The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-04-04
Explanation
Copyright, 1919, by Associated Literary Press.)
By LOUISE OLNEY

with violets on their open coats, natl
nee-bound. He looked after them.
Youth and beauty meant nothing to
him but Marcia" but he needed d.
version. He also would go to the
theater, though he knew the play
would be driveling.
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. It all turned
on misunderstanding between lovers,
separated by the Vaccinations Of a
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. It was queerly
drawn and pale-almost tragically
worried. He had not seen her of late.
He reproached himself for neglecting
friend just because he happened to
be wretched himself.
In or irrn ond wont for
a moments talk. She was very con-
Strained and quiet. No, she had not
been i'll. 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
AS the curtain went up she gave him
her hand. It was cold as ice and she
was white. He went back to his seat.
Was all the world gone wrong?
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 leland he believes them,
and perhaps his whole life is spoiled
by a jealous within which he dies
| ignorant of. Men come out in the
open and explain. Women let pride
Or jealousy make fiends Of them at
moments, though they are angels
when themselves. You can't blame
them-it is sort of insanity, not to
be straightforward. How they will let
a 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 penciled note
It began without preface:
Go straight out and see Marcia
She will be waiting for you, for be.
fore you get there she will have a
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
I told her we were engaged, and asked
her not to come between us. put II
in way that hurt her self-respect Sc
that she could not forgive nor see you
Now I have told her that it was not
the truth. Kate"
Stephen gave a little gasp and his
strength left him. He had neither
pity nor blame for Katet. He could
only think of Marcia, her sweet eyes
her sweet lips, her gentle dearness
Would she love him again? He en-
tered the first taxicab and rang hel
bell.
The maid took his card. Then she
silently led him to the library, opened
the door for him, and closed it again
"Marcia!" he said, but she was
close in his arms, 'Marcia!'