Evening star., 1905-08-22
XXI.
An Interlude.

barred length-not a pain, but as fear-in-
spring the sound of the stealthy creep
Of the assassin moving up behind to strike
sudden and mortal blow. I dismissed
business and politics and went cruising on
the lakes with restful, non-political Fred
Sandys.
After we had been knocking about per-
haps a week. we landed one noon at the
private pier OF the Liscombes to lunch with
them. AS Sandys and I strolled toward
the front of the house, several people, also
guests for lunch, were just descending from
a long blackboard. At sight Of one Of them
l stopped short inside, though I mechan-
ically continued to walk toward her.
recognized her instantly-the curve of her
shoulders, the poise of her head, and her
waving jet black hair to confirm. And with
out the slightest warning there came tum
bling and roaring up in me a torrent Of
longings. regrets; and / suddenly had
clear understanding of my absorption in this
wretched game l had been playing year In
and year out with hardly glance up from
the table. That wretched game with its
counterfeit stakes: and the more a man
wins, the poorer he Is.
She seemed calm enough as she faced
me. Indeed. 1 was not sure when she had
first caught sight of me, OF whether she
had recognized me, until Mrs. Liscombe
then interrupted. Il remember Senator
Sayler very well. We used to live in the
ss.me town. We went to the same school,"
And with friendly smile she gave me her
hand.
What did 1 say? I do not know. But
am sure 1 gave no sign of the clamor within.
had not cultivated surface-calm all those
years In vain. / talked, and she talked-but
/ saw only her face, splendid fulfilment of
the promise Of girlhood; hardly heard her
words. greatly was her voice moving me.
1t was an unusually deep voice for a wom-
an sweet and with curious carrying
lffHys1 s1,ot do rtr har
was. In figure she was delicate, but radiant
of life and health-aglow, not ablaze. She
was neither tall nor short and was dressed
simply. but in the fashion-I heard the
other women discussing her clothes after
she left And she still had the mannerism
that was most fascinating to me-she kept
her eyes down while she was talking or
listening. and raised them now and then
with full, slow look at you.
When Mrs. Liscombe asked her to come
to dinner the next evening with the people
she was visiting, she said: Unfortunately,
l must start for Washington in the morn
ing. am overhauling my school and
building an addition.
1t had not occurred to me to think where
she had come from how she happened to
be there, or of anything in the years since
1 was last with her The reminder that she
had a school came as shock-she was so
utterly unlike my notion of the head Of a
school. think she saw or felt what was in
my mind for she went on. to me- I've
had 1t six years now-the next will be the
seventh"
DO you like it?" asked.
Don't I look like a happy woman7''
You do said 1, after our eyes had met.
You are"
There were sixty girls last year-sixty-
three she went on Next year there will
be more-about a hundred. It's like a gar
den, and m the gardener, busy from morn
ing till night with time to think of any
thing but my plants and flowers
She had conjured a picture that made my
heart ache. 1 suddenly felt old and sad
and lonely-a forlorn failure. Il too am
gardener" said l. But it's sorry lot of
weeds and thistles that keeps me occupied.
And in the midst of the garden is a plum
tree-that bears Dead sea fruit"
She was silent.
You don't care for politics?' said I.
NO she replied and lifted and lowered
her eyes in slow glance that made me
dening with weeds and thistles. as you
say" Then. after pause: DO you like
it,
Don't ask me-" said with a bitterness
that made us both silent thereafter.
That evening l got Fred to land me at
the nearest town. The train she must have
been on had just gone. In the morning l
took the express for the east Arrived at
Washington, drove straight to her school.
high iron fence, not obstructing the
view from the country road; a long drive
under arching naples and beecheS; ram
bling. fascinating old house upon the crest
VI I'LL HldHy WiHooWs, d pilldieQ polCii,
low, very wide doorway. 1t seemed like
her In it's dark. cool. odorous beauty.
She herself was in the front hall. directing
some workmen. Why. Senator sayler.
greet me. But there was no suggestion of
surprise in her tone or her look. only
friendly welcome to an acquaintance.
She led the way into the drawing room
in ghostly draperies: everything was in
confusion. We went on to a side veranda,
seated ourselves. She looked inQuiringly
at me.
Il only know-I had to come"
She studied me calmly. 1 remember her
look. everything about her-the embroidery
on the sleeves and bosom Of her blouse. the
buckles on her white shoes l remember
also that there was a breeze, and how good
II felt to my hot face, to my eyes burning
from lack of sleep. At last she said: Well
what do you think of my little kingdom?'
"It Is yours-entirely?
House, gardens-everything. paid the
last of my debts in June
I'm contrasting 1t with my own" I
said.
But that isn't fair" she protested with
a smile. You must remember, I'm only
a woman
with my own," went on, as IL she had
not interrupted. Yours is-yours. honestly
got. 1t makes you proud, happy. Mine
l did not finish.
She must have seen or felt how profound
ly was moved, for l presently saw her
looking at me with expression l might
have resented for its pity from any other
than her. why do you tell me this?' she
asked.
There is always for every one" was
my answer, some person to whom he
shows himself as he is. You are that per-
son for me because-Tm surrounded by peo-
pie who care for me for what 1 can give.
Even my children care to a grea; extent
for that reason. It's the penalty for having
the power to give the material things all
human beings crave. Only two persons ever
cared-cared much for me just because
was myself. They were my mother-and
you"
She laughed in quiet raillery. Two have
cared for you. but you have cared for only
one. And what devotion you have given
him!"
Il have cared for my mother-for my
children"
"Yes-your children. forgot them
"And-for you"
She made what I thought movement Of
impatience.
For YOU" repeated. Then: Elizabeth.
you were right when you wrote that I was
a coward"
She rose and stood-near enough to me for
me to catch her faint. elusive perfume
and gazed out into the distance.
I'm st. Louis the other day went on
cou man Uh0 had ricap fo pomor