The Somerset reporter., 1902-11-13
AFTER By
FIVE Frances
YEARS" Wilson

! Q Copyright, 1901, by Frances Wilson @
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well have tea, think" she said in
meditative manner, leaning her cheek
against two fingers of her left hand,
land perhaps some of those little cakes
the ones that are so tempting OH the
outside and all emptiness on9the in
side"
From her tone Lorrimer understood
that she meant to intimate that the
artistic unities demanded cakes of this
into man talk for the benefit of the OBJ
seQuious waiter and then asked with
the air of one who was used to being
made confidant Of:
whats the trouble? Because I've
noticed that when you order tea it is
an infallible sign OF disturbed con-
science"
There was a fash of mirth in her
eyes as they met his, and she clasped
her hands on the edge of the table and
leaned toward him, saying In vince
ding way:
you're the greatest comfort to me.
You're the only man know, ever have
known, save one, who always under
stands! With you 1t isn't necessary to
dot ones is and cross ones is"
Having paid him this handsome com
pliment, she beamed at him across the
narrow table and expectantly awaited
the question which she knew was sure
to follow.
And the other fellow" he laughed,
1.-THE one who shares with me the proud
distinction"
Hes the troubler came the answer
in a pathetic voice. Then with sudden
vivacity: did you ever notice that
there's something about the movements
of the average waiter that reminds one
of Spencerian writing? There's flow
ing grace In the way that he removes a
dish cover a flourish In the way that
he sets down plate, which marks him
as a human exponent of the Spencerian
theory"
Their order had arrived, and 1t was
not until she had poured the tea that
she spoke again. Then she burst out
Indignantly:
Nobody but dreamer would think
of such a thing as continuing a ro-
nance from the point where he left it
five years before. It's absurd you
know" she continued candidly. "A
persons feelings change from year to
year,
"From season to season would seem
to me more accurate statement" put
| in her companion, with a suaye smile.
unless, indeed. my experience has
been unusual"
You do understand" she smiled.
You certainly do. Now you would
know, wouldn't you, that if u woman
were fond of you, say when leg o
mutton sleeves were in fashion. she
might-probably woulS-feel very diff
ferent by the time that the coat sleeves
were de rigueur%
Her face wore the hopeful expression
of a person who has at last found a
perfectly rational human being who
will see things as they are. Lorrimer
drained his cup and set it down DELHI
erately before he replied. Then he
said:
Don't you think you would better
begin at the beginning? You're trfie
incoherent, you know"
That's just it! There wasn't any be
ginning! And evidently he thinks that
there hasn't been any end. 1t was all
so elusive and intangible and so sad
He left so much to the imagination. |
think that was a part of his fascina-
ton for me. There was a look in his
eyes at times that wrung my heart,
and from pity drifted by degrees into
something more
when we parted, knew that we
were sworn to an eternal friendship
sort of ashes of roses affair, you know
and In my own heart | was fully de
termined never to marry. | was going
to be one of those sweet sad. strong
women that you read about"
She screwed her forehead into knot
and looked at him deprecatngly.
What happened?" he inquired in a
sympathetic tone. you haven't mar
ried, Ii Is true but | have never con-
nected you in my thoughts with a hid
den sorrow"
The occupants of an adjoining table
rose to go, and her attention was en-
crossed for moment by a love of a
gown. Then she came back to Lori
mer and her story.
81 suppose that wha. happened was
just-other men" she said ruefully
THE spirit was willing. but the flesh
WAS weak
what in the name of goodness ia
troubling you thenY' asked Lorrimer,
thoroughly mystided.
why, | had a note from him this
morningl He will be in town next
Wednesday. His wife is dead"
She composed her face to an expires.
sion of perfect propriety before making
this announcement, though there was q
faint twitching of her lips.
"Ah-h-h! l see. You fear that he is
coming to claim his pound of flesh, and
you're not of the same mind that you
were when it was promised"
She nodded.
4 ITS not quite nice of me to tell you
but we're very old friends, and I'm
| really troubled He's such 81 nioe fol.