The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-01-28

say to you" She noted that the
theater was not yet empty and
sat down once more. There was
pause, while Paul abstractedly
studied the carpet at his feet.
"Well?"
He looked up, laughing. 'Do
you know, for the first time in
my life, | think, am at loss what
to say, or rather how to say it.
Do you believe in pre-existences? ?"
Decidedly not. I'm fairly
healthy. And, besides, the pres
ent existence demands all my at
tention. Was it to ask"
mo, that was only by way of
introduction. What would you
say, If l were to tell you that, al
though l have just met you and
have seen you but twice before
so far as l can remember, | seem
to have known you always?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
THAT you are the victim of an
loverheated Imagination"
"Of course" he answered calm
lily. What we don't learn in our
own experience we always accept
with a grain of doubt. l myself
have difficulty in believing that
the world is round. You are like
the rest of us, Mrs. Gilbert.
20, yes" she said indifferently
"I'm very human, just ordinary
flesh and blood. You are about
to tell me, of course, that you"
please save your irony until
have finished" he said gravely. Il
am. and it is true. Probably at
some forgotten time and place
have seen you.-But anyhow, for
years. cant say exactly when it
began have been haunted by a
dream of woman. She has been
my ideal. IL will strike you as
sentimental rot, of course, yet
have lain whole nights sleepless,
staring at a vision of her that
if flesh and blood. At first | re-
sisted, calling myself a romantic
ass. But resistance was useless.
And in time the feeling | had for
| her became an absolute knowledge
that some day | should know her.
"One day, five years ago, l saw
her for an instant-just as l
had dreamed her. Then again a
few days ago | saw her. And
when | stood on the stage today
and saw you in the audience,
wasn't surprised. 1t seemed nat
ural that at the moment when
was about to do a rather good
thing you should be present. I
don't say that | was talking to you
alone. or that you were my in
spiration, or anything like that.
But | can say that at no time was
| free from the consciousness of
your presence and a sort of sub
conscious Tejoicing-not a tickled
vanity, if you please-that you in
a way could share my moment.
That is all. Now you may scott,
Mrs. Gilbert"
She shrugged her shoulders
again, a fashion she had. I'm
sorry-you will forgive me, Mr..
Remington?-I'm not deeply i'm
pressed-and a bit incredulous. 4"
Il didn't expect you to be i'm
pressed" he answered quietly,
and I'm not proposing But,
Mrs. Gilbert" his head went up,
eyes flashing, I'm not senti-
mental fool, although l have told
you this at first meeting. And /
am to be taken seriously"
why don't you go on the
stage?" she fleered.
Paul looked at her uncertainty
for moment, then his gravity
was cast aside as cloak. He
made some inconsequent answer
: and promptly led the talk into
other and lighter channels,
whittier she followed him care
lessly.
So they went on for the better
part of an hour, bandying non
sense. Paul, luxuriating in her
presence cared little for the mean
ing of their words, so he might
watch the play of her beautiful
features and hear her voice. A
dozen times she determined to
leave, and as often made the lin
5 gering groups an excuse for re-
naming herself. She was not
t quite free from the spell he had
: woven about her during his
t speech. Something in the man
broke down her habit of cold in.
a difference to men, and put her or
her mettle; she strove to meet his
, occasional witty sallies in kind
sometimes with a success that de-
lighted them both. Once, wher
. their badinage assumed a more
! personal tone, she protested.
Were talking as though We
were old friends" she said.
"Of course" he Responded
calmly. I'VE are. That wa.
written long ago."
Your confidence is a poor com
pliment to mel"
1T isn't a question of compli
ments, but of fate! And of irwin
=. chile determination Do you
: suppose that, having now founC
the lady of my dreams, / shall
rest until we are friends-per
feet friends?"
You don't doubt your ability
to win my friendship"
Absolutely, mol" he responded
in gay assurance.
'You have many friends?" she
Iqueried curiously.
81 have been lucky in the mat
top Of frfopJr