The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-06-09

The saffron radiance of the electric
lights that bloemed as yellow rosebuds
on the walls flooded the balcony Here
and there a lamp with a red shade
glowed like Il carbuncle. From the
palm room below the aroma of black
coffee greeted the nostrils delicately.
One of the musicians trailed his
hands over the keys of the piano and
at the sound the violins adjusted their
instruments with afrectionete care.
The men at the bass viol, cello and
flute stood at attention, and in another
moment the music began again.
1t seemed to roll through the place
In waves, the thin edges Of which
went curling through the open doors
and out into the darkness of the street,
where the passersby slackened their
steps to listen. The half dozen per-
sons who sat In the balcony listening
succumbed even more completely to
Its charm
"Lovers-lovers everywherew muir
INJURED Agnes Jennings mirthfully as
her gaze wandered idly over the scene
before her. Her companions answer
ing smile was somewhat distracted.
While she had been watching the
others he had been watching her. 1t
was habit he had acquired, and 1t
was particularly in moments like this,
when her head was thrown back
against the chair, her eyes were touch
ed with dreaminess and the shadowy
smile was quivering on her lips.
There were, indeed, two absorbed
couples near them, and Richardson
obediently pretended to be interested
in them. OF the older pair, the man
was of the stout flushed, prosperous
type SO common in our cities. I'm
as good as you are" was written In
every line of his face.
But as he gazed at the woman be-
side him, who was progressively pink
Of cheek bright Of eye and black of
hair, you saw that he made one ex-
ception. For the moment he was an
idealist and she was his ideal. In some
clumsy, speechless way he showed
that he felt that he wasn't so good as
she-that he aspired. that he loved!
He has forgotten that he's the sue
cessful Tim O'Donohue," remarked
Richardson laughingly. HE has for
gotten how he started with pickax
and spade and now wears a diamond
in his shirt front-he has forgotten
everything but her"
He finished the sentence as If he
were speaking to himself, and his COM
panion paid him the tribute OF linger-
ing glance in which question mark
was barely perceptible. Then she re-
turned to her derisive contemplation
of the lovers once more.
They certainly are naive" was her
next comment, as with a droll smile
she watched the other couple-a slen-
der girl with sweet blue eyes and a
of shoulder and crisp dark hair The
blue eyes were gazing up at him as If
he were a godling, as In fact he looked.
THE cunning things" calculated
Miss Jennings softly, as the youths
hand gently touched the girls as it lay
on the arm of the chair. "S-h-h. don't
move!' she cautioned, as Richardson
shifted his position to get better
glance of them You'll attract their at
tention, and then they will sit up stiff
and straight and talk of the weather!
Apparently they were oblivious TO
the people about them as well as to
the laughing scrutiny turned upon
them. as they sat gazing blissfully into
each others eyes.
Now, what do you suppose they see
thereT drnwled Richardson, going
back to his interrupted contemplation
of Agnes profile. She laughed lightly.
Everything floating In a rose color
ed mist. Nothing but JOY, JOY, JOY!
Invisible music - and always them
selves together and happy" she haz-
arded. ITS a bit cruel to think how
different 1t will really be. isn't it9'
AS she turned toward him with n
look grown pensive, Richardson was
filled with a sudden optimism.
at may come true. You can't tellr'
There was something vaguely sug-
gestive in his tone, and NJ iss jennings
looked again. She was half inclined
to believe-but no!
The music stopped. The youths dark
head was bent toward the girl, and he
was murmuring TO her In low, mufiled
tones. The man. whose appearance sug-
gested contracts shrewdly and profit
ably carried through was making a
palpabbe effort to say something that
was determined not to be said. He
shifted In his chair. and the red Of
his face grew darker, while his eom-
panion chatted composedly-too com
posedly, Richardson thought, ae his
speculative glance came home to the
lady at his side
Isn't it odd" said she, breaking
the silence, that they are so uncon-
scious? They don't seem to notice US
to think that perhaps we are watch
ing them. Fancy forgetting everything
like that
Her listeners eyes seemed to be re-
duced to mere points. He felt oddly
nettbed at her words and as quick as
fash decided to make an experiment.
Was she really 80 cold and impersonal
as she seemed? Well, 1t was decreed
that he should find out some time, and
this WAS perhaps as good a time as
any.
my dear girl" be began in a father
ly tone. ut is only in the shadows that