The Van Buren press., 1912-04-06
Explanation
(COpyrisht. Iorl. by Associated Literary PressJ
By LOUISE OLNEY

ness. But-he still wanted an ex-
planation He accepted dismissal:
that was her right Perhaps when
summer came she would remember
and pity and send him word. Se
no longer had any pride In the mat
ter. She could do as she would with
him.
The sun was hot, though the wind
was cold in the Swallowed places, and,
wandering about. he could no longer
control his worriment He must find
distraction. He turned aside to allow
the passing of a group of young girls,
shining-eyed hitegloved. festive
with violets on their open coats, matt
nee-bound He looked after them
Youth and beauty meant nothing to
him but Marcia" but he needed d.
version He also would 90 to the
theater, though he knew the play
would be driyeling.
He bought his ticket, checked his
coat and found his seat The curtain
was yet down and the orchestra play
ing in the dim place. Women were
chattering all about him.
The curtain rose in due time and
revealed about what stephen Wright
had expected-a little truth much
mere rot. He wondered why people
should need amusement so much
why this should amuse them. But
some of it was not bad, II all turned
on a misunderstanding between lovers,
separated by the Vaccinations OF
jealous woman. The theme was very.
very threadbare and ancient, He won
dered if such things really happened?
In plays, unlike life, however, things
were cleared up. Everybody knew
why There was explanation,
Gazing about between the acts, he
saw Kate at the edge of box. He
studied her face. 1t was queerly
drawn and pale-almcst tragically
worried He had not seen her OF late
He reproached himself for neglecting
a friend just because he happened to
be wretched himself.
He straightway rose and went Tor
a moments talk She was very con
strained and quiet No, she had not
been Ill. She was afraid he was too
late about coming to see her She
was starting that night for the west
to live with a widowed aunt. Yes 1t
was sudden. 1t must be-good-by.
The wise old man who explained
things to everybody in the play held
the center Of the stage in this last act.
Stephen found himself really listening.
"A man is helpless with women"
said the man in the play. They
fight each other and use him for a
tool They lie-and he believes them,
and perhaps his whole life is spoiled
by a jealous whlm which be dies
ignorant Of Men come out in the
open and explain. Women let pride
or Jealousy make flends Of them at
moments, though they are angels
when themselves You can't blame
them-it Is a sort of insanity, not to
be straightforward. How they viii let
man suffer for lack Of a word or
two!" There was more Of IT, all
banal enough, all, to his taste, little
cheap but perhaps with a grain OF
truth.
Then an usher handed him a folded
note. He glanced up at the box, but
Kate Boyd was not there, He forgot
everything. reading her pcnclcd note.
It began without preface;
60 straight ont and see Marcia.
She VIII be waiting for you, for be-
fore you get there she will have
note from me telling her what this
says to you,
Last November lied to her |
was afraid you loved her. cared
myself, and could not bear to lose you.
told her we were engaged, and asked
her not to come between us ! put u
in way that hurt her sel'respect so
that she could not forgive nor see you.
Now | have told her that It was not
the truth Kate"
stephen gave little gasp and HE
strength left him. He had neither
pity nor blame for Katet He could
! only think Of Marcia, her sweet eyes,
Ter sweet lips her gentle dearness
Would she love him again. He en-
tered the first taxicab and rang her
bell
The maid took his card. Then she
silently led him TO the library, opened
the door for him, and closed II again,
"MarcIol" he said, but she was
close IN hIs arms, "MarcIal"