The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-13
And he WAS r,enouncing her.


The sensation was curious. new.
unique in his experience.
His cigarette burned down to his
fingers as he sat bordering. Abstract
eddy he ground its fire out In an ash
tray.
The waiter set before him silver
tureen. covered.
He sat up and began to consume his
soup. scarce doing Il justice. His
dream troubled him-his dream Of the
love of woman.
From little distance his waiter re-
garded him with an air Of disappoint,
ment. In the course of an hour and a
half he awoke to discover the attend.
ant In the act Of pouring very hot and
black coffee from a bright silver pot
into a demifasse Of fragile porcelain.
Kirkwood slipped single lump OF
sugar into the cup. gave over his cigar
case to be filed. then leaned back. de-
liberately lighting long and slender
panetela as preliminary to a last lin
gering appreciation Of the scene OF
which he was part.
He reviewed II through narrowed
eye.ids lazily. yet with some slight
surprise. seeming to see 1t with new
vision. with eyes from which scales Of
ignorance had dropped.
This long and brilliant dining hall.
with its quiet perfection Of proportion
and appointment. had always gratified
his love OF the beautiful Tonight II
pleased him to an unusual degree Yet
1t was the same as ever. Its walls,
tinted deep rose. with their hangings
Of dull cloth of gold: its lights discrim.
inatingly clustered and discreetly
shaded. redoubled in half hundred
mirrors: its suhdued simmer OF plate
and glass. fits soberly festive assem-.
blage Of circumspect men and women
splendidly gowned. its decorously
muted murmur Of voices penetrated
and interviewer by the strains Of a
hidden string orchestra. caressed his
senses as always. yet with differ.
ence Tonight he saw II a room popu.
lous with lovers. lovers insensibly
paired. man unto woman attentive.
woman OF man re=ardful.
He had never understood this before.
This much be had missed In life.
II seemed hard to realize that one
must forego II all forever.
Presently he found himself ,cutely
self conscious The sensation puzzled
him. and without appearing to do So
he traced Il from effect TO cause and
found the cause in a woman-a girl
rather-seated at table the third re
moved from him. near the farther wall
Of the room.
Too considerable and too embarrassed
to return her scrutiny openly. look fol-
look. he yet felt sure that. however
temporarily. he was become the oh.
ject OF her intent interest.
Idly employed with his cigar. lie
slipped his coffee In time aware that
she had turned her attention else
where. hr looked up
AT first he was conscious Of an ef.
feet Of disappointment She was no
body that be knew. even By r.rr'a.
ton. S3e was simply young yirl
barely out Of her teens-if as old a,
that phrase would signify. He won
dered what she had found In him I,
make her think him worth so long 1
study and looked again. more keenl.
curious.
With this second glance appreciation
stirred the artistic side Of his nature
that was already grown impatient o
his fretted mood. The slender and girl
Ish figure. posed with such absolute
lack Of intrusion against a screen o
rose and gilt. moved him TO critica
admiration The tinted glow Of shade,
candles caught glIstening on the spur
gold Of her fair hair enhanced the I'm
palIor Of her young shoulders.
In the sheer youth Of her the real
lzedJ more than IN aught else lay he
chiefest charm. She could be iIttl
more than a child. indeed. II be wer
TO Judge her by the purity Of her shad
owed eyes and the absence OF emotion
In the calm and direct look whicl
presently she turned upon him VIII
sat wondering at the level. pencile,
darkness Of her brows.
At length. aware that she had sur
prised his interest. Kirkwood glance'
aside cooIly deliberate lest she shoul'
detect In bis attitude anything NOR
than impersonal approval.
A slow color burned bis cheeks. II
his temples there rose a curious pulls
Ing
After awhile she drew his gaze neail
fmperiously. herself all unaware Of th
havoc she was wreaking on his ten
permanent.
Eighteen" he hazarded-"eightee
or possibly nineteen dining at the Pies
in a rnvishing dinner gown and IN
happy Oh. hardly-not sher'
Yet the impression haunted him, an
ere long he was fam 10 seek conhrma
ton or denial Of Il In the manner o
her escort.
The latter sat with back TO Kirk
wood. cutting figure as negative q
his snug evening clothes. One coul'
surmise little from q 1eshy thick mech
I q round glszed bald spot. fringe o
grizzled hair and two bright red ears.