Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-22
tiNI II = !.
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- PHI Jpsu steele LETT the !
ft9k uu4t toward The end Of The /
= 4 day hc Aeid his head as
iasu who thinks deeply |
From ttr door hc directed his steps /
toward C.ar,GG Cross. bat only "a
wheel alfUp,y and retrace his way |
H. oa, Not @n ab>cntmindpd man, vet
10 h.d been s,riljnC uDcohSciousl!, not |
toward Lis customary destination at
that hour The several chambers nj |
oGce IL, oGce aud lis home. For 4
moment tAe strong face Of the man |
rr!aN"d SIS i. IN amusement ut his own !
rrmisSnc~S. Gradually. however. it ,
cucc more resumed its expression of /
mu>.n- thoughtfulness.
Turning into n narrow WAY not far |
from the cmbankmcn! he stopped be /
fore the door Of n solid looking brick .
building lei himself in and made his |
way upstairs On the third floor he
applied another and smaller key to |
another lock and from hall entered |
large apartment, noteworthy for its |
handsome array of books that reached |
from floor Il ceiling wherever there |
was shelf space. Passing through this |
apartment. John Steele stepped into !
that adjoining, the sitting and dining
room.
a discreet rapping at the door. fol- |
lowed by the appearance Of round |
faced little man with tray, interrupt |
ed further contemplation or reverie on |
John Steele's part. Seating himself |
at the table. he responded negatively |
to the servants inquiry If "apythink"
else would be required and when the
man had withdrawn mechanically
turned to his letters and to his simple
evening repast. He ate with no great
evidence Of appetite, soon brushed the
missives. half read. aside and pushed
back his chair.
Lighting pipe. he picked up one of
the papers. Amid yOluminous wastes
of type an item in the court and So
ciety column had caught his eye:
Sir Charles and Lady Wray. who are
intending henceforth to reside In Eng
land, have returned to the stately Wray
mansion in Piccadilly. where they will
be for the season. Our well known gov
ernor and his lady are accompanied by
their niece. the beautiful and accom-
plished Miss Jooelyn Wray, only child of
Sir Charles younger brother. the late
Hon. Mr.. Richard Wray. whose estate in
cluded enormous holdings in Australia as
we'll as several thousand acres in Devon
shire This charming young colonial has
already captivated London society.
John Steele read carefully this bit
of news and then reread it. lie even
found himself guilty Of perusing all
the other paragraphs. the comings and
goings. the fine doings: They related
to world he had thought little about.
world within the world. just as the
people who lived in tunnels and dark
passages constituted another world
within the world. Her name danced
in ilustrious company. Here were
dukes and earls and viscounts.
sprinkling Of the foreign element. be-
gums. emirs. the nations guests. He
saw also Sir Charles. Lady Wray and
Miss Wray" among the long list Of
box holders for that night Mt the
opera. gala occasion. commanded by
royalty for the entertainment of roy
atty and incidentally of certain bar
barian personages who had come
across the seas TO be automatically
coddled and fed.
Folding his newspaper. John Steele
turned to his legal papers. strove to
replace idleness by industry. but the
spirit Of work failed to respond. He
looked at his watch. rang sharply a
bell.
Put out my clothes" he said to the
servant who appeared with lamp.
land have a cab ut the door,"
The opera had already begun. but
pandemonium still reigned about the
box Office. A thunder of applause from
within. indicating that the first act
had come to IN end. was followed by
the usual cgress OF black and white
figures impatient for cigarettes and
light lobby gossip.
Divine. eh: The opera. mean" A
voice accosted John Steele. and. turn
ing. he beheld familiar face with
black VIII ;krr.,. that OF Captain For
sythe. This Is somewhat different
from the mornings environments"
YES" said the other. But your frst
question" with Il s.:li;p. I'm afraid
can't answer. I've just come. and II
hadn't-weli. I'm no judge Of music"
A bell sounded. Jnhn Steele. excus-
ing himself, entered the auditorium
and was shown to his seat.
The curtain went up at last. the mu-
sic began. and melodies that seemed
born in the springtime succeeded one
another. Perennial in freshness, theme
fnt WI o hat lad
ness. what merriment. what madness.
Low long was the act; how short:
1t came to sudden end After ap-
p!ause ard braves men again got up
nd walked cut He. too. left his seat
ard s!rolIcd toward the back.
MIR. Steele. one moment" He
found himself once more addressed by
che good hun,ored Captain FOrsythc.
''Eeholj in me !: Mer. ;ry. committed
to an imperative mission You are
commanded to appear not IA the royal
box. but in Sir Charles
Sir Charles Wray's:' John St.-:!s
regarded the speaker quickly.
Yes" laughed the other. You seq.
! happened TO mention l had seen
you. why didn't you bring him with
you to the box:' queried Sir Charles.
He. by the by. went in for law him.
self before he became governor.
Only had time to shake hands this
morning Yes; why didn't you:'
spoke up Miss Jocelyn. You COM
mand me to bring him? / inquired.
BY all MEANS she laughed 1 COM
mand.' So here am"
John Steele did not answer, but
Captain Forsythe without waiting for
reply turned and started up the
broad stairway The other, after q
moments hesitation, followed, duly
entered one of the larger boxes, spoke
to Sir Charles and his wife and re-
turned the bow Of their niece. Amid
1nriad nlafitndos Ctnnlo.- .-r.,,.a 49,.