Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-09-25

an had," said man who, sitting at
distance, had been able to catch
the sound but not the sense of the
conversation, though a phrase OF
two, uttered by her companion, had
reach ed him.
Jasper George, a gross man, with
ears alert for supper, grunted, and
named her, but without enthusiasm
Women of Hermione's sort and
their voices had no attractions for
him; his tastes were much more cas-
lily satisfied by firstrate chef, and
neither of the two men had sought
nor would have been at home in the
ballroom, but as guests staying In
the house they had escaped from tho
racket to the shadow of the palms.
A cessation of the music, quick
ening, hurrying of sound in the
distance, drew the stout man alertly
out of his chair, and he offered his
arm to the other.
Supper" he said.
"None for NE. If not too much
trouble, you'll come to me later
or send my man."
"Of course"
The man who was left listened to
the greedy footsteps retreating,
then lay back with closed eyes,
thinking.
His was a strong, lean face, square
jawed, that would have been grim
but for the melancholy, hard fought,
1,u% 111xv c,,1r,,;%%o1 %o h hit
that softened it. There is many q
tough lesson learned in silent en-
durance, but it is mostly physical,
not mental, suffering that teaches it.
A girl came softly, swiftly, in, TAX
ing the vacant chair before she real
lied that the one next it was occu-
pied. She sprang up, vexed, but the
mans eyes suddenly opened, and
the sadness in them, or perhaps
their Indifference, so unlike the
quickening of most mems gaze at
sight of her, staid her steps.
II thought every one was at sup
per-" she said, and sat down again.
He knew her voice at once and
leaned forward eagerly. They talked
of trifes at first, and each moment
his pleasure grew. Here was one of
those cases, set apart in the dusty
desert of life, that nightly refresh
thirsty souls and bodies, giving them
strength to continue their long cara
van march; and in the long hour
that followed the blind man and
Hermione came to an understanding
of each other, got the grip Of one
another's characters, that with her
beauty made visible, and mentally
obscuring his judgment, they never
could have done.
The only interruption came when a
long nosed, reproachful young man
appeared round the corner, murmur-
ing: ''I've been waiting outside that
door all this time, Hermione-you
said you were having your dress
Notwithstanding glance added
"meanly gave me the slip"
GO to supper, dear boy! " she said,
'''1'm busy" and he went, and she
breathed freely. For it quickened
her pulse to know that at last, all
to herself, she had the man whose
eyes showed no trace of blindness,
but who had been struck down by it
in the height of the success of his
crowded worldly and intellectual life
and now the strenuous, the worldly,
the ambitious side of it was over,
and only the intellectual, the inner
one remained, and into it he had
drawn her for this one full, full
hour.
A mans voice sounded on the other
side of their retreat, voice thick
ened by wine, and Humphrey Fetch
er thought: 'That is the man who
wanted to hive the bee and failed"
"I wonder where that poor devil
Fletcher has hidden himself" went
on the man on the other side of the
orange trees "the best judge in the
world of women's looks, and sud-
denly smitten-blind! Even Her.
mione Saunders would be no better
to him now than an ill-favored serv-
ing wench."
.! he must know it-he must
know the must feel it, if she were
anywhere near him." said a woman's
impatient voice. "She is like her
cpals, milky, with heart of fire
and has cut to show herself, rain.
bow like, in a room, and the rest Of
us are not even visible
"And yet" said Humphrey, almost
under his breath, but she heard
"when you see her mind her lace
must needs be fcrgot''
She trembled, loving him for his
misfortune. And in that moment
though she knew it rot till later
the bee was safely hived at last
Black and White.