Smyrna times., 1904-06-15
Suppose
By KEITH GORDON
Copyright, 1903. by T. c. Mcclure.
By KEITH GORDON

on the walls flooded the balcony Here
and there a lamp with a red shade
glOwed like a 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 affectionate care.
The men at the bass viOl, cello and
fute 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 sIackened their
steps to listen. The half dozen per-
sons who sat in the balcony listening
Succumbed even more completely to
its charm
"Lovers-lOvers everywherer' muir
INJURED Agnes Jennings mirthfully as
her gaze wandered idly over the scene
before her. Her companions answer
ing smile was somewhat abstracted.
While she had been watching the
others he had been watching her 1t
was a habit he had acquired, and it
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 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. speechless way he showed
thai he felt that he wasn't so good as
she-that he aspired. that lie 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 perceptble. Then she re
turned to her derisive contemplation
of the lovers once more.
"They certainly are naive" was hel
next comment, as with a droll smile
she watched the other couple-a slen
der girl with sweet blue eyes and
lordly youth with a reassuring breadth
of shoulder and crisp dark hair. TIL,
blue eyes were gazing up at him as i
he were a godling, as in fact he looked
'1he cunning thingsw CALCULATES
Miss Jennings softly, as the youth
hand gently touched the girls as it la
on the arm of the chair. "S-h-h, don
mover she cautioned, as RichardsO
shifted his position to get a bette
glance of them. You'll attract their al
tention, and then they will sit up stit
and straight and talk of the weather!
Apparently they were Oblivious t
the people about them as well as t
the laughing scrutiny turned upO
them, as they sat gazing blissfully int
each others eyes.
Now, what do you suppose they sc
there?" drawled Richardson, goin
back to his interrupted contemplate
of Agnes profile. She laughed light.
Everything floating in a rose colo
ed mist Nothing but joy. joy, jO!
Invisible music - and always then
selves together and happy" she ha
arded. ITS a bit cruel to think no
different it will really be, isn't it?"
AS she turned toward him with
look grown pensive. Richardson w;
filled with a sudden optimism.
"It may come true. You can't tell
There was something vaguely su
gestive in his tone. and Miss Jennini
looked again. She was half incline
to believe-but no!
The music stopped. The youths da
head was bent toward the girl, and
was murmuring to her in low, muth'
tones The man. whose appearance su
gested contracts shrewdly and prof
ably carried through, was making
palpable effort to say something tn
was determined not to be said.
Shifted in his chair, and the red
his face grew darker. while his CO..
panion chatted compOsedly-toO CO..
posedly, Richardson thought, as
Speculative glance came home to t
lady at his side
Isn't it odd" said she, breaki
Die silence, that they are so uncC
scious? They don't seem to notice
to think that perhaps we are watt
ing them. Fancy forgetting everythi
Ike thatp'
Her listeners eyes seemed to be
duced to mere points. He felt odC
nettled at her words and as quick
q fash decided to make an experime
Was she really so cold and impersoI
as she seemed? Well, it was deere
that he should find out some time, a