Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-25

NJ. VIZ Ae6nSS
music suggestive Of tiny streams, toy
lambs and painted shepherdesses. 1t
sounded singularly inappropriate to his
mood-as inappropriate as the theater
itself with its gay gliding, its pale
tones Of pink and blue. 1t was the set
ting of a different world-a world of
laughter, light thoughts and shallow
impulses, in which he had no part.
1t was the interval between the first
and second acts. The box was in
shadow, and Loder's first impression
was Of voices and rustling skirts, bro
ken in upon by the murmur of fire.
Quent amused laughter. Later, as his
eyes grew accustomed to the light, he
distinguished the occupants, two wo-
men and a man. The man was speak
ing as he entered, and the story he
was relating was evidently interesting
from the faint EXPLANATIONS Of ques-
ton and delight that punctuated it In
the listeners higher, softer voices.
"Ah, here comes the Legislators" x
claimed Leonard Kaine, for it was he
who formed the male element in the
party.
'The revolutionary, Lennie," Lillian
corrected softly. "Bramfell says he
has changed the whole face of things
She laughed softly and meaningly as
she closed her fan. $50 good of you to
come, Jack" she added. LET me in
troduce you to Miss Esseltyn. I don't
think you two have met. This is Mr..
Chilcote, Mary-the great, new Mr..
Chilcote." Again she laughed.
Loder bowed and moved to the front
passed.
"It's only for an hour" he explained
to Lillian. II have an appointment for
H."
"Only an hour, Oh, how unkind!
How should l punish him, LennieY
Lillian looked round at Kaine with a
lingering, caressing glance.
he bent toward her in quick re-
spouse and answered in a whisper.
She laughed and replied In an equally
low tone.
Loder, to whom both remarks had
been inaudible, dropped into the vacant
seat beside Mary Esseltyn. He had
the unsettled feeling that things were
not falling out exactly as he had calcu-
lated.
What is the play like" he hazarded
as he looked toward his companion. At
all times social trivialities bored him.
Tonight they were intolerable. He had
come to fight. but all at nee it seemed
that there was nc opponent. Lillian's
attitude disturbed him; her careless
graciousness. her evident ignoring of
him for Kaine, might mean nothing.
but also it might mean much.
at is a good play" she responded. 81
like it better than the book. You've
read the book, of course?"
mo" Loder tried hard to fix his
thoughts.
| ITS amusing, but far fetched"
"Indeed?' He picked up the pro-
gramme lying on the edge of the box.
His ears were strained to catch the
tone of Lillian's voice as she laughed
and whispered with kaine.
Yes: men exchanging identities, YOU
know"
He looked up and caught the girls
'Indeed?" Then again he looked away.
1t was intolerable. this feeling OF be-
ing Gagged up! A sense of anger crept
through his mind. 1t almost seemed
that Lillian had brought him there to
prove that she had finished with him, had
east him aside, having used him for the
Jays excitement as she had used her
poodles, her Persian cats, her crystal
gazing. All at once the impotency and
uncertainty of his position goaded him.
Turning swiftly in his seat, he glanced
back to where she sat slowly swaying
her fan, her pale, golden hair and her
pale colored gown delicately silhouetted
against the background of the box.
"What's your idea Of the play, Lii
1an?" he. said abruptly. To his own
ears there was a note of challenge in
his voice.
She looked around languidly. "Oh,
It's quite amusing" she said. ut
uldkeS Il uellClOuS
French"
"French?'
"Quite. Don't you think so, Lennie?"
ooh, quite" Kaine agreed.
"They mean that it's so very light
and yet so very subtle, Mr.. Chilcote,"
Mary Esseltyn explained.
"Indeed?" he said. "Then my i'm
hgination was at fault. 1 thought the
piece was serious"
"Serious!' Lillian smiled again.
"Why, where's your sense of humor?
The motive of the play debars all seri-
BUSINESS"
Loder looked down at the pro-
gramme still between his hands.
"What is the motive?" he asked.
Lillian waved her fan once or twice,
then closed it softly. "Love is the
motive" she said.
Now, the balancing-the adjusting of
impression and inspiration-is, Of all
processes in life, the most delicately
fine. The simple sound Of the word
"love" coming at that precise juncture
changed the whole current of Loder's