The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-28

UTINeT
saw her She danced exquisitely; he had
partner was the Harvard student who
appeared, on the ground of old acquain-
tanceship, to have annexed her frankly
from the moment OF her. arrival.
she was small and bright and charm
ing, and the sort of girl who was Isopu-
lar among girls as well as men. crowd
gathered about her always, on veranda or
that. ia the days following her advent,
Kept the big hotel in an eddy of life
The eornet player grew to watch her
with an almost morbid interest, a loneli-
ness mat was perhaps less for her than
mad grown upon him bit by bit till it was
passion that gripped his brain night
iaad DAY ~ might seem q futile thing,
real TO him. He had never spoken to the
girl, but he knew every tone of her voice.
every echo OF her laughter His whole
yelns moved with her each minute OF the
day lie hated the men whom she chatted
and danced with, because they belonged
Dy Drthright to her world
III Captain" was the new twostep that
Sonetirnes the girl would step up to the
rostrum and ask the pianist if they would
h hlHnd playing i. and the cornet player
haled the pianist then savagely for his
chance of a commonplace word and smile
one evening the chance arrived to him
sen II was during the lnterVal-the big
stretched themselves adjusted their Wilt
III ~ toiltIs ana strolled OIL to the bar
knees.
resting YEARLY in his hands. A rustic of
silk aroused him. and he lifted his head
TO see the girl seated ON the edge of the
rostrum- Her partner had disappeared
after a glass of ice water.
wonder if you've got a pin?" she
said to the cornet player. Look I've
put my foot through the houncei'
believe so, he said awkwardly. I'll
see tie was feeling along under the edge
Of his waistcoat. Presently his fingers
f{neol1ntered pin, and he drew it out and
ny. thank you. the girl said. He
dropped on one knee. and she watched
him gather the torn lace together deity.
When he stood up again her gray eyes
rested Tor moment upon his flushed
We sometimes thought she said alb
fuptiy. YOU know you play for us here
.'Tired2 said the cornet player. with
queer smile. He moved one foot the
There was something in his voice that
Jared upon her. 1t was as if she had laid
in the dark. She wondered at him.
didn't know she said hastily 1T
just occurred to me. should think YOU
must. sometimes, and you re always 50
nice about il. of course. we don't ever
Maybe we always just don't realize
You don't have TO realize, said the
cornet player His voice sounded alien to
him. II no longer himself spea king: |
1T was outside force. the voice of his
thoughts sweeping past him You don't
you We're born for j. But did you never |
who weren't2 DO YOU ever think what It |
must be like to be one Of those who've /
never the dancing? Always stand aside |
and just watch the others2 Tn not just |
thinking OF myself lie had a strange |
moment Of not caring what he said I've |
got a sister in the city. She's prettier |
as well, and she sells ribbons behind a /
counter. All the pleasure she's had in /
spend here in a day. I wonder what you'd /
think, if you only saw things from out I
side-aH the enJoyment-Just look on and |
play for the people. and keep right on /
playing. all the time
He STOPPED The girl was regarding I
him with wide. troubled eyes. '-But-butT /
she stammered- You sit here and |
ers. ! never thought it was like /
that, I never knew you-you cared. that |
-Cared,' The cornet player laughed I
Il m p, he said. and I've earned my /
It's a great age I'm supposed to Be be-
yond caring for anything-any ordinary
everyday pleasure. I'm supposed to get |
S9 before 50 very long,and then supposed I
getting it then-when L don't want it any
morei"
There was a silence. The outblrst had
self He stood before her hot and awk-
ward. profoundly ashamed
cried~saiwavs | shalli'-
Don't do that said the seornet player
He smiled at her. II want YOU to dance
Don't think that. l like to watch YOU
He was cropping for words to apOl-
ogize. "Only-I guess l was crazy" he
said. Il had business don't know
whatever made me talk that way"
He faced her shamefaced. hating him |
SELF deeply. and saw through a mist pity
and kindness looking at him out of her
gray eyes. He fumbled with his collar
II understand" she said softly Il
think / understand. And please don't
think we've don't ever care at ALL I
shall always remember it-aIwaysr'
Thank YOU. He caught his
breath hard and turned away bending |
his head over the heaped IAusic the
piano top Across the floor he was aware
Of the Harvard student returning with |
his glass of ice water People We're COM
ing in by twos and threes from the
randa- The two musicians lOitered back
iadedly. tucking their handkerchiefs once |
the clock as they passed.
The pianist sat down. feeling for the
pedal with his foot, and glanced at the
score of Ell Captain on the cOrnet play
ar'S stand. "Oh, this id old thingi' he
YEARLY.
Five minutes later his hands were rae
ng over the keys with a vicious swing
and foree-the carelessness of long prac-
-ice.
Looking up, the cornet player saw the
girl glide past him on the Harvard stu
Tents arm. She smiled over her shoulder
a wonderful smile he only half under
stood and which yet altered the world for
lim-
For moment the little black notes wa
7ered; presently they We're clear again.
He bent his head and played very earn
astly.
"Ah'' he said to himself as he finished
he last paragraph of his magazine ar
-icle Il think the world will have