Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17
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VINO ruSleQ TO grdD my Dag. a second
later her hand was in mine her eyes
upon my eyes.
'Tt-it was nice Of Buster to send
you" she said.
"You look so white, so tired" I an
gwered. Where is all your tam"
melted" she laughed. Have you
business in town? It's awfuTy hot
here, you poor man."
''Yes," said 1, Il have business here,
very important business. But first
some supper and a spree. I've got
most two bushels of peas to spendr'
We had a gay supper, and then took
a cab, left my grip at my college club,
where I had long maintained a non
resident membership, and drove thence
to Broadway.
How like Bentford Main streetr' I
laughed as we emerged from Forty
fourth street into the blaze of gro
tesque electric signs, which have a
kind Of bizarre beauty, none the less
where shall we gO?"
There's a revival of Patience at
the Casino" she suggested, "and there
are the Ziegfeld FOIlies-"
''Not the Follies," I answered. 'I'm
neither a drummer nor rural Sunday
school superintendent. Gilbert and
Sullivan sounds good, and I've never
heard Patience"
We found our places in the Casino
just as the curtain was going up, and
I saw Patience" for the first time.
/ was glad it was for the first time,
because she was with me, to share my
delight AS Incompatible tune after
tune fiOated out to us the absurdest of
absurd words, her eyes twinkled into
mine, and our shoulders leaned to-
gether, and finally, between the seats,
squeezed her fingers with unrestrain-
able delight.
mice Gilbert and Sullivan" she
whispered
ITS a masterpiece; it's a master
piecer' / whispered back. tits as per
feet in its way as-as your sundial!
Oh I'm so glad you are with me!'
"Is 1t worth coming way to New
York for?"
Under the conditions, around the
world for" said I.
She colored rosy, and looked back at
the stage. 90
After the performance she would not
let me get cab. you've not that
many peas on the place" she said. So
we walked downtown to her lodgings,
through the hot, dusty, half-deserted
streets, into the older section of the
city below Fourteenth street. I said
little, save to answer her volley of ca
ger questions about the farm. At the
steps of an ancient house near Wash
2ngton square she paused.
Here Is where l live" she said.
1--WE had a lovely evening. Shall
see you again before you go back?"
l smiled, took the latchkey from her
hand, opened the door, and stepped be-
hind her, to her evident surprise, into
the large, silent, musty-smelling hall,
She darted a quick look about, but l
ignored it, taking her hand and leading
her quickly into the parlor, where, by
the faint light from the hall, I could
see an array of mid-Victorian plush.
The house was silent Still holding
her hand, | drew her to me.
II am not going backbone" l
whispered. you are going with me.
Stella, 1 cannot live without you. Twin
Fires is crying for its mistress. You
are going back, too, away from the
heat and dust and the town, into a
house where the sweet air wanders,
into the pines where the hermit sings
and the pool is thirsty for your feet. "
heard in the stiffness q strange sob,
and suddenly her head was on my
breast and her tears were flowing My
arms closed about her
Presently she lifted her face, and
our lips met. She put up her hands
and held my face within them. "So
that was what the thrush said, after
ALL" she whispered, with a hint Of q
happy smile.
ITO me, yes," said I. 81 didn''
dream It was to you. Was 1t to your
THAT you'll never know" she an
swered, "and you'll always be toe stu
pid to guess"
Stupid! You called me that once
before about the painters. Why were
you angry about choosing the dining
room paint?"
She grew suddenly wistful. "I'll tel
you that" she said. at vast was
because you let a third person into oul
little drama Of Twin Fires. II was
fool, maybe. But I was playing ou
& kinda kind Of dream of home build
ing. Two can play such a dream, i
they don't speak of it. But not three
Then 1t becomes-it becomes, we'll
matter-of- facty, and people talk, ant
the bloom goes, and-you hurt me {
little, that's ALL
I could not reply for a moment
What man can before the wistfu
sweetness of 4 woman's secret moods
/ could only kiss her hair. FINAL!
words came 1.-The dream shall b,
reality now" l said, land you and
together will make Twin Fires tn,
loyeliest spot in all the hills. Tomor
row Wen buy stair carpet and
lots Of things-together.
"Still with the pea money!" she CUR
gled, her gayety coming back. INC
sir; I've some money, too. Not much
but little to take the place Of tn
wedding presents I've no relatives t
DIVA ron 7 want ~ hoI7