The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-12-23

threw over all the stage. and the Gre
scendo of the tragedy carried her into
a mood that barred out Ella, barred
out Clara, barred out Harry more
than any; but unaccountably, Kerr
was still with her He was there by
no will Of hers, but by some essence
OF his own. some quality that linked
him, as it linked her, to the passion
ate subtleties of life. He seemed to
her the eager spirit that was prompt
ing and putting forward this comedy
and tragedy playing on before her.
She heard him reasserted, vigorous,
lawless, wandering in the voice of the
mimic strolling player, addressing his
mimic audience. The appeal of the
tenor to the voiceless galleries, "Un-
derneath this little play we show,
there is another play" seemed indeed
the very voice Of Kerr repeating itself.
The fights went up with a spring A
wave Of motion fickered over the
house, the talking voices burst forth
all at once, and she saw him, really
saw him for the first time that even
ing, as in her fancy, part of the au-
dience; as in her fancy, neither ap-
plauding nor dissenting, yet with
what a difference! He leaned back in
his chair, and leaned his head little
hSn1y if fnr bn oh
there were rest behind it; and how
iDdifferently, how critically, how lev,
ely he surveyed the fluttered house,
and the figures in the box beside him!
How foreign he appeared to the ardent
spirit who had dominated the dark:
how emptied st the heat of magma
ton, how worn, how dry; and even In
mis- salience, how singularly pathetic!
She felt a lump in her throat, an
ache of the cruelest disappointment,
as though some masker, masking as
the fire of life, had suddenly removed
the coverings of his face and showed
her the burnt-out bones beneath, She
found herself looking at him through
a mist of tears-there in the heart Of
publicity, in the middle of the circla
Of velvet curtains!
He turned and saw her. She watch
ed a smile of the frankest pleasure
rising, as it were, to the surface at
his weary preoccupation. Something
had delighted him, Why, it was her
self-just her being there! And sho
could only helplessly blink at him.
Was ever anything so stupid as to be
caught in tears over nothing! He
Strengthened and leaned forward.
Really" he said, "you must re-
member that little man has only Como
out for glass of beer"
So he thought it was the tenor who
had brought her to the point of tears.
"Ah, why do you say that?" she pro-
tested.
He continued to smile indulgently
upon her would you really rather.
believe 1t true?"
Il don't know But I wish yop
nadnt Thought OF the peer.
He brought the glace of his monoclA
to bear full upon her. "Why not? Il
is all we make sure OF"
"Oh, If to be sure is all you want"
she burst out; 'but you don't mean
/ it! Wouldn't you rather have some.
thing beautiful you weren't sure Of,
than something certain that didn't
matter?'
He nodded to this quite casually, al
| if it were an old acquaintance.
"Oh, yes; but the time comes round
when you want to be sure of some
thing The sun never sets twice alika
over Mont Pelee; but you can sSpRya
get the same brand of lager t. day
that you had the week before" HI
looked at her with faint amusement
mo, no! l won't believe you" she
| stoutly denied him. There is mora
in life than you can touch. You're
not like yourself to say there is not"
He laughed. but rather shortly.
"My dear child, forgive me; I'm sulk1'
tonight. 1 feel, as felt at Is, thai;
the world has treated me badly. 1'vs,
lost my luck
I'm sorry Her tone was sweetIy
vague. What could be the 7nattg1
with him? Then, half timidly, sk..
rallied him. IF you go on like THU
I shall have to show you my talis.
man.
"Oh, have you indeed talisman?'
he humored her. And it was as if he
said: ooh, have you a doll?" He did
not even turn his head to look at her.
| She was chilled. She felt the disap
pointment, that his quick smile had
lightened, return upon her. She hard
ly noticed the rise Of the curtain on
the second little play, and the sing.
ing voices did not reach her With
any poignan-y. She was vaguely
aware of movements in the box-Oi
Harry's coming in, Of Claras little
rustic making room for him, of the
shift of Elias chair away from the
business OF listening, toward him, and
her husky whisper going on with
some prolonged tale of dull escapade;
but to Flora they all made only q
banal background for the brooding 81
of NJ