Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-07

Iaughed at the women VINO surrounded MIN, though
they had no definite objection to him. AS he
tuned his instrument preliminary ecstasy shone
in his fne dark eyes and, meeting Janet's glance,
his face almost lit to beauty.
Janet sat lingering her rose, which was a splash
OF crimson against her gray gown. This afternoon
he to play for and to her, and afterwards she
was to say whether she would go to Paris with
him when he returned thther in week He told
her she alone could make him play as 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 own 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 go
with bim. She hardly understood just why she
had postponed her answer till now. Perhaps an
indehnabe wistfuness in her widowed mothers
face had stayed her--a reluctance to leave her
alone. Was 1t some instinct that said Waltz"
She sure it was thought of Ellis Field
whom she refused because she was not sure of
more than a comradely affection for him, and who
had temporarily left town just before the musi-
clan came. She had hardly thought Of Ellis
certainly had not missed him. What made her
rerember him now7
The tuning ended; and a Beethoven Adagio
thrilled softly into the room that its beginning
was felt rather than heard. And as If in answer
to a call, Ellis Field quietly entered and took
seat in front of Janet and just to one side. For
moment every head turned toward him; not en-
tirely because his return to the city was unknown
and unexpected because he was more often
found at his law office than at afternoon functions;
nor even because he open lover of Janet;
but because he was dsturbingly definite and vital
the wild note where tameness prevailed. His
strong and lovable personality pervaded any COM
pany where he appeared. and never retreated into
the polite coorlessness of mere convention. Other
men loved him. children sought him; old ladies
told him their troubles. He was tall and blonde
with tho smile of boy. and stern righteousness
lay 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 the vacant chair before her and
she found herself watching the fine tenseness of
his hand which, without actually moving, yet
seemed to vibrate to every tone of the music.
She remembered that he mean pianist
himself His face was turned to look past
her. and she could see his eyes narrow a
little in evident contemplation of Reaux She
had momentary indignant impulse, half motherly,,
to. shield the artist from the pitiless scrutiny OF
this balanced young of the world, in whom
the Judge never slept. She felt nervously that
Ellis would not understand the musicians temper
ament Never before had she felt throb of ap-
prsed and hurt her.
Then the caressing passion of the violins sing
ing laid it's spell upon her, and she joyed in the
thought that she inspiring it--that she was
stirring Reaux' nterpretative life to new vitality.
She felt the womans pleasure of giving all that she
has, and found a finer generosity in the mans
ability to receive without any thought of recon-
pense. Ellis would not have accepted any sacrifice
from any woman. He would give all and take
thankful" what to him. She met Reaux
eyes in an instant of command and pleading, and
tried to give him glance full of comprehension
AS he drew the last note she wished impatiently
that Ellis had not come into her thoughts of
Reaux; she saw Els.s hand relax, heard him take
a 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.
At least he did not withhold his appreciation Of
the mans playing.
In the lul before the next number, there was a
low murmur of talk and some shifting of places.
Mrs Hartley moved about looking TO the comfort
of her guests and finally to stand in deterrent
ial converse with Reaux, not seeing his wish to go
to Janet Ellis had moved to the chair beside her
and in low tones was explaining his sudden return.
lie did not say that letter from her mother had
hastened #. His heart contracted as he noted the
change in the girl--her queer dreamy absentness
her nervous pose, a symptom which he had never
before seen in her. She seemed half unaware Of
what was going about her and almost Indifferent
to his return. Then she spoke something like her
old self.
What brings you here? You used to hate such
srairs." Ellis himself could not have been more
direct
~ came to your musician. ! saw in the
papers that you said to be engaged to him,
and I went straight to your mother Then made
inuuiries and found out all there is to about
him in this country--nothing to his particular
discredit, admit Your mother said you were to
give him final answer this afternoon and pro-
posed tc what he like"
What right have you to--to'-but her resent
ment died away at thought of what he had been to
her since childhood and especially since
her fathers death. Her refusal of his love gave