The Washington times., 1905-09-24

something; but 1 don't think I'll put a
name 70 it, Somehow-somehow, Strang-
field. 1 rather fancy you wouldn't un-
derstand." He laughed again long and
pleasantly then suddenly slapped the
other on the shoulder and ran down the
steps.
Strangfield stood immovable for Sec
end; then his eyeglass dropped from
| his eye, he turned about meditatively,
and passed through the big swinging
doors
Strode walked forward for a dozen
rapid steps, then stopped and hailed
| hanson.
+! 'Corinthian' Theaterr' he called as
he sprang inside. The doors closed, and
! he leant luxuriously back At all times
! optimistic and light-hearted, tonight he
| felt well disposed toward the entire uni
verse. In his pocket was Annals letter;
behind him lay the four weeks of pro-
baton; before him the future of bound
less hopes and the present delightful
! certainty. He was at ease with all the
| world and with himself.
l Arrived at the theater, he paid the
cabman twice his fare. and strolled into
the vestibule with the half-humorous
| smile that Strangfield had raised still
| lingering round his mouth. The vesti-
bule was large, and, entering ii. he
paused interestedly and looked about;
| with a tinge of peculiar feeling, IL
| struck him that here was the strong
hold of the woman whose story had |
affected him long ago. 1t was a curious
| whim of Annals TO choose il as their
meeting place. He paused on the
thought, ard a new idea started in his
mind; for almost the first time he
found himself wondering what this
woman's face was like. Her pictures
were sure to be about-such people al
ways advertised. He glanced round the
walls, but no pictueS were TO be seen,
then he remembered impatiently that 1t
was the last night of the engagement.
and such things pictures were al
ready packed away. With contemp-
tuous amusement at his passing curios-
ity, he mixed with the increasing crowd
that filled the vestibule, and moving
past one laughing group and then an
other. reached the office and asked for
| Mrs Maxteads box
The letter of the box was murmured
TO him. then repeated 10 an attendant.
! and he was ushered along a corridor
| carpeted in green. He noticed that the
coloring was green, in contrast to the
! | usual red OF such place; 1t was the
, sole detail OF the elaborately fitted
|, theater that afterwards stayed in his
mind.
A wave of disappointment touched
him as the door was opened and the
vacant box met his eyes; then he caught
1 himself up impatiently as a portion of
d Anna's letter recurred to his mind 1T
may be ten minutes past the half hour
r when you see me-" 1t ran. but be
ixind-kind and very lenient. you al
E ways are" How exaggerative women
: / were, But how exceedingly lovablei
. His expression softened; the door
t closed on the attendant, and taking off
a his hat and coat, he hung them up
z He smoothed his hair, and passed his
i hand tentatively over his chin 1T
: felt very decent shave" he said half
q aloud. But a woman's eyes are so
: deuced keen" The sentence broke
away. From below came the short, per-
emptory tap OF the conductors baton,
the faint shifting of seats and arrang-
Ing of instruments, then the first
| melodious note OF the overture that
prefaced the first act of the play
He moved to the front of the box, sat
down, and opened his program; he
glanced through it superhcialy, but his
eyes fingered on the last name,
: 'Sappho-Mlle. Solny' He smiled
| grinly and laid the paper aside The
O overture ceased; a babel of laughter and
a ! talk and waving Of fans seemed to fill
Il the air; the perfume of flowers and
scent rose distinctly from the stalls. He
4 leant out. then leant back and drew his
;, | watch from inner pocket. The hands
marked half-past eight; he moved i'm
patiently and altered the position OF his
| chair
q An audible rustic ran through the
y house as women settled themselves
more comfortably; the hum of voices
slackened. then suddenly died out; the
orchestra played a soft bar or two and
in expectant silence the curtain rose
The scene was severe and unadorned-
10 Jean Gaussins rooms in the Rue Jacob:
the somber carpet, the desk massed
10 with work, the students lamp-each de-
&c tail suggestive and impressive in its
~ way. The rise OF the curtain disclosed
Ie Gaussin in converse with his uncle from
d the country. Strobe leant back in his
seat; the perfect pronunciation OF the
n French pleased him, but to the motive
It of the words he paid only partial heed.
The reformed roue. reused by the town
TO the remembrance of his past inter
ested him not at all; though the boy
Gaussin. with his fair hair young color
- ing. and sensitive voice. seemed better
- worth watching. as bit by bit-with lit
- tie rushes OF enthusiasm, sudden shy
- ! haltings-he told the story OF the ball
% at Dechelette studio; OF the woman in
the Egyptian dress, with the wide gray
. eyes and the forehead ornaments Of
steel; OF the wild night that followed; !;
Is the homecoming to this very room
ar the terrible. prophetic ascent Of the
ts long stairs-its gay beginning. its al
most Overwhelming end. 1t was a
a. | studied piece Of acting, ending with
~ pointed force where the boy, with a
j. swift touch of reserve. breaks in on his
uncles laugh and with shrug Of the
ne shoulders that snaps the subject off,
q mods TO the mirror, where a woman s
card is stuck between an invitation to
4e the Affaires Etrangeres and the pro-
is gram OF the studio ball. and turning TO
his desk. picks up ponderous book
- 1t was well done, and possessed the
suggestion OF events TO come But a
is man in love is not the IDEAL critic of a
III play. STROBE looked again at his watch.
n. then he looked toward the door of the
M box. The watch marked ten minutes