The Yale expositor., 1895-03-29


Shortly afterward there was the usull
rustic Of skirts, the agreeable patter ON
the stairs, the echo Of feminine laugh
and presently the distant rumble of the
piano.
AS n rule, this was a time OF unut-
terable. relief to Jusun Crawford. Fate
had made him popular novelist-na'
ture had denied him the hardihood u
endure its social consequences. de nae
been tethered to so many admirlns
women during dinners that season that
the festal meal had come to be mat
ter of moral dread to him. Anywhere
else he could escape, but not Mt dinner
Tonight, however, he had enjoyed him.
self, ut least in n negative way-he had
been let alone and allowed to talk Oh
be silent as he pleased.
When he went upstairs, he found MS
late companion lying on curved chair
at the half-opened window. he went
over beside her and peered out into the
dark. They were almost at the corner
of n busy thoroughfare. 1t had been
wet, and the lanplight glimmered
across the pavement.
Beyond was the dim greenness OF
trees, and the scent Of wet May foated
across to them. The moon hung apart,
injurious, behind a veil of yellow
vapor, and as they looked Big Ben
struck the third quarter.
There was clatter of cups and sauc'
ers behind them.
IL am ready"-and the grey eyes
smiled demurely-"form my cup of tea. "
Ten minutes" he said, as he went
TO fetch it. lis not a very long time.
lie sat down beside her at the win
dow.
do you see that seat just inside the
park gate?"
NO." she said wonderingly. what
good sight you must have"
| "ShOrt-sighted people always see well
far away. There is pair of lovers
over there, and they see the colored
| lamp shades and hear the music here,
and they think 1t very fine indeed. but
do you think they would come In II
we asked themT
She looked a little puzzled, but he did
not heed her-he liked q person he
could forget, and he went on talking
TO himself, rs il were: mo, they are
| better where they are. The scent of
the May is stronger there, and the
darkness is a kindly cloak. l should
| like 10 go over there myself, only
with n whimsical dash of the short
| sighted eyes--'I should be alone, and
so | should not require an umbrella, as
they do"
No doubt he was talking nonsense
but the perception of it visible in hei
eyes recalled him to himself. He fin
| iShed his tea and took the cups away
| When lie came back he said efficiently
Good night Mrs. and paused. lie
had not caught her name, and rather
wished 10 know 1t.
She noted his expectancy, but for
some reason did not respond. A little
flush that rose in her cheeks was the
only sign she made of having under
stood. Good night, Mr.. Crawford,
she said
He bowed and went away, but as Inc
went down stairs he said to himself
"She knew my name after all, and yet
she never mentioned my novels OF
worried me in any way. A wonderful
woman
An hour afterward Mrs. Willie Danv
ers was seated in her tiny drawing
room, having cigarette and cafe noil
with her husband-or, rs she preferred
TO call aim, her "chum''
And how did you get on with youi
interview he asked
'Beautifully-he never knew IT was
going on. He just prattled away about
the old and the new women, children
cups OF tea, lovers and umbrellas, and
1 distilled heaps of copy from him
Now and again, though, l didn't quite
know what he was driving at" and
| DUnin tho nInar Il
that farRway look that had interested
Justin Crawford so much.
Il am not surprised" said Mr.. Danv
ers, dryIy. There is n fine casual con
tempt about husbands at times.