El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-07

den, less because he cared to be there
than because he could think of nothing
else to do.
There had been n time when Jack s
evenings were not spent in an aimless
endeaver to make the hours fly faster,
but that time was past.
The orchestra was crashing out the
music of a comic opera as he stepped
from the elevator, and he leisurely
scanned the crowd that sat in groups
around small tables slipping iced
drinks.
All day the heat had been terrific,
and even now, although a breeze stir
red the foliage of the potted plants, a
humid haze still fingered In the air and
mellowed the rays of the colored lamps
that only partly dispelled the darkness.
Their light was sufficient to catch the
glitter in the jewels of the women
nearest them. but there We're hooks
where the friendly darkness shielded
the faces of lovers and encouraged ten
der condolences.
As Jack passed a number of these
couples on his way to seat he turned
his eyes impatiently toward the center
of the Enclosure where that part of the
audience had congregated which had
come to find amusement and forget the
heat
There the murmur of voices mingling
with the music was continuous, and
the deep tones Of prosperous looking
business men blended with the low
laughter of women who, despite the
heat, looked cool and fresh in their
filmy gowns.
Jack nodded to one or two people as
he dropped into a seat. A waiter came
for his order, and after he had given it
Jack lighted cigar and, leaning back,
proceeded to take note of the groups at
the tables nearest him. 1t was one Of
his ways of obtaining diversion, this
studying of the people about him. He
liked to watch the play of expression
on the various faces and to speculate
about them.
He did not, however, enjoy watching
lovers. Jack had a fine contempt for
sentiment. His one love affair had
been full of it, and it had ended badly.
But that he had quite outlived his love
and even his slight feeling of bitterness
toward the woman who had been able
to cause him so much pain Jack often
assured himself.
Thoughts of Edith brought no accom-
panying heartache, and his feelings for
her now resembled the calm regard we
entertain toward friends of former
days from whom we have parted. But
the affair had left him with a cynical
dislike Of anything that bordered on
sentiment
1t amused him to think how rich in
the thing he now despised the days of
his courtship and short engagement
had been. Edith has told him once,
with pretty flush on her checks and a
light in her eyes, that the sight Of vio-
lets always would recall to her mind
the time when he had asked her to be
his wife.
She had worn those flowers that
evening-a monstrous bunch of them
that he had sent her-and Jack remem-
bered how their perfume had filled the
tiny drawing room and in some indie
Unable way had seemed to blend with
the seft light of the shaded lamps.
. 1t was pretty, that love affair Of
theirs, but, after all, it had been only
an episode. He was glad that they had
discovered their mistake in time, and
he was able to look back upon that
portion of his life much as we remem-
Der a dainty play that lifts us for a
time above the sordid cares of the
workaday world.
IN the time he had known her Edith
had reused him from his Indifferent at
titude toward life. He always must
feel grateful to her for that, Jack told
himself, but the sight of violets
brought him no regrets.
The return of the waiter with the
drink lie had ordered reused Jack from
his contemplation of an interesting
group near him. The orchestra had
brought the blatant music of the opera
to close and was playing an alluring
waltz.
The waltz died away on the summer
air, and the murmrc of voices became
louder, interspersed with the popping
of corks and the sound of ice against
thin glass.
Jacks gaze returned to the scene be-
fore him, and it was at this moment
that he caught sight of Edith seated at
table few feet from him.
He had not seen her since they part
ed as friends a year before, and he
smiled to think that he should be able
to look at her now with so little per
turbation. He did not believe she knew
that he was there. At any rate she
gave no sign of having seen him, and
Jack watched her at intervals as the
figures between them swayed.
Apparently she was well and happy.
Their brief love affair had passed over
the surface Of her life and left no rip
pie Jack looked at her critically, not
ing her beauty and the taste displayed