Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-11


''All in the dark" said a 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 said. "Who
could be barbarian enough to have
lights brought now? Look at that
queen up therei" pointing to the moon.
The man opened his lips. as though to
speak, but shut them deternlintdly
again. He looked across at her stead
lily. Heavensi What a 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!
81 do not give allegiance to two
queens" he said
Don't you?" she said, 1aughingly. as
she handed him cup of coffee, 'sbut
I hope"
he answered, quietly.
"Have you ever read Mrs. Browning's
MASK Arthur?'' she said, 'sHow little
men understood women, after ell!
You should know that the thing we
seem to be is only a cloak to hide what
we are really feeling. But there-we
tabooed feelings for tonight"
"Did we? 1 only remember promis-
ing to say nothing to reProach you, and
I 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: 81 suppose every
man has some particular way in which
he pictures the woman he loves. 1 al
ways thought of you on balcony, in
white dress, surrounded by flowers,
looking -well-as you look tonight.
shall remember you always So"
Esme looked up in surprise. There
seemed a resignation in his tone which
had not been there three hours before.
arthur, your experience as a man
of the world must tell you that in
few years your feelings will calm
down; you will come to London and we
shall meet as friends"
He looked across at her curiously.
"You speak to me as a man of the
world I know I 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. admit 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 hin,
long for it more fiercely. Such, at
least, is my case. You see, dearest, we
feel so differently. I 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; 1 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?"
81 mean that after tonight shall
never see you again-according to your
own wish
ARTHUR" she broke in, you mis-
understand me. 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
am glad to have seen you for the last
time as i liked TO see you best-as
have always pictured you in my heart"
You are getting sentimental" she
said. with a forced laugh. your coffee
will be cold"
Arthur took the cup and poured a
few drops from a small green bottle
into it. Excuse me-" he said. 81 had
n nasty touch of fever a few weeks
ago, and take my drops in my tea OF
coffee, like an old woman"
Fever, Arthur" She bent forward
and looked at him. Eyes, you look
haggard and i'll. did not notice it this
afternoon. 1 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
years? Have you been in Ostend
again ?'
NO." she answered gently; 81 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
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>
schly stepped out
"Ah," he said, gently, ION such