New-York tribune., 1912-03-03


Henry was gazing as his boat slid out Of the
darkcncd harbor.
SUDDENLY. at an unoccupicd table near
~ that where Victor and sat together, a
lady and gentleman came and sat down.
Perhaps shouldn't say gentleman, either:
an elderly. tired looking person with
something Of the air Of the thcater about
him. who ordered only glass Of milk and
sat slipping it as though counting the seconds
between each two sips. But the lady, who
va, dressed in a long black satin wrap and a
very correct little straw hat, took no refresh
mcnt Whatever. Then all of a sudden rec
ognizcd her 1t was Fay come back!
Victor had not noticed her. She fixed her
eyes on him-largc, luminous, implorlng
eyes and waited.
Suddenly Victor turned as though he had
been Stung. and met her gaze full in the face.
For an instant they remained staring at each
other, while watched them diSCrectly from
behind nv lashcs Then, with shuddcring
effort. as though hcaving a weight far be
yond his strength, Victor dragged his eyes
away. But Fav's never wavcrcd.
On the stage her presence had had its
startling. its moving, effect on the man who,
"a
undoubtedly loved her. But here close be-
side him, leaning toward HIM with parted
lips and wide open, shining eyes that alter
natcly threatened and implorcd - Though
no one but me seemed to notice the fact.
here at the highest moment of Mrs. Cobb 5
triumph this insignificant little creature had
come To measure swords with her For with
out any metaphor it seemed an actual fact
that those eyes held a sword. Never in any
face have | seen 50 intense concentration
of the human will, focused, rs it were, in the
blade Of light that strcamcd from those un-
winking iriScS Come" said the eyes. Il
love vou-COme."
Upon my word, had TO feel sorry for
Victor! TO be sure, ne was hardly an ideal
type, so much was certain, and governed,
moreover, by motives purely merccnary;
but he was human, just the same, and IN
that moment he undoubtedly suffered.
Suffered 1t was tormentS that he under
went, while his legs wrlthcd themselves
about those of his chair and his shaking hand
returned continually to the champagne.
And like his body, his head seemed galvan-
izcd into perpetual motion, SidcwSc
to see if Fay were still looking at him, then
jcrkcd away like a tooth; then, as though
by some irresistible law of nature like the
sunset or the tides back went his eyes to
hcrS-back every time.
This little drama, which lasted perhaps
ten minutes, seemed by its very intensity
prolonged to as many hours. Then sud
denly bchcld the tortured legs OF Victor,
which quivercd and then remained trans
fixed like those Of a smittcn beast. lnvol-
unfairly | turned and looked. There in the
brilliant eyes under the little dark hat, bent
as ever upon Victor, had gathered two shin
ing tears. Whether by art or by genuine
emotion, the effect was perfect. Thus soft
cncd by sorrow, the eyes became of magi
cal enchantment, of irresistible seduction.
Come they said. "My beloved one, GOMEZ
Suddenly Victor leapcd to his feet. I'm
damned, heard him say under his breath,
III | can stand this any morc!'
HIS chair, knocked away by his hasty ges-
l. turc, fell crushed to the ground. From
flirting, from Dragging, or from laying down
the law, the attention of all was suddenly
reclaimed to him, as, stepping forward for
half-dozcn PAGES, he seized Fay by the hand.
"Comc, Fay" he said in voice SO
changed | hardly recognized it as his.
"Mothcr, I'm going! Goodby'
Had he suddenly gone mad and drawn
pistol, the commotion could hardly have
been greater. The whole company leaped
to its feet, in a Clattcr of overturned chairs