Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-26
"Mr. Breitmann and have met be.

1 IOTe, SHlu IutueWe SOueEIy'
The two MEN bowed. Cathewe never
gaze his hand to any but his lntimates.
But Laura. who was not aware Of this
ancient reserve. thought that both OF
them showed a lack Of warmth. And
Fitzgerald. who was watching all cor
uers now. was sure that the past Of bis
friend and Breitmanp interlaced In
some way.
$50. young man." said Mrs. Coldneld.
% handsome Ipotherly woman. you
have had the lmpudence to let Eve
years pass without darkening my doors.
What excuse have you"
I'm guilty OF anything you say"
Fitzgerald answered humbIy. What
shall be my punishmentT
"You shall take Miss Laura In. ana
] shall sit at your left"
"For my sins It shall be as you say.
But. really. | have been so little In
New York." he added.
~ forgive you simply because you
have not made failure OF your moth
er's son. And you look like her too"
II is one OF the privileges Of old per.
sons to compare the young with this
Or that parent.
"You are catering me. Dad used to
say that | was a. homely - hedge
fence"
"Now you're fishing. and I'm too old
q fsh to rise TO such cast
II heard you sing In Paris few
years ago. said NJ. Ferraud.
Yes" Hildegarde Won M!,ter won
dered who this little man could be.
"And you sing no more?'
mo. The bird has flown. Only the
woman remains" They were at the
table now. and she absently plucked
the fowers beside her plate.
"Ah. to sing as you did and then to
disappear, to vanish! You had no
right to do so. You belonged to the
public" animatediy.
"The public Is always selfish. 1t al.
ways demands more than any single
person can give to It. Pardon" she
said as Cathewe leaned to speak to
her. Il did not hear"
NJ. Ferraud nlbbled his crisp celery.
II asked what will you do" repeated
Cathewc for her ear only.
What do you mean!'
Did you know that he was hereT
II should not have been seated at
this table had | known"
Some day you are going to tell me
all. about It, he asserted. "and you
are going TO smile when you answer
me-
Thank you. forgot. My dear
friend. 1 am never going to tell you
oil about II. Why did you not come
first? her voice vibrating.
You still love him."
THAT IL rot kind striving hard TO
keep the smile on her trembling Hips
oh. | beg OF you. do not make Ihi'
friendship impossible. DO not rob NE
Of the one man | trust"
Cathewe moiioned aside the fish ana
reached for his saulerne. Il have
loved you faithfully and Loyalty for
seven years. have tried 10 win you
by all those roads man ma! honor
ably traverse I'm quest Of the one wo-
man. For seren years and for some
thing Ike three | have stayed away
at your command. VIII you believe
III Sometimes my hands ache FOR his
throat Smile: they are looking.
1t was u crooked smile. Why did |
ever tell you!'
why did you ever tell me-only
part! II Is the other part wish 10
know. Till | learn what that is shat
never leave you. You will find that
there Is II difference between love und
infatuatlon."
"As | have never known infatuation
I cannot tell the difference. Now. no
more. unless you care to see me break
down before them. For II you tell M
that you have loved me seven years
l have loved him eight" cruelty. for
Cathewe was pressing her cruelty.
Devil take him What do you find
in the man."
What do you lind In mef" her eyes
filed with anger.
Forgive me- Hildegarde. am blind
and mad tonight. | did not expect to
find him here either"
Breitmann had tried Intellectually to
read their lips. She had given her
word. and. once given. be- knew Of old
that she never broke II. But he was
keenly alive that In some way he was
the topic Of the innudible cOnversa-
ton. As he sat here tonight he knew
why he had never loved Hildegarde.
why, I'm fact. he had never loved any
woman. The one great passion which
comes in the span of life was centered
in the girl beside him. dividing ber mo
ments between him and Fitzgerald.
Strange but he had not known II till
he saw the two women together For
once his nice calculations had ceased
to run smoothly. There appeared now
a knot In the thread for which he saw
no untying.
You do not sing nowy" asked Laura
across the table.
NO" Hildegarde answered. my
voice is gone"
"Oh. | am so sorry
1T does not matter. can hum q
little to myself. There Is yet some
pleasure In that But In opera. no.
never again. Has not Mrs. CoIdfeld
told you! Nor Imagine! One night
in Dresden In the middle Of the aria
my voice broke miserably. and I could
not 90 on"
"And her heart nearly broke with
It." interposed Mrs. ColdHeld. with the
best intentions. nearer the truth than
she knew. II am sorry. Laura. that
{ never told you before"
Hildegarde laughed Sooner or
later this must happen. ! worked too
hard perhaps. At any rate. the opera
will know me no more"
There was the hard blue Of flint IN
Cathewe's eyes as they met and held
Breitmann's. There was a duel. and
the latter was routed. But hate burn
ed iercely In the breast against the
man who could compel him to lower
his eyes Some day be would pay
back that glance.
fro M CONTINUED