The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-01-07

Inc pT1m8 Gonna was Silent IOT u
few moments, and did not look at
him.
Tell me-" she said suddenly.
Its this. / don't know how long
the performance lasted, but while 1t
was going on forgot you were close
beside me. You might just as well
not have been there. It's the first
time since ever knew you that I've
been near you without thinking about
you all the time. and hadn't realized
1t till I was sitting there by myself.
hope you don't mind my telling your"
1T only makes me more glad that
l brought you." Margaret said quietly.
Thank you," he answered; but he
was quite sure that the same thing
could not happen again during the
second part
Nevertheless. 1t happened. For a
little while. they were man and wom-
an, sitting side by side and very near,
two in o silent multitude OF other
men and women; but before long he
was quite motionless, his eyes were
fixed again and he had forgotten her.
She saw 1t and wondered, for she
and as his hands lay folded on his
knee. a mischievous girlish impulse
almost made her. the great artist, for
get that she was listening to the
greatest music in the world and near
ly made her lay her hand on his. just
to see what he would do. She was
ashamed Of 1t. and little disguised
with herself. The part of her that
was Margaret Dome felt the disgust;
the part that was Cordova felt the
shame, and each side of ner nature
was restrained at a critical moment.
Yet when the Good Friday" music
began, she was thinking of Van Torp
and he was unconscious Of her pres
ence.
1t could not last, and soon she, too,
was taken up into the artificial para
disc OF the master-musician and borne
along In the gale of golden wings. and
there was no passing Of time till the
very end: and the people rose in 81.
lence and went out under the summer
stars; and all those whom nature had
gifted to hear rightly, took with them
memories that years would scarcely
dim.
The two walked slowly back to the
town as the crowd scattered on foot
| and In carriages. 1t was warm, and
there was no moon, and one could
smell the dust. for many people were
| In,
some stopped at almost every house
and went 1t, and most of them were
beginning to talk in quiet tones.
| Margaret stepped aside from the
road and entered a narrow lane, ant
Van Torp followed her in silence.
This leads out to the fields" she
said. II must breath the fresh air
Do you mind?"
"On the contrary"
He said nothing more. and she die
not speak. but walked on without
haste, dilating her nostrils to tn,
sweet smell OF grass that reached he
already. In little while they ha,
left the houses behind them, and the,
came to a gate that led into field.
Van Torp was going to undo tn,
fastening, for there was no lock.
NO." she said, I'VE won't &,
through. love to lean on a gate"
She rested her crossed arms on tn
upper rail and Van Torp did tn
same. careful that his elbow Shout,
not touch hers, and they both stare,
into the dim. sweet-scented meadow
He felt her presence now and It a
most hurt him: he could hear hi
slow pulse In his ears. hard and regr
lar. She did not speak. but the nigh
was SO still that he could hear he
breathing, and at last he could nc
bear the warm silence any longer.
What were you thinking about
he asked, trying to speak lightly.
She waited. or hesitated, before sh
answered him.
YOU" she said, after n time.
He moved involuntarily. and the
drew little further away from he
as he might have withdrawn a fot
from the edge of a precipice, out {
common caution. She was aware {
his slight change of position witho,
turning her eyes.
What made you say what you di
to Mrs. Rushmore yesterday afte
noon?" she asked.
About you?"
Yes"
SHE asked me. point.blank, VIII,
thought of Logotheti." Van Torp a
swered. Il told her that I couldn
give her an unbiased opinion of Il
man you meant to marry, because
had always hoped to marry you m
SELF"
"oh-was that the way 1t ha
pened?"
Mrs. Rushmore could hardly ha,
misunderstood me-" said Van Tor
gathering the reins of himself. SO
say. for anything that might happe
mo. But II sounds differently VIII,
YOU say It yourself"
That was just what l said. an
how" answered Van Torp. 81 didI
think she'd 20 and tell Won right ava