The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-25
SHORT
STORY
FLIGHT FROM THE CLASSICAL

1
of the theater, and caused the
small incandescent lights in the
apex of the dome to SILVER aguish
ly. Now it had the sharp rattle Of
musketry, now the clatter and
slash of charging cavalry, now the
wild shrek of hunted gorilla.
The old gentleman in the stage
box pressed his fingers nervously
to his forehead, and edged towards
the heavy curtains at the entrance
With watchful eyes on the other
occupants of the box he secured
his coat and hat, paused, then
slipped through the curtains.
At the same instant the curtains
of the box adjoining were parted
and lady past middle age stepped
into the passage.
The old gentleman hesitated. laid
his hand on her arm. She turned
and started slightly.
You are slipping away, too!'
he said in soft. rich voice.
Sheh smiled in reply and nodded
her head.
Like two mischievous children,
they stood looking at each other.
Let's hurry" he said. They
may miss u.s.
AS they passed out into the
aisle the crash and roar of the
piano increased. He grimaced.
"It's horrible" he said. I'D
rather hear hand organ"
"My eardrums are fairly CULVER
ing" she confided.
At the door he pulled on his coat
and they stopped and looked at
each other.
Il like music" he said, that you
can whistle"
She nodded her head sympathet-
ically.
Il know where there's a good
musical comedy" he exclaimed.
She slapped her hands.
With her arm through his they
hurried through the deserted lobby
and out into the crowded, garnish-
ly lighted street.
This love of classical music is
all humbeggery," he declared, and
set his hat on at a rakish angle.
"At the seminary" she said
with a happy little laugh, 1--WE
used to be given tickets to the
Academy. Then we would slip
away and go to the Lyric instead"
With a look backward to see
that they were not followed, they
turned into cosy, comfortable
little theater.
A rousing, rollicking song was
being sung as they were shown to
their seats. They exchanged a
sly, bright glance.
This is as 1t should be-" he
whispered.
The jolliest of the jolly crowd
that filed out of the theater, they
stopped on the edge of the side
walk and he looked at his COM
panion.
1T isn't complete without sup
per, you KNOW" he said.
She hesitated for a moment, her
expression dubious.
Lead on" she exclaimed.
At the cafe the waiter, from
mere politeness, went to servilty
as he comprehended the extent of
their order.
The orchestra behind the palms
was playing a soft, tuneful waltz,
and the old gentleman nodded his
head in time to it,
1T brings back old days." he
said in rather plaintive tone.
Then, to the establishment of the
waiter, he leaned over and pressed
the white, still plump hand that
lay on the table.
Now to do justice to the din
ner," he said.
AS they pushed back their
chairs, the orchestra was again
playing the same waltz. They
looked at each other with a SYM
| pathetic smile, and he waved his
hand back and forth in time to
the langourous swing.
"The right sort of music" he
repeated. 1T certainly brings
back old days"
He was holding her coat as he
spoke, and suddenly, to the wa1S
ers dumbfoundment,h he slipped his
arms about her and kissed her on
the lips. Then they walked quiet
ly away.
| "Old Major Garfield must be get
ting into his dotage," remarked
Smith to Brown the next morning
as they stood waiting for their car.
Il saw him openly kiss his wife in
a cafe last night"