Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-24
" SAe Olctorg Of Defeat "


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takes. Fancy two such deyotees to
Art-and Art with capital A, please
-as you and l. being absurd enough
to think that we could live n hum.
drum life together and give up the
roses and lilies for bundle of dried
herbs. Do you remember how used
10 madden you with my practice
when you wanted to write? And do
you remember how you used to make
me cry-sometimes with remorse and
| sometimes with-with other feelings
when spent the whole day with
Madam Large and forgot to order
anything for dinner?"
| Yes admitted Lanister gloomily:
I'm afraid | wasn't very pleasant at
those times. And they happened along
very frequently. That was the worst
/ OF 1t, You see. tits impossible for
Art to be everything In life.'
| Especially when 1t isn't ones own
particular branch of Art There's SO
much In the question of viewnoint.
| Doady. No wonder we bored each
other! know YOU tried honestly, and
know that did too: but 1t was ali
a mistake-all a wretched, laundering.
uncomfortable mistake. and there was
only one way to right It. and that
was to do as we did. Don't YOU think
so?"
81 don't know" said I.anlstcr gloom.
| lily, looking down and toying with his
watch chain. Perhaps, Tiff the
balw had lived"
She put up her and suddenly. and
all the light went out from her shark.
ling eyes. DON'T" she said in a
! whisper. II can't bear to talk of It
even yet One may treat Marriage as
| an epigram and Life rs Jest: but
Motherhood-Don't speak of it! There
| are chords which only dead hands
may play upon and that even Memo.
~ shrinks from touching"
There was moment of silence bc.
| fore I,anister could trust himself to
look uD. When he did so. she had
recovered her composure. Her lips
were again smiling and her eyes again
| bright-brighter than ever for the
light that came from them came
through glaze OF nndropped tears.
cant we go somewhere and get
away from this beastly crowd?" said
Lanister, wrinkling his brows and
| studying his fingernnils. at seems SO
absurd to be talking like this in q
ball room"
Everything We have ever done has
been absurd" she answered. with q
laugh. "Whv shouldn't we continue
the practicc?"
Does that mean that YOU had rath.
| er remain where you arc?"
Mo- that | had rather do what YOU
suggest. IL seems SO deliciously ri
diculous for two sensibly separate
tn oil Il
tete-a-tete. But-there is so much I
want to hear from your own lips"
as there? Do YOU really cnre--"
about your literary success? Oh.
yes!" she interjected smilingly AZ.
ter all, there is something in reflect
ed greatness. and one can't help feel.
ing little pride in being the Wife
of great literary genins-especially
when she remembers that she contri-
buted to that greatness. and, indeed
made 1t possible, by removing her
self from his march to the Temple
OF Fame. want to talk to you about
The Sands Of Pactolus.' 1t was sim
ply supcrb-the novel of the year.
But you must be tired of hearing
that"
~ ana little" admitted Lanister
"I've changed bit. You sec. Once
upon n tme-But let that pass.
went to talk of other things tonight
Can't we go somewhere and be alone
together for little while. Peggy"
She laughed and gave her head an
other birdlike little witch. what.
herc?" she said gaily. WAS ever any
thing so absurd? Who could be alone
even for ono poor instant when Airs
Montressor holds forth for tho bcne.
fit of her dear five hundred? Every
nook and corner overrlows with tho
ingredients of the rich JAM"
Then somewhere clsc?"
Somewhere else is indefinite I'm
| less"
"Unlcss what?"
The momentary lull was broken by
the band striking up again, She
glanced at her program and then out
/ over the filled room.
IL am down on the card for t,is
with Mr.. Halliday she said. land
here he comes to claim it. Do you
mind If leave you?"
Have I any right to a choice? But
won't YOU go on with what YOU were
saying? Somewhere else is indefi-
| mite. unless"
UNLESS YOU care to find out where
| Madame Peggy Lanisteri lives, and
to play Lochinvar-and carry her off
thereto Arcadia-after this dance is
DONE" she said. with a laugh and a
faint rise Of color. as she walked by
him and went to meet her advancing
partner. And il more was said. Lam
lister lost it In the gush of the music
and the swish of her skirt as she
went circling down the long light
room with coat sleeve around her
waist and her eyes shining out over
the curve Of Il mans shoulder.
! 1t was after twelve o'clock, and she
had danced five dances without catch
ing any further glimpse of him. al
though she had looked searchingly