The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-30
The Moth and the Candle =

laughed at the women who surrounded him. though
they had definite objection to him. AS he
tuned his instrument preliminary ecstasy shone
in his fine dark eyes and, meeting Janet's glance
his face almost LIT to beauty.
Janet sat lingering her rose, which was splash
OF crimson against her gray gown. This afternoon
he to play for and to her, and afterwards she
to say whether she would go to Paris with
him when he returned thither in a week. He told
her she alone could make him play god, could
through him pour the beauty of her pure spirit
into his music. He could do nothing without her
now; she had taken from him his power and
must not deny him the gift of her perfect
strength.
Reused by his devotion to what she thought
an answering love in herself. she intended to 60
with him. She hardly understood just why she
had postponed her answer till now. Perhaps an
indefnabe usefulness in her widowed mothers
face had stayed her-a reluctance to leave her
alone. Was it some instinct that said Wait?"
She was sure it no thought of Ellis Field
whom she refused because she not of
than comradely affection for him, and who
had temporarily left town just before the must
clan came. She had hardly thought of Ellis;
certainly had not missed him. What made her
remember him now?
The tuning ended and Beethoven Adagio
thrilled softly into the that its beginning
felt rather than heard. And as if in answer
to a call, Ellis Field quietly entered and took
moment every head turned toward him; not
tirely because his return to the city unknown
and unexpected, or because he vas moro often
found his law Office than at afternoon functions;
even because he open lover Of Janet;
but because he disturbingly definite and vital
tho wild note where tameness prevailed. His
strong and lovable personality pervaded any COM
pany where he appeared, and never retre2tSd into
the polite coorlessness of mere convention. Other
men loved him. children sought him. old ladies
tod him their troubles. He tail and blonde.
with tho smile of a boy, and stern righteousness
ley beneath the kindness in his blue eyes.
Ellis Fields proximity troubled Janet and dis
turbed her mood He had placed one long arm
across the back of tho vacant chair before her and
she found herself watching the fine to1selezs OF
his hand which, without actually moving, yet
seemed to vibrate every tone OF tho muse.
She remembered that he was no mean pianist
himself His face was turned to look past
her. and she could his eyes narrow
little in evident contemplation OF Ecaux. She
had raomcntary indignant Impulse, half rrothery,
to shield tho artist from the pitiloss scrutiny OF
this balanced young man OF the world, in whom
the judge never slept She felt nervously that
Ellis would understand the musicians temper.
ament Never before had she felt throb OF APP
ology for the she intended to marry; it sur
prised and hurt her.
Then tho caressng passion OF the violil's sing
Ing laid it's spell upon her. and she joyed in the
thought that she inspiring it-that she
stirring Reaux' interpretatve life to vitality.
she felt the womans pleasure cf'gving all that she
has and found a finer generosity in the mans
ability to receive without any thought OF recon-
oense Ellis would not have accepted any sacrifice
from any He would give all and take
.hankfull-- what came him She met ReauX'
eyes in instant of command and pleading, and
ried to give him glance full of comprehension
As he drew the last note she wished impatiently
hat Ellis had not come into her thoughts OF
nut, Il;
deep breath and join generously in the applause.
With sense of relief she knew that she had
dreaded even the unspoken verdict of Ellis Field.
vt least he did not withhold his appreciation of
he mans playing.
In the lull before the next number. there was a
ow murmur of talk and shifting of places.
Hrs. Hartley moved about looking to the comfort
# her guests, and finally to stand in deterrent
al converse with Reaux, not seeing his wish to go
o Janet. Ellis had moved the chair beside her
nd low explaining his sudden return.
lie did not say that a letter from her mother had
ustened it. His heart contracted as he noted the
hange in the gir--her queer, dreamy absentness
her nervous pose, symptom which he had
efore seen in her. She seemed half unaware of
What going about her and almost Indifferent
o his return. Then she spoke something like her
Id self.
what brings you here? You used to hate such
fairs" Ellis himself could not have been more
rect.
81 to your musician / saw in the
apers that you said to be engaged to him,
nd l went straight to your mother Then made
Inquiries and found out all there is TO know about
i'm in this country-nothing to his particular
scredit, I admit. Your mother said you were to
i've him a final answer this afternoon and pro-
osed to what he was like
What right have you to-to'-but her resent
nent died away at thought of what he had been to
cr since childhood, and especially since
er fathers death. Her refusal of his love gave
i'm more unhampered right to look after her.
nd Ellis was always fair. He went
II must say that don't like him, but that is
OF my affair. If you that you do. I do
OF want you to wake up and find that you are
arried TO mere musician. 1t is easy how
3 might fascinate you, he has all those other