Evening star., 1915-01-03

theater, smiling at him nnocently, joyously with that
once raved about.
He tried to read; but it was in vain. His pulses
seemed to be beating at fever heat, his temples
throbbing. He threw open the window. Although it
early October, it soft, night.
There were stars the sky yellow moon the fantest
movement of the trees in the distant square Dimly
he could hear the of the city The sky southwark
stained with the reflection of its million lights. He
had wasted hours. The theaters ernptylng
He could see her driving homeward, leaning back in
the taxi thinking, perhaps, of him. He could see the
whole procession of carriages and cabs, the hrongs in
the Streets the great, pleasureoving peasuresated
crowd passing backward and forward to the gaily lit
restaurants their homes to whatever feast might
await them the table of life. And he sat there alone
with his books, without any human being to bear him
company!
A crowd of unfamiliar thoughts came rushing into
his brain. After ALL he man like the others His
the same brthright though he had not chosen
to frtter it away small love affairs, in the irtations
of salad days. Yet he not different from others.
Deep down in his being there passion as strong
and compelling it given to any to fee chained.
perhaps, by of certain discriminating faStidl
ousness religious of offering it IN its entirety,
but tearing at its chain wildly, madly. Some
breath of wind strain of music, fragrant memory,
perhaps the lingering of that kiss his lips,
had brought him an evil turn.
As he stood there he felt the slow fire burning up in
his veins There was but in this world for
him. whether he died tomorrow lived to the full meas
of his days Weren't the byways of the world filled
with men whom opportunities had passed by! His
hand crept to his wastcoat pocket. Once he felt
the key that Mary had asked him to keep for her
they entered the restaurant
A crowd of bewildering, magnificent, qulverng
thoughts struggled into his mind. He thrust them
down, only to find them leap up again, stronger and
stronger every time He stood like at bay, fight
ing with unclaimed thing in his life of whose very
existence he had scarcely dreamed A prig some men
had called him, because he had been clean liver;
codblooded sort of chap well known theatrical man.
ager had said of him at supper party. Both accusa
tons were true, perhaps, in their way but Jerrnyn
knew that his time had come. Again and again
he threw himself into his chair and struggled with his
work. 1t the very vainest of efforts. Some new
power possessed him; new, invisible force
Supplying his will.
lie rose and crept out into the hall Silently though
IL he went Parkes heard him and gded to his side.
"You going out, Sr?' he asked.
For a little time, Jermyn answered
"Will you dress, Sir? Your things all ready
Ternyn shook his head. al will go as am. Get
my coat and hat"
He passed out into the night The air soft, the
broad streets packed with moorcars and aXcabs
and electric broughams. Women in snowy white opera
coaks, bejeweled, leaned back among the cushions;
well satisfied by their sides. boy and girl
drove by in hanson, with their arms unblushingly
round each other. There couples walking in
along the pavement and whispering they went.
1t devil that in the atmosphere this night,
wtchery that had started the call to which for
long his blood had failed respond. He hailed pass
ing taxi and jumped in.
"Burley Court!' he told the
To be continued next Sunday