Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-06-22
Suppose
By KEITH GORDON
-
opyrlghi. les. by T. c. Mcclure.
By KEITH GORDON

The saffron radiance of the electric
lights that blooTned as yellow rosebuds
on the walls flooded the balcony Here
and there lamp with AIRED shade
glowed like carbunele From the
palm room below the aroma OF black
coffee greeted the nostrils deiieateiy.
One OF the musicians trailed his
hands over the keys OF the plano aud
at the sound the vioIins adjusted their
instruments with affectionate care
The men at the bass viol. cello and
flute stood at attention. and in another
moment the music began again.
II 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 nassersby slackened their
steps TO listen. The half dozen per
sous who sat in the balcony listening
succumbed even more completely to
It's charm.
"Lovcrs-lovers everywhere" muir
INJURED Agnes Jennings mirihfully 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 be had been watching her. II
was habit he had acquired. and II
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 qulvering on her lips
There were. indeed. two absorbed
couples near them. and Richardson
ohediently pretended to be interested
In them. or the older pair. the man
was Of the stout. flushed. prosperous
type SO common ia 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 oppressively 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, speeches. way he showed
that he felt that he wasn't so good as
she-that he aspired. that he loyedi
He has forgotten that he's the sue
cessful Tim oDonohue," remarked
Richardson laughinely. ne 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 Hnger.
ing glance in which question mark
was barely percepfible. Then she re-
turned TO her derlsiye contemplation
Of the lovers once more.
They certainly are naive" was her
next comment. as with a droll smile
she watched the other couple-g slcn-
der girl with sweet blue eyes and
loUily youth with reassuring breadth
of shoulder and crisp dark hair. The
blue eyes were gazing up at him as If
be were godling. as in fact he looked
THE cunning things" calculated
Miss Jennings softly. as the youths
hand gently touched the girls as il 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 stit
and straight and talk of the weather.
Apparently they We're obllyious 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
theref" drawled 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-
aried. Its a bit cruel to think how
different ii will really be. isn't it?'
AS she turned toward him with a
look grown pensive, Richardson was
filled with a sudden optimism.
1t may come true. You can't tell.'
There was something vaguely sug
gestiye in his tone, and Miss Jennings
looked again. She was half Inclined
10 believe-but no.
The music stopped. The youths dark
head was bent toward the girl. and he
was murmuring TO her in low. muffied
tones The man, whose appearance sug-
gested contracts shrewdly and profit.
ably carried through, was making a
palpable effort 10 say something thar
was determined not TO be said He
shifted in his chair. and the red Of
his face grew darker. while his COM
panion chatted composediy-too com.
posedly, Richardson thought. as his
speculative glance came home TO the
lady at his side
Isn't IL odd" said she. breaking
the silence. that they are so uneon-
sciousf They don't seem TO notice US
to think that perhaps We are watch
ing them Fancy forgetting everything
like THAR