Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-16
CHAPTER Iv-continued.

Meanwhile the subject of the little mans
thoughts continued to walk uptown. Near
the post Office he stopped and bought q
copy of the Journal Of Commerce. He en-
deavored to read the headings Of the arti-
cles as he walked along: to note the last
quotations for gold and the comments
thereon, but in few moments threw the
paper aside He asked himself where he
was going.
His home? No; not there! The picture
of dancer conspicuously displayed near
the entrance of Niblo's caught his eye.
1.-The Incompatible Zoldene" read the an
nouDcement A line of people near the box
Office was an eloquent tribute to that fas-
cinating lady's drawing power.
In the picture a net fastened her hair;
with one foot raised she balanced herself
on the tip of the other. the while ravish-
ing smile parted her red lips, as IL 1t were
an exhilarating and delightful feat thus to
maintain the difficult eQuipose. The pink
slippers and red rosebud were the most
striking features of her costume, and, with
the smile, carried conviction undoubtedly
to no fncOnSiderable part of the public re-
garding the verify of the managerial an
nouncement Beyond the widely opened
pOrtals-suggestive Of the alluring attrac-
tions of a Zoldene lurking somewhere with
in. and a yawning capacity to accommo-
date as many of the curious minded as
cared to investigate said charms-Mr.
Strong moved on. turning into the Metro
politan Hotel.
In the lobby a merry group of actors.
wearing English ''scow shoes" Of the
largest kind, were engaged in the consid-
GRAFTON of-not brother players-but stocks
and sherry cobblers.
sell-buy-thirty days!' was the burden OF
their talk, another straw indicating the
trend OF events. The leading man no longer
remained content to play Claude Melnotte,
or Romeo but must needs divide his at
tention between the muse and the market.
Mr. Strong paused long enough to light his
cigar and then resumed his walk
Before a solid and stolid-looking edifce-
his club-which he reached some time
later stood light vehicle and spirited
team Without stopping for dinner he
entered the wagon, grasped the reins, and
hot long afterward was speeding along the
almost deserted road his fayorite drive be-
yond the turmoil of the town.
Gently were falling the shadows Of even
1Eg; tranquility lay on the land, and peace
on the placid surface of the majestic river.
The wood robins sang In the trees. and
somewhere in the bushes the plaintiye
whippoorwills mourned unseen. All the as
suag1ng forces of nature, however-the hush
OF the river the halcyon touch of twilight,
the pacific chant-failed to dispeI his un-
rest. He held the reins with no answering
thrill to the superb movement of the fleet
footed team, and soon the horses relaxed,
jogging along with tossing name and CO.
quettish byplay But after covering a
snort distance, with no sign of reproof from
the fnattentive driver. they were stirred
once more of their own accord to a sudden
rush of speed, as behind sounded the pat
ter of hoofs, and, creeping up, came a light
road wagon.
The man in front had no choice; a free
stretch of road lay before him the air
rushed by. cooling without clearing his
brow. The team behind did not gain, but
IN M iC AoH With S1-
So 1T continued a fair distance, until Rich
ard Strong with some difficulty drew in his
horses and suffered the other vehicle to
pass.
should enter the Jerome Park races" And
Robert Bonner sped by holding the reins
over Peerless and Flatbush Maid.
After one or two Intellectual attempts to
regain the distance lost, Mr. Strong's
horses reconciled themselves to their mas
ters mood. The shadows grew deeper;
over the river night placed veil through
the chasm swept the wind. Now not far
before him shone the bright windows of
rambling, hospitable-looking structure.
Near the porch stood the editor-sports-
mans team, surrounded by a number Of
admiring bystanders, critically inspecting
the horses in the lamplight. Mr.. strong'ss
hand held the reins indecisively. Should
he go on? Should he stop? The sound of
merry voices in carriages drawing near
light-hearted party of n-folk-decided
him. He f1ecked the horses lightly with
the whip.
Several hours later, when the road lay
in Frightening haziness and over the trees
the edge Of the moon peeped elfishly he re-
turned. refining in the team before the ram
bling house.
my! but you have been driving them.
sir!' said the stable boy. who appeared
from around corner Of the wing.
Mr.. Strong regarded the lad half kindly.
half DULY. the latter stroked the moist
neck of the nearer horse.
TT won't hurt them. my boy" he said.
Horses and men are none the worse for a
little driving occasionally. That never
hurts them. But take this"-thrusting his
hand in his pocket-"and see that they are
well rubbed down and blanketed"
Entering the wing, he seated himself in
one of the small private rooms. Long he
remained there and smoked No; he did
not care for anything. he said to the waiter
and then. possibly rejecting that he would
attract less attention with viands before
him than sitting in purposeless abstraction,
he told the man to bring him cold meat and
ale. Now, as so many times before that
evening, his mind went back to the letter;
Its words seemed burned In fire on his
brain; how diabolically ingenious had been
the message: how keen the train of sue-
gestion; and the influence
The walters entrance caused him to look
up, and, as he did so, he became aware
OF the music Of an orchestra in an adjoin-
Ing part of the house; light rhythmical
strain, suggestive of gliding feet and inspir-
ing motion The man deliberately arranged
the dishes.
rs that all. sir?"
That's ALL" Something in the music
seemed familiar. Where had he heard 1t?
Then he remembered. It was one of Eli
nor's fayorite waltzes; a breath of Vienna
gaiety. Mr.. Strong was not one of those
who believe that music is the fourth great
material want OF man." but he had listened
perhaps, with unconscious interest to that
particular play of exhilarating melody.
You have a dance here tonight?" he
said to the waiter.
Yes, sir; quite party! 1t has become
all the fashion in town to give eclipse
parties out in the country. This Is eclipse
month you know. sir. So we have eclipse
polkas. eclipse waltzes and eclipse gallops.
And eclipse dresses. I guess. too for each
lady looks as IL she were trying to eclipse
every other lady! Would you like to Just
look in at them, sff9'
mo"
The guests tone left no pretext for the
man to linger. When he had gone Mr.
Strong showed little inclination to eat of
the abundance invitingiy spread before him,
for after moment he put down his knife
and fork and sat back listening Ca.
PRECIOUS. Elusive was the music, suggesting
vistas of life he had never penetrated; WIS.,
tas of youth. pleasure
A sudden desire to look into the room