Smyrna times., 1897-10-06
NOT UTTERLY USELESS.

0Nl1 poOp1e. Iney lived IN deal
little world of their own, whose in
habltants had nothing to do but eat
drink and be merry; a charming sphere
where everybody tried their very hard
est to be amusing and amicable. anC
where nothing was ever taken seriously
that is, in public. When thew did 8
good deed, they did it by stealth and
threw mud at it afterward; when they
spoke of things human and divine they
hid their true selves and real meaning
under an impenetrable cloak of flippant
slang and cheap witticisms.
Halliday and Miss Verrall had much
In common. They used the same de.
vices to conceal their good instincts
and occasionally went so far as to hint
at decided liking for this or that pIav,
person or picture. Now and again
they caught sight of one and another
for brief instant, but the passing
glimpse was always too short to lead to
a longer one.
They had known one another some
two years, and, living in the same
small world, met almost every day in
the season and every other one out of
it. These meetings could hardly be
considered profitable. Sometimes thew
flrted for a change firtations of
this peculiar people are so like love as
to be lndistinguishable from the gen
ulne artlcle-and, maybe, shook off the
motley for an occasional brief moment
OF rest-simply a pause between two
acts, with tie orchestra playing in be-
tween to remind them that thew are
still IN the theatre. Thus, the net re-
suit OF their acquaintanceship was that
Doris Verrall had never got a word OF
sober sense out of Jack Halliday, while
Jack Halliday had never heard a svl-
liable of wisdom issue from the delicate
lips of Doris VerralI.
Doris was an only child and mother.
less. She and her father had kept
house together and mutually spoiled
one another these last 10 years. They
had miniature Mayfair palace all to
themselves, an Arcadia that would have
surprised most of the Utopians among
whom Doris took her pleasures by rea-
son OF its restful simplicity and quiet
affections. Father and daughter were
very fond of one another, each in their
own way-Mr. Verrall, in dignifed,
Old-WOrld manner that reminded one
of Balzac's elderly aristocrats, while
Doris showed her affection by being
disrespectful. She treated Daddy. "
as she playfully styled Mr.. Verrall,
like a big spoiled child, and he was as
clay under her fingers. The old gen
tleman was allowed to live his own
life in peace and quiet, while Doris
danced and made merry under chap
eronage of score of friends.
1t was Sunday evening. in June. The
sky was clearing fast after days rain
and London looked as though it had
just come home from the laundry.
Doris and Nh Verrall, who had gone
down to the park for a mild constitu
tional, ran up against Jack Halliday,
bent on similar errand, and bore him
home to dinner. He had never dined
en- famille with the Verralls and won
dered what it would be like.
The dinner was a success. All three
enjoyed it-Jack Halliday most of all.
1t was different from the shallow gilt
ter of his everyday life. 1t reminded
him of the "HOme, Sweet Home, that
Patti sings about, and the domestic
Doris carefully looking after her white
haired old father, was an unexpected
revelation. 1t seemed strange to think
that this pattern of filial affection wai
the cynical, witty and fiippant d oril
Verrall he had hitherto known. For
minute or two the thought made hin
uncomfortably self-conscious. He wal
an intruder; he had no place in the
domestic economy of that household
no right to pry into their attachment
and intimacy. This feeling gave way
after the first few moments. No one
save himself, noticed the incongruity
of his presence; he was evidently 1
welcome guest and belonged to the
picture. Doris had never seen him sc
quiet before. To him she seemed 6
new being, more like one of the peo
pie in the books he read in his lonely
chambers than the Miss Verrall of yes
terday.
They grew silent after time, Will,
Mr.. Verrall talked lovingly about book
and pictures, and men and women wht
had written and painted them. TIL,
old gentleman had simple, homel,
way about him that was restful. Dori
and Jack listened contentedly, anC
again Halliday thought of the peopl,
in the books, while the girl looked en-
couragingly at her father-even ten
derly-Jack thought.
It was nearly dusk, and Jack asked
her to play to him in the twilight, s,
they went upstairs to the drawing
room. Doris seated herself at th,
piano, while he went over to the fire
place and sank deep into big chai
piled with cushions. Doris played di
vinely, and the music went deep int,
his soul. 1t wove subtle spells as i
filtered through the shadowy room
and made him sink deeper into tn
chair and guard the silence lest b
should lose a single note of the ha1
mony that spoke to him out of the dim
ness, out of the Aeecy haze that wrap
all things. A whole world of spirit
whispered in his ears; they told him O
Jack Halliday-much about Jack Hal
liday. The little devils that pop i,
and out of every mans past were mul
muring fitfully around him, exercise
maybe by the dim light, maybe by til
music and the shadowy figure at til
piano, maybe all three together.
was too dark for Doris to see his face
so he let his feelings have full play
Every note raked up some long forgot
ten dust heap In his heart, recalle
thought after thought of past hopes
ambitions and love-chiefy love.
CrIIn.I.. Al ......s.. ....oro1 Dn,.;