The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-10
A NONBEAM.


They sat In the cleaning. Springing
up she ran to the piano and struck a
wailing chord. he was perplexed, for he
had never known her TO act like that be-
fore; she was usully cool self-possession
personifisd.
Frau Hortense, what is the matter
with your
She was herself again. "Oh, nothing.
by the way. 40 you like Beethoven"
''Besthovony Oh yes; pretty well. F"
Her hands wande red over the keys, and
long, soft tones crept from uncer her
fingers. He was more puzzled than ever
What could possess her to.act so strangely?
lie simply could not understand her. Two
minutes earlier she was the woman that
he knew, AS she had always been, merry
and full OF fun, but altogether iree from
whims, whereas now
He did not daie 10 Interrupt the music,
ard his bewildermept went on steadily
increasing. Offenbach's Lecoque's and
Strauss was the kind OF music be had
heard her play tefore, and he had thought
that such was the reflection OF her own
self; that she knew no other. lie had
never dreamed OF her playing Beethoven,
least OF all that 2iagDiiicent, soulful
adagio movement. And how perfectly she
WAS rendering itl she put her heart and
soul into it. But there. 10 think Of
earth and soul In connection with htr
was too foolish. Like everything she dia
her rendering Of Beethoven was, he tried
To persude himself. Itrieksry. She was q
clever Gctress-that was all-iu music as
In everything else She had already en-
shaved him with her beauty. her vivacity,
ana now she was using IN isio merely for
the puprose OF enchanting him more
IhOrullUlly Al
was all dOue TO crafty her love OF power.
1t was cool calcula.i and nothing mora.
for she had no heart. The very idea wss
ridiculous. She was only a dangerous
iirei. Still he listened with bated breath,
anu rs the twilight deepened into dark
ness the spell grew more and more power
full Would he ever see her againy Not
likely. But-but even should it happen lie
would never. allow any declaration OF love
To pass his liDs; not If his heart should
burst for IL he should so far lose control
over himself she would DO sure to laugh at
him, as she Iaughed at everything ana
every body serious. He had come 10 bid
her good bye, and he had to confess to
himself that he had softeutd almost TO
the point Of declaring his love But JusG
at that moment shs had laughed at him
and had looked mockingly ut him with
her beautiful gray eyes.
Really, are you gong 10 leave mey
Are you sure that Is no mere speech tor
effect! How nice IL will be Tor you won't
it?'
At which he had rogained mastery over
himself, and then they had laughed to-
Pether as tney always did when he ca lea.
They had never exchanged n serious word.
she joked ana he joked, and by the time
that he was sti oliing along the boulevard
in Paris she would have almost forgotten
him, while TO him she would be only
remem brance-a beautiful remem brancc,
as Otto Bismarck excellently says--but
still only a remem Dranoe.
And still the room was filled with the
soft. sweet tones which swelled from the
piano. IL had grown dark. Nothing be
ssen, except the white keys with her hanus
floating over them and the head of the
Juno in the corner.
lie listened, bewitched. to the music.
aud wondered why he was 80 moved.
Was II really sheS How motioness she
sat there What music her fingers mauel
No, II WAS not the woman no had Known.
A transformation had taken place.
suddenly 10 occurred 10 him that he had
perhaps been misjudging her. 1t was
at least possible even If difficult TO i'm
hgins Surprising that her lag AZ, tlippant
gsyety vas only mask under which
the real woman was disguised lie him
self had worn mask. Like her, he
seemed 10 be what he WAS not. He had
pretended 10 be scotfer FOR modern
society uemnnus that all real faelins and
emotion hr concealed. IL ones real self
is seen. IL il in danger of teing ridlculeu.
1T might te that she had only mirrore
him. 1t might be that she, TO, bae
serious thoughts which sire feared to ex-
pose to rIdicule. Why should sho treat
hiio, scuiicr. earnestlyS And still mis-
heart was chill led anu his lips were
closed by the fear oi her scornful laugh.
Her laugh how maddeningy mocking il
wasl
And n recollcCtoni flashed across his
rlnd. 10 had made her acquaintance
In the Isle OF Wight during the previous
summer. One day they were standing
leiore the emerald green 1T. Catherine.
From the summit OF the hill the ruins
looked down upon thum. All around Was
holy quiet. 1t seemed az IL nature were
bidiDg her deepest, purest thoughts In
rich stiffness. AS utusl she began joking
and sco;ling suddenly from tho hilltop
came the echo of her laugh. It sounded
sacriligeous, ana she shrnnk back startled.
Ana again TO wondered II hs could
have buen mistaken in hts Judgment of
her. Dare he tell her what mis- heart