Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-02
Suppose
BY KEITH GORDON
..C"pvrirhi. lHri. hv 7. g. Mcclure.
BY KEITH GORDON

lights that hloomel as yellow roscbuds
on the wallis Hooded the balcony. Here
and there II lamp with rel shade
glowed like Il carbunclc. From the
palm room below the aroma of black
coffee greeted the nostrils delicately.
One of the musicians trailcd his
hands over the keys Of the piano and
nj the sound the violins adjusted their
instruments with affcctionatc care.
The men nj the bass viol. cello and
flute stood nj attention. and I'm 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
AMI out into the darkness of the street.
where the passersby slackened their
steps 10 listen. The half dozen per-
sons who sat In the balcony listening
succumbed even more completely to
its charm.
'I>overs-lovers everywhere muir
INJURED Agnes Jennings mirthfully as
iNt Sst-t bNtt tnt Stt'Ilt
before her. Her companions answer.
ing smile WAS somewhat distracted
While she had been watching the
others he had been watching her. II
WAS a 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 quivering on her lips.
There were. indeed. two absorbed
couples near them. and Richardson
obedicntly pretended TO he interested
in them. or 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 us he gaZed at the woman be.
side him. who was opprcssively pink
of cheek, bright of eye and black OF
hair. you saw that he made one OK.
ccption. For the moment he was an
idealist and she WAS his ideal. In some
clumsy. spcechless 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
ccssful Tim O'Donohue," remarked
Richardson laughingly. lie has for
gotten how lie started with pickar
and spade and now wears a diamond
I'm his shirt front-he has forgotten
everything but her"
He finished the sentence as If he
were speaking to himself, and his conf
panion paid him the tribute OF linger-
ing glance in which question mark
was barely perceptible. Then she r.
turned TO her dcrisive contemplation
of the lovers once more
''Thcy certainly are naive" was her
next comment. rs with n droll smile
she watched the other couple-a slcn-
der girl with sweet blue eyes and n
lordly youth with a reassuring breadth
of shoulder and crisp dark hair. Tie
blue eyes were gazing up at him as II
he were n cooling. as I'm fact he looked.
"1he cunning things calculated
Miss Jennings softly. as the youths
hand gently touched the girls MS il lay
on the arm of the chair. 'S-h-h. don I
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 We're oblivious TO
the people about them as well as TO
the laughing scrutiny turned upon
fhnfn hay caf xi, al, las.
each others eyes.
Now. what do you suppose they see
there" drlwled Richardson, going
back TO his interrupted contemplation
of Agnes profile. She laughed lightly.
Everything floating in n rose colcr-
ed mist. Nothing but JOY. joy. JOY.
Invisible music r. and always them
selves together and happy" she haz-
aried. Its bit cruel to think how
different il will really he. isn't ii:''
As she turned toward him with II
look grown pensiyc. Richardson was
filled with Il sudden optimism.
1T may come true. You can't tell.'
There was something vaguely sug-
gestive In his tone. and Miss Jennings
iooheu aSaln. SHc WAS nall inclined
Ia believe but no.
The music stopped. The youths ark
head WIS bent toward the girl, and he
was murmuring 10 her in low. muiile,i
tones. The man. whose appearance sug-
gestcd contracts shrcwdly and profit
ably carried through. was making II
palpable effort Ia say something that
was determined not 10 he said. lie
shifted in lis chair. and the red of
his face grew darker. while his com
panion cha;icd composcdly too com.
posedly. Richardson thought. as his
speculative glance came home Ia the
lady ut his side
Isn't il odd" said she. breakin:.
the silence. that they are so un"on-
scious! They don't seem TO notice MS
to think that perhaps we are watch
Ing them. Fancy forgetting evcrythin.
like that
Her listeners eyes seemed Ia bc re-
duced 10 mere points. lie felt oddly
nettlcd NJ her words and rs quick aS
flash decided 10 make an eXncrimeat.
Was she really so cold AMI impcrSoi,il
as she seemed: Well. II was decrce,i
that Ia. sl,ullI fiul ,,ttt S.,n,,. ti,n,. md