The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-21

with her in moment; the other was
sun looking after the old, woman. But
instead of going toward the ballroom,
Miss Parrish turned suddenly to a lit
tie balcony which overlooked the hotel
grounds and lake beyond; and she
closed the door behind her. At its
sharp click she started, then laughed
lightly. ending with half sob.
Through the closed door came the
discords of the musicians tuning their
instruments, but it was far away, as
of something left behind. She shivered
little at the thought, and her feet
began to tap an impatient protest, as
though longing to be in motion. Then
she turned to the world outside.
1t was a perfect night, and the rest
fulness of it came over her life a ben
ediction. Millions of stars cleaned in
the semi-tropical sky, and over the lake
round, full moon was dropping ma
jestically behind the silhouette of
palm fronds. She turned to the south,
half expecting to see the glory of the
Southern cross.
AS she looked, the indecision left her
face, forgotten She was lifted above
the commonplace, into the majesty Of
universe, and somehow it seemed to
be hers of right. But how small SEEM
ed the pleasures and trivialities and
how grand the possibilities! With those
stars companioning with her she left
how easy it would be to do great
things, and how impossible 1t would be
to make an ideal of the commonplace.
The creak of a boom came to her
as a sail was being lowered for the
night, and the sound carried her back
a. few weeks, to the time when she
had first met the two men who were
doubtless now seeking her in the gal
lery or the ballroom below. They had
been out on a boating trip, which she
had been asked to join, and the fault
lessly dressed one had been the life of
the party, while the other had been
for the most part silent or talking
with a grave professor in the most
retired part of the boat.
But on their return the wind had
gone down, leaving them becalmed
and without oars, and with boat
man who could not swim. the
chances seemed that they would re-
main out most of the night, for the
wind was not likely to freshen. Then
it was that the other man had drop
ped quietly overheard and swan half
a mile to the shore in search of
launch to tow them in. 1t was not
so much the act, for any man who
could swim might have done the same,
but rather the transformations, matter
of-fact manner in which it was done,
that impressed her. Would not man
like that be a good pilot to guide one
through the currents and eddies OF
life?
She threw back her head with sud
den impatient motion and laughed
meckingly. Could she not leave them
out of her thoughts, even here under
this canopy of stars? 1t was absurd,
humiliating. Either put them out of
her life altogether, or make choice.
The one she loved best was the one to
choose, of course.
The mockery left her face. Loved
best? Which was it? The one who could
offer her all that one might wish, or
the man who invited her to struggle
with him to greater nights?
Again the pink finger-tip sought to
assist her in solving the problem.
Which was it? 1t seemed absurd, but
she did not know.
And yet they were both inside there.
waiting; and she knew that when she
met them she must decide. Once more
her eyes swept the sky and the lake,
and when she re-entered the building
something of the calm peacefulness of
the scene was reflected in her face.
A burst of music came from the
ballroom. The musicians were begin
ming her favorite waltz. She paused a
moment and let her foot beat a meas
ure on the floor, and glanced around.
The faultlessly dressed man was
standing in the passage. just at the
head of the stairs. She met his gaze
with curious sensation of disap-
pointment which brought a sudden
comprehending color to her face. Then
her gaze wandered.
The other was in the opposite gall
lery. to which he had come after an
f,,I ,.,1. - L.
was gazing down a corridor, as though
waiting for her to appear. Presently
something in her gaze seemed to draw
his, and their eyes met. The indecision
left her face.
He came forward quickly. and she
waited, her head high and her lips
smiling.