Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-10
CHAPTER VI.

000s AOs " 0dAc duy SOuuQ, from
g moment he entered the theater
i he left 1t for the dinner interval.
2 was far too happy with her to
lestfon anything she said, and
eyed her most scrupulously. TWEEN
-four hours earlier she would have
ughed at the idea that his presence
side her at such time could be not
.ly- bearable, but sympathetic, yet
at seemed natural now. The diva
ID the ex-cowboy, the accomplished
usician and the, Californian miner,
e sensitive, gifted, capricious wom-
and the iron-jawed money-wolf had
und that they had something in
mmon. Wagner's last music affected
EN- in the same way.
Such things are not to be explained,
d could not be believed II they did
t happen again and again before
eyes of those who know how to
e, which is quite a different thing
,m merely seeing. Margaret's sud.
n liking for the man she had once
thoroughly dfsliked had begun
len he had whistled to her. 1t grew
lille he sat beside her in the dark.
led theater. She was absorbed by
e. music, the action, and the scene,
ID at this second hearing she could
How the noble poem itself; but she
as subconscious of what her neigh
" felt He was mot SO motionless
erely because she had told him that
must sit still; he was not so in
Mt on what he heard and saw, mere
to please her; it was not mere in
rest that held him, still less was it
lriosity. The spell was upon him;
was entranced, and Margaret
lew it.
Even when they left the theater and
owe back to the hotel, he was silent,
d she was the first to speak. Mar
ret hated the noise and confusion
the restaurant near the Festival
eater.
you have enjoyed It," she said.
m glad brought you"
I've felt something I don't under
\ and" Van Torp answered gravely.
She liked the reply for its simplici-
She had perhaps expected that
would summon up his most pic
rescue language to tell her how
lch pleasure the music had given
%, or that he would perhaps laugh
himself for having been moved;
instead, he only told her that he
not understand what he had felt;
they walked on without another
,rd.
GO and get something to eat" she
i'd when they reached the hotel,
nd I'll meet you here in half an
ur. don't care to talk either"
He only nodded, and lifted his hat
she went up the steps; but instead
going to eat, he sat down on a
1ch outside, and waited for her
,fe, rejecting on the nature of his
experience.
like most successful men, he looked
all theories as trash, good enough
amuse clever idlers. but never to
taken into consideration in real
!. He never asked about the prin-
lie on which any invention was
nded; his first and only question
3: will it work?"
considering himself as the raw ma.
tal. and the theater he had just
as the mill, he was forced to ad-
that "Parsifal' worked"
PRESENTLY Margaret came out Of the
Ell. expecting to find him waiting
her within the hall, and prepared
be annoyed with him for taking so
over meal. She stood on the
and looked about, and saw him
Ing on the bench at la little dis
ce; He raised his eyes as she came
ards him and then rose quickly.
Is 1t timer" he asked.
Yes, she said. Did you get any
e decent to eat?"
Yes" he answered vaguely. "That
now ! think. Of it, forgot about
Ter. It doesn't matter"
he looked at his hard face curious
ind saw dead blank, the blank
had sometimes frightened her by
Y possibilities, when the eyes alone
e suddenly to life.
Won't you go in and get biscuit,
s 3 sandwich" she asked after a
aent.
,h, no. thanks. I'm used to skip
meals when I'm interested in
IS. Let's go. II you're ready"
believe you are one Of natures
nerites." Margaret said, as they
e up the hill again, and she
ed at the idea.
Vell," he answered slowly.
res one thing, if you don't mind
telling you. It's rather personal.
APPS I'd better not"
lie prima donna was silent for \
moments. and did not look It
ell me-" she said suddenly.
e this. don't know how long
performance lasted, but while it
going on forgot you were close
le me. You might just as well
have been there. It's the first
since I ever knew you that I've
near you without thinking about
Ill the time, and hadn't realized
was sitting there by myself. /
you don't mind my telling you?"
only makes me more glad that
nght you" Margaret said quietly.
hank you" he answered; but he
quite sure that the same thing
not happen again during the
% part.
yertheless, it happened. For .
while. they were man and wom-
lttinge side by side and very near.
10 q silent multitude of other