The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-08-20

Iau.N IN| IuHt .I HNiNAN
The srnaiion was curious new.
unique ln his expeFiPnco
Hia cigarette burned down 90 bis
dnfefa az be sat ponderlue Abstract
odly BE- ground ils Gre out On no ash
Tray
The walter Get before him 4 silver
tureen. covered
he sat up and beR1n 70 consume his
soup. scarce doing Il Justice His
dream troubled him-hia drram % the
love Of woman.
Prom 3 little distance BIS waiter re-
Earded him with en- ar az dIsappoint-
ment 10 the cOurss Of 90 hour and
half BE- awoka 70 discover the attend
ant IN the act Of pouring very hot and
black coffee from bright silver pot
into q demitasse 0f fragile pOrcelain
RiFkwood slipped q single Jump Of
sugar into the cup. gave over his cigar
case 60 be filled. then leaned back. de-
Ilberateiy lighting q long and slender
panetela as q preliminary % q last un..
gerlng appreciation Of the scene Of
which be was q part
He reviewed e through narrowed
eyelidB lazily. yet With some slight
surprise. seeming 20 see Il with new
vision. with eyes from which scales Of
ignorance had dropped.
This long and brilliant dining bah.
with is quiet perfection Of proportion
and appointment, had always gratined
dis love Of the beautiful Tonight it
pleased him to an unusual degree. Yet
II was the same as ever Its walls.
tinted deep rose. with their hangings
OF dull cloth OF gold: is lights discrim-
inatingly clustered and discreetly
shaded, redoubled IN half a hundred
mirrors; its subdued simmer Of plate
and glass, its soberly festive assem-
blage Of clrcumspect men and women
splendidly gowned. its decorously
muted murmur Of voices penetrated
and interviewer by the strains OF
hidden string orchestra, caressed bis
senses as always. yet with q diaeT-
ence. Tonight he saw II a room pOpu-
lous with lovers lovers insensibly
paired, man unto woman attentive,
woman OF man regardful
he had never understood this before.
This much he had missed In life.
IL seemed hard TO realize that one
must forego II all forever.
Presently he found himself acutely
self conscious The sensation puzzled
him, and without appearing TO do 80
be traced Il from eject TO cause and
found the cause IN woman--a girl
rather-seated at a table the third re-
moved from him. near the farther wall
Of the room.
Too considerate and too embarrassed
TO return her scrutiny openly, look for
look, be yet felt sure that, however
temporarily. be was become the OBJ
feet OF her intent interest
Idly employed with bis cigar, be
slipped bis coffee. In time aware that
she had turned her attention else
where, be looked up.
Al FIRST be was conscious Of an eff
feet Of disappointment She was no
body that be knew. even BY reputa-
ton. She was simply a young girl
barely out Of her teens-~if as old as
that phrase would signify He won
dered what she had found In him 20
make her think him worth 90 long q
study and looked again, more keenly
curious
With this second glance appreciation
stirred the artistic side Of his nature,
that was already grown impatient Of
bis fretted mood The slender and girl
ish figure. posed with such absolute
lack OF intrusion against a screen OF
rose aud gilt, moved him 20 critical
admiration. The tinted glow Of shaded
candles caught glistening on the spun
gold Of her fair hair enhanced the dne
pallor OF her young shoulders.
In the sheer youth OF her Che real
izedi more than 10 aught else lay her
ehlefest charm. She could be little
more than g child. indeed. n be were
60 Judge Der by the purity Of her shad.
owed eyes and the absence Of emotion
IN the calm and direct look which
presently she turned upon him who
sat wondering AZ the level penciled
darkness Of Der brows.
At length. aWars that she had sur.
priaed bis interest. Rirkwood glanced
aside eOoIly deliberate lest she should
detect IN bis attitude anything more
than ImpersOnal approval.
A SLOW color burned bis cheeks. In
bla fepploe there rose a curiOus pulls