Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-07-09

''All in the dark" said voice at
Esme's elbow and Arthur sat down at
the other side of the tiny table, where
the waiter was putting down the coffee
tray.
"Why not, Arthur" she snid. "Who
could be barbarian enough to have
lights brought now? Look at that
queen up there!" pointing to the moon.
The man opened his lips, as though to
speak, but shut them determinedly
again. He looked across at her stead
lily. Heavens! What magnificent
woman she was, with her tawny hair
that CLEANED like FURNISHED gold in
the moonlight = her great gray eyes
and the vivid scarlet lips and cheeks
that had before been so pale!
Il do not give allegiance to two
queens" he said.
Don't your" she said, laughingly, as
she handed him cup of coffee, "but
you are faithful soldier all the same,
I hope" aa..
ut pleases you to be merry tonight"
he answered, quietly.
slave you ever read Mrs. Browning's
Mask, Arthur" che said, "How little
men understood women, after oil!
You should know that the thing we
seem to be is only cloak to hide what
we are really feeling. But there--we
tabooed feelings for tonight"
"Did we? l only remember promis-
ing to say nothing to reproach you, and
shall certainly keep my word. In
deed, will praise you. 1t was awfully
good of you to let me come-and have
one evening like those in Ostend. Do
you remember" He leaned back, and
went on dreamily: II suppose every
man has some particular way in which
he pictures the woman he loves. al
ways thought of you on a balcony, in
white dress, surrounded by flowers,
looking--well-as you look tonight. /
shall remember you always So"
Esmc looked up in surprise. There
seemed IL resignation in his tone which
had Tot been there three hours before.
arthur, your experience as man
of the world must tell You that in q
few years your feelings will calm
down; you will come to Lon Ion and we
shall meet as friends"
He looked across at her curiously.
"You speak to me as a man of the
world. / know l am speaking to
woman of the world. Not to the Esme
of three years ago. But even from
your calm standpoint of woman of
the world you are wrong. Iadmit that
4 mans love might calm down. as you
say, even were it as strong as mine, il
he reaches his goal, but the removal Of
the prize beyond his reach makes him
long for it more fiercely. Such, at
least. is my case. You see, dearest, we
feel so differently. 1 could never bear
to see you another mans wife, and
therefore 1 shall never come near you
again. You believe that my love will
cool down; I know now that it never
will, and prefer to end it at its height,
not to see it die slow death by the
stages of affection - regard-indiffer-
ence."
END it?" said Esme; "what do you
mean?"
Il mean that after tonight shall
never see you notwithstanding to your
own wish"
ARTHUR" she broke in, you mis-.
understand me. I meant only until you
could see me without-without loving
me-"
THAT will never be, DEAR" he said,
land as I am never to see you again
l am glad to have seen you for the last
time as liked to see you best-as l
have always pictured you in my heart"
You are getting sentimental" she
said, with forced laugh. Your coffee
will be cold"
Arthur took the cup and poured
few drops from small green bottle
into it. Excuse me-" he said. II had
nasty touch of fever a few weeks
ago, and take my drops in my tea or
coffee, like an old woman"
Fever, Arthur" She bent forward
and looked at him. Eyes, you look
haggard and ill. did not notice it this
afternoon. I wish you would not go
back to that horrid India! Why don't
you take more care of yourself? Are
you going to London now?"
"Oh, do not talk to me-" the man said.
hurriedly; "tell me about yourself.
What have you been doing all these
years? Have you been in Ostend
again?"
NO." she answered gently; IT have
never cared to go back there"
''Then you really remembered and
cared, Esme?" The pain in his voice
was terrible to hear, but he suddenly
recovered himself. This is quite like
one of those evenings. We only want
the music" he added, in a different
tone.
A silence fell between them for a
few minutes. They seemed unable to
talk except on the subject they both
wished to avoid. Suddenly, as though
in answer to Arthur's wish for music,
the curtain on the lower balcony was
again drawn back and Paul De Jaer-
schlSy stepped out.
"Ah," he said, gently, ION such a
night there is but one song, mia cara"
and his glorious voice burst forth with
passionate feeling into that song-the
wonderful love song that has touched
rto