Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-12

" i'O AlOiii wiring, u bptC " iiNd ihiSh
prove most disastrous folly. Time
and circumstance could be his only
friends, and he was accustomed to the
whiIns of both He read of the dinners
and entertainments given by the Ca
bles and smiled grimly. Time had
worked wonders for them. Scandal,
he knew, could undo all that ambition
and pride had wrought. He could well
a ford to wait
wait, for his opportunity came one
night in uooley's theater. Graydon
and he occupied seats in the orchestra
near the stage and not far from the
lower right hand boxes. 1t was during
the busy Christmas holidays, but the
star was Of sufficient consequence to
pack the house. The audience was no
end of a fashionable one. Time and
again some strange influence drew his
gaze to the gay party in one Of the
lower boxes. The face of the woman
nearest to him was not visible, but the
two girls who sat forward turned Oc-
casionally to look over the audience,
and he saw that they were pretty, one
exceptionally so. One of the men was
gray haired and strong featured; the
others were quite too insignificant to
be of interest to him. The woman
whose back he could see did not look
out over the audience. Her indiffer-
ence was so marked that it seemed de-
liberate.
At last he felt that her eyes We're
upon him. He turned quickly. True
enough, for with lips slightly parted,
her whole attitude suggestive Of in
tense restraint. Mrs. Gable was staring
helplessly hrto the eyes of the man
who could destroy her with word
The one thing that flashed through
Bansemer's brain was the realization
that she was far more beautiful than
he had expected her to be. There was
a truly aristocratic loveliness In the
rather piquant face. and she undenia
bly, possessed manner" Maturity had
improved her vastly, he confessed,
with strange exultation; age had been
Ainder than youth. He forgot the play,
seldom taking his eyes from the back
which again had been turned to him
Calculating, hA reached the conclusion
that she was not more than forty years
of age. More than once he made some
remark to his son, only to surprise that
young man glancing surreptitiously at
the face of the more beautiful of the
two girls. Even in this early stage
James Bansemer began to gloat over
the beauty Of this new found old ac-
quaintance.
In the lobby Of the theater as they
were leaving he deliberately dotted his
hat and extended a pleasant hand to
the wife of David Gable. She turned
deathly pale, and there was a startled.
piteous look in her eyes that convinced
him beyond all shadow Of q doubt
There was nothing for her to do but
introduce him to her husband. Two
minutes later Graydon Bansemer and
Jane Gable, strangers until then. were
asking each other how they liked the
play, and Fate was at work.
A few weeks after this scene at the
theater young Mr.. Bansemer dashed
across the hall from the elevator and
entered his fathers Office just ao Elias
broom was closing up.
where's the governor, Mr.. DroomT'
he asked, deliberately brushing past
the old clerk In the outer Office.
Left some time ago." replied broom
somewhat ungraciously, his blue. eyes
staring past the young man with q
steadfness that suggested reproach be-
cause he was out Of the direct line Of
vision. 1T is nearly 8 O'clock He's
never here after g."
II know that he asked you II you
knew of his whereabouts. Do you-or
not?" The self confident, athletic
youth did not stand in physical awe Of
the clerk.
NO" was the simple and sufficient
answer.
"Well, then, I'm off," said Graydon
trifle less airily.
Droom's overcoat was on and button
ed up to his chin. His long feet were
encased in rubbers Of enormous size
and uncertain age. There must have
been no blood in the veins Of this grim
old man, for the weather was far from
cold, and the streets We're surprisingly
dry for Chicago.
II am closing the Office for the day."
said broom. For no apparent reason
smile spread over the lower part of
his face, and Graydon, bold as he was,
turned his eyes away.
Il thought I'd stop in and pick up
the governor for ride home in my
motor" said he, turning to the door.
Yours is one Of the first out here, l
suppose" came from the thin lips Of
the old clerk.
Graydon laughed.
POSSIBLY. The company charges a
nickel ride. half dime. Going
down, sirT" Graydon had rung for
the elevator and was waiting In front
Of the grating.
A look containing q curious COM
pound Of affectionate reproach and
certain senile qualification at being
made the object Of the boys conde-
scending raillery crossed Droom's coun-
tenance. Without, however, answering
his question he slowly and carefully