Opening from this was
sleeping-room and another room which
evidently was used for studio. Judging
from the easel which could be seen through
the open doorway. But the visitor had no
eyes for the surroundings; he looked at
the violinist eagerly. And well he might.
His well-shaped head bending with the
chin resting caressingly on the violin;
his large, soft black eyes raised in quiet
surprise at the intruder; his long, thin
white fingers holding the bow, those OF the
other hand resting on the frets lightly;
his smoking jacket rolling back from his
neck. revealing white throat; he made
sOAy ShCO1S0A dppO0touSo. AZ ehuhns
Philip Davaris was always what is called
effective. In evening dress, especially. he
looked remarkably we'll. 1t takes good
figure TO properly set of the rather absurd
costume which is regarded by the civilized
world as full dress, and Davaris had q
good figure. He was little too tall per-
haps. but his limbs were nodded symmet-
really.
When the young fellow came into the
room Davaris jumped up, laid his violin
down, and graspei him eagerly by the
hand. He greeted him cordially as Lang
ford, old fellow"
Langford returned his greeting and
looked at him curiously. And well he
might. Davaris had done something
very odd. Five weeks previously he had
gone away. No one could find him. He
left no word at all. He did not write even
a.note telling where he was or when he
would come back. Five weeks ago Lang
ford had come to his rooms at his usual
hour; .Davaris was gone. Each day fol-
lowing he came, but Davaris was not back.
After week had passed he gave 1t up. He
was puzzled.
social usages, but he broke many an en-
gagement in leaving as be did Society
wondered where he had gone; talked
about his strange disappearance and then
forgot all about the clever young Greek,
whom they had patronizad for year or
more; forgot about the man who could
paint such charming pictures, who could
hold his own at musicale. Davaris was
forgotten In the five weeks he was away,
by all but Langford
The two had been classmates in Harvard
. the practical. good-natured American.
the affectionate. passionate, impulsive
Greek. They had graduated together, on
Class Day they had climbed to the top Of
the tree" together. and Hung down flow
ers to certain fair ones wac watched
them with wonder. Afterward Davaris
came to New York, and went much into
society; from q small lion he became a
lion OF some magnitude, yet he was for.
gotten in five short weeks
And now when chance had sent Lang.
ford to his rooms again, he found him
there as Of old, play. his violin. He
found him there as il it were but yester.
day they had parted.
Langford had o right to demand an ex
panatiouof the Greeks odd actions Bur
lDavaris looked troubled when askel why
ne wen" a"ay. 1t was private matter
ne declared. He was awfully sorry, but
ne couldn't tell his friend about it. 1t wa,
something very important that had tasseI
MN away; something that he wanted Il
forget, If he could.
ana SO, Of course, Langford had the
COCO sense not to press him on the sub
1ect. They smoked their cigars quietly fo
an hour or more. Then by some chanc,
Langford happened to mention the nam,
OF GLADYS Montagae-everyon knew
Gladys Montague tha new beauty, tn,
giri whose praises had been sung all win
Ter IN far away San Franciso, the girl VII,
was to spend the summer East, drst a
Bar Harbor, then at Newport, and tinali,
at Lenox The instant her name wa
mentioned Dayaris started W from BIZ
chair and began pacing up and down tn,