The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-06-03

IA cracked gong announcing din
ner. Signing, =. Sybarite rose
and knocked the ashes delicately from
his pipe saving the dottle for good
night Whit after the theater
Being Saturday, ii was the night OF
ham and beans. 7. Sybarite loathed
ham and beans with a deathly lOath-
ing. Nevertheless, he ate his dole of
ham and beans. He sat on the land
lady's right and was reluctant to hur,
her feelings or incur her dispeasure
Besides, he was hungry.
Miss Leasing sat On the same side
of the main dining table. but half
dozen chairs away p. Sybarite could
not see her save by craning his neck
He refused to crane his neck-it might
seem ostentati0us.
Violet and her George occupied ad-
Joining chairs at another and smaller
table. Their attendance was occasion
ally manifested through the medium
OF giggcs and outlaws. z. Sybarite
envied them.
By custom the landlady relinQuished
her seat some minutes in advance Of
any guest. When p. Sybarite left the
room he found her established at
desk in the basement hallway. Paus-
ing. he delivered unto her the major
portion OF his weeks wage Setting
aside another certain amount against
the cost of laundry work. tobacco and
h., bod G. 1,ft
He wondered if he dared risk the
extravaganza of a modest supper after
the thea ter, and knew he dared not
knew it in a wretchcdneSs of spirit.
cursing his fate.
There remained half an hour to be
killed before time to start for the
theater. George Bross joined him on
the stoop.
They smoked pensively.
1t was spring-the tenth spring F.
Sybarite had watched from that self
same spot.
Discomfort bred in him brooding
dependency. He felt quite sure that
the realists We're right about life-it
wasn't worth living, after all.
At his side George Bross. on his be-
half, was nursing his private and per
sonal Crouch.
But presently Miss Prim and Miss
Leasing appeared and changed all that
in a twinkling
We'll" observed Violet generously.
81 thought little me was pretty well
stage broke. but l gotta hand it to
Otis. He's some actor. He had me
going from the first snOre."
Some actor is right" affirmed Mr.
Bross with conviction. and some
show, too, if you wanta know. Icould
sit through it twicet. Say. | couldn't
quit thinkin' what a grand young time
I'd start in this old burg if | could
only con this 'Kismet' thing into slip
pin me my day Of days. Believe me
or not, there would be party"
What would you do?" asked Molly
leasing. smiling
We'll, the first flop I'd nail down
all the coin that was handy. and then
I'd buy me a flock of automobiles
and have table reserved for me at
the Knickerbocker for dinner every
night-and'- Imagination tagged
well" he concluded defensiyeIy. Il
can tell you one thing ! wouldn't do"
What" demanded Violet.
81 wouldn't let any ward politician
like that there Wazir, or whatever
them Arabs call him. kid ME into try
ing to throw a bomb at Charlie Muir
phy-or anything like that"
But, you bonehead," Violet argued
candidly. he had to- That was his
part 1t was written in the play"
"G'wan. If he'd just stalled round
and refused to jump through the au-
thor'd'Ve framed up some other way
out. Why-blame 1.-THE dive had to-
That will be about al for me-" said
Violet. Il don't feel strong enough
tonight to stand any more of your
dramatic criticism. Lead me home
and please talk baseball all the way"
With resentful grunt Mr. Bross
clamped warm. moist hand round the
plump arm of his charmer and with
masterful address propelled her from
the curb in front of the theater. where
the little party had paused. to the
northwest corner of Broadway. 2.
Sybarite, moving instinctively to fol
low leaped back to the sidewalk bare
ly in time to save his toes crushing
beneath the tires of a hurting taxi
cab.
He smiled a furtive apology at Mol
ly Leasing. who had demonstrated
greater discretion. and she returned
the smile in the friendliest manner.
His head was buzzing, and her eyes
were kind. Neither spoke. but for an
instant he experienced a breathless
sense of sympathetic isolation with
her, there on that crowded corner.
The wonder and the romance Of the
play were still warm and vital in his
Imagination, infusing his thoughts
with a roseate glamor Of unreality
wherein all things were possible.
For three hours he had forgotten his