The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-22

sistent and overpowering violin : the banjo
and the coster songs were given over: even
the coliegians' music WAS defeated; and the
peghborhood was forced to listen to the
dauntless fiddle, but not without protest, for
there came. an Indignant spoken chorus from
the quarter whence the college songs had
issued: 'Ya-a-ay! Wetherford, put it away!
She'll como back!'' The violin played on =
1--WE all know each other here, you see. Mr.
Harkess," Miss Hinedale smiled benignantly.
said the widower. Not that time Do You
hear him?->could ye come back to me,
Douglas" - , i -: 2.1t s:%}
20, but it isn't absence that is killing him
and his friends, - crted one Of the young
women. 1T is Brainard Macauley." =:
THAT is a mistake said Tom Meredith,
as easily as he could. There goes Jim.s
double quartet Listen and. you will hear
them try To- !. -. y
But the lady who had mentioned Braipard
Macauley cried Indignantly: '.You try to
change the subject the moment It threatens to
be interesting. They were together everywhere
until the day she went away: they danced and
one country club party: they drove every
afternoon they took long walks, and he
was at the Sherwoods' every evening Of her
| last week in town. That is a rnistake!' .
I'm afraid it looks rather bleak for:
| Wetherford,'' said tie widower. II went up
! and there sat Miss Sherwood in Macauley.s
| inner temple, chatting with a reporter, while
| Brainard finished some work.: ~
Helen is eccentric" said the former speak
er. but she's not quite that eccentric, unless
| they were engaged. 1t is well understood that
| they will announce It in tho fall -
Miss Hinsdale kindly explained to Harkless
that Brainard Macauley was the editor of the
Rouen Morning, Journal-"a very distinguished
man, not over %, and perfectly wonder
full" Already a power. to be accounted with
| in national politics, he was 'realy tremend-
Gus success" and sure to go far: ''one Of
| those delicate looking men, who are yet so
| strong you know they won't let the lightning
hurt you 1t really looked as II Helen Sher-
wood fwhorn Harkless really ought to meet)
had actually been caught in the tolls at last,
| those tolls wherein so many lucklees youths
had lain enmeshed for her sake. He must
meet Mr.. Maeauley, too, the most interesting
man in Rouep. After her little portrait Of
him. didn't Mr.. HarklessG agree that II
looked really pretty dull for Miss sherwood's
other lovers? f. 80 ..'' - '.,'' ~.
Mr.. Harkless erniled, and agreed that it did
indeed. She; felt u thrill Of compassion for
him, and her subsequent description Of the
pathos of his smile was luminous. She said
it was natural that a man who had been
through SO much suffering from those hor-
rible ''White-Cappers" should have smile
that struck into your heart like a knife. :
Despite all that Meredith could do, and after;
his notorious effort to shift the subject he
could do very little, the light .prattle ran
on about Helen Sherwood and Brainard Ma
cauley. Tom abused himself Tor his Wild
notion Of cheering his visitor with these
people who had no talk, and who, II they
drifted out Of commonplace froth, had no
medium to float them unless they sailed the
currents Of local personality, and he mentally
upbratded them for a, set Of gossipipg ninniea
o%~A
be d!gniied by name) OF which no stronger
could possibly partake, and which, by .
hideous coincidence, was making his friend
writhe, fguratively speaking, for Harkless sat
like fixed shadow :: He uttered scarcely .
word the whole evening, though Meredith
knew that his guests would talk about him
enthusiastically, the next day, none the less.
The journalists silence was enforced by the
topics; but what expression and manner the
light allowed them to see was friendly and
receptive as though he listened to brilliant
| suggestions. He had a nice courtesy, and
Miss Hinsdale felt. continually that she was
| cleverer than usual this evening, and no one
| took his silence to be churlish, though they
all innocently wondered why he did not talk
| more; however, it was probable that a man
who had been so interestingly and terribly
| shot would be rather silent for a time after
ward. ."
That night, when HAIRLESS had gone to
calling himself names. He became aware Of
| a rhomboidal patch OF yellow light on a
| wall of foliage without and saw that it came
from his friends window. After dubious con
sideration, he knocked softly on the door. -
Come . ="
| He went in. Harkless was in bed aud
! laughed family as Meredith entered. IL,
| I'm fearing you'll have to let me settle your
gas BILL Tom. I'm not like 1 used to be,
quite. I hnd-snce-since that business, I
cant sleep without a light rather get the
the horrors In the dark
| Incoherently, Meredith made compassion
ate exclamation and turned to go, and, as
he LETT the room, his eye foil upon the mantel-
piece. The position OF. the photographs had
been altered, and the picture Of the girl who
looked straight out at you was gone. The
mere rim OF 1t was visible behind the image
Of an old gentlemen with a sardonic mouth.
An hour later Tom. came back, and spoke
through the closed door. Boy, don't you
think you can get to sleep now?", -.
Yes, Tom. It's all right. You 90 to bed.
| Nothing troubles me- :.
Meredith spent the next day in great tr1bu-
lation and perplexity; he felt that something
had to be done, but what to do he did not
know. He still believed, that a "stirring+up''
was what Harkless needed-not the species of
"stirring-up" that had taken place last night.
but diversion which would divert. AS they
sat at dinner, a suggestion came to him and
he determined to follow It, He was called to
the telephone, and a voice strange to his ca.
murmured in a tone OF polite de6erence: "a
lady wishes to know II Mr.. Meredith and
his visitor intend being present at the co,in,
try-club this evening ->4s|z, e.. -. ::
He had received the same inquiry from Miss
Hinsdale on her departure the previous even,
ing, and had answered vaguely; hence he now
: rejoined: -. 80 -
you are. quite, an expert ventrtloquist, but
you do not deceive M" ."~ ~'.. J.
II beg your pardon. SIR, - creaked the small
> articulation. : F.,<..
s"This is Miss: Hnsdale, isn't it?". i
mo, sir. The lady. wishes to- know il yor
will kindly answer her question" =, -. ~.
, Tell her, yes He hung up the receiver
, and returned to the table. Some Of Ciar,
Hinsdale's; play he explained. "You made
a devastating impression on her, boy; yo,
were wise enough not to. talk any, and sh.
foolishly thought you were as interesting al
, you looked. We're going, out to a country
club dance It's given for the devotees wht
stay here all summer and swear Rouen is al
I ways cool; and nobody dances but ma ans
the very young ones It won't be 50 bad; 70,
3 can smoke anywhere, and there are littl
tables Well co. 3. z ~ = -: -:
Thank you,% Tom, you're so good to thinl
! OF it,: but - =: -. it.-- ~
But WHAT" H.: -. ~ = = .--r
. Would you mind going alone? fpd i
very pleasant sitting on your veranda, or II
e get a book .5> :: s.&-.s.,.>. @iE>.-
VERY well, II you don't want to 60, !
har haA Ao~a :%e~< -