The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-08-13

81 cannot T.
She put her hand up to his cheek
and turned his face toward hers.
See here, Little Jimmy" she said.
DO you still love me?"
Il have always loved you'll!
"Of course; you cannot help 1t. That
is why | came. We are two old peo-
pie left alone in the world. Our tri
umphs are past. Our work is done.
Our friends are dead. Why should we
SIT apart and NOPE? Come now! Be
a good boy
Il cannot. T.
Then, with a change as swift as light
btned impulsiveness and dramatic force
of her nature-came over her.
How dare you say that?' she said.
"Who are you, pray, to refuse an in
vitation TO dinner? Have | not often
dined with you? Well, now you are
to dine with me. You understand
Come. Where is your coat?'
She sprang to the tumbledown ward
robe, pulled out an old ulster and
pressed it over him. Then. with an
imperious gesture, she waved him out
Of the room into the hall, holding his
faded silk hat in her hand.
He obeyed her without a word. Only
in the cab he said:
Dear me. Josephine, the years have
not changed you. have they? | ought
not to be doing this! Why, my dear,
| have never dined as the guest Of
woman in my life. 1t has always been
part Of my code not to do So"
Nonsense! You are too old now to
have any code. Young sports like us
no longer need code. 1t is high time
that some one took you in hand. Be
sides, am not doing it for you. Don't
you know that | have always been
selfish? You are a good companion.
There is none better, am sure. And
am | not all alone and lonesome? 1t
is l, therefore, that you must blame.
l need your
The lights in the restaurant, the
laughter. the sudden return to long
vanished existence, acted upon Flau-
bert like tonic. His face grew ten
years younger. They sat in a far cor
ner, remote from the music. No one
knew them-two artists who once had
ruled their world.
Her old habit came back upon her
swiftly. She ordered the dinner With
out looking at the card-a thin soup,
a small duck. salad. bottle of wine
from the sunny vineyards Of the Rhone.
1t was wonderful, under the spell of
their surroundings. to see them both
relax Story after story came from
him His observations of life, like
old wine, had flavor all their own.
At last she lifted the glass, half
empty. to her lips.
Come" she said; ''let us drink to
ourselveS!'
81 drink, mademoiselle, to your wit,
to your beauty. to your genius, for
these are to me as fresh as ever"
"And | drink to the artist Flaubert,
than whom there is none greater; also
I drink to- She looked at him stead
ily. fxedly. with that wonderful light
in her eyes which yet remained un-
dimmed at nearly threescore and ten.
Little Jimmy" she said. Il drink to
us two. Let us never part again on
earth!'
He lowered his glass.
"You know, my dear" he said, 81
am quite poor"
IT have enough for both"
He laughed.
REALLY. mademoiselle, I could hard
ly pay the clergyman
"Dear me. | know one who will be
pleased to do the sffgnr service Tor
nothing"
"You are in earnest|
Surely And you consent?'
She put forth her hand.
Josephine, I have always loved you.
But
"Your hand"
He gave It under the spell OF her
eyes. They arose from the table. They
threaded their way out Of the restau-
rant The attendant helped him on
with his shabby ulster. The door was
opened for them. They stood for an
instant alone in the vestibule.
He bent over her.
Josephine" he said. promise me
one thing. | know l am weak. |
guess I'm growing old. But premise
me that you'll never holG II up against
mev'
Don't you see that if should 1t is
you who could hold it up against me,
for am l not the temptress? Tut. tut
my dear. it is Just as it should be.
It was my fault in the beginning. 1t
was | who delayed matters"
Then he stopped and kissed her.
AS he put her into the carriage with
ali the ease and grace of the Flaubert
Of old he turned to the coachman.
Home" he said proudly.