Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-11-20


living all their suggestions for the re
mainder of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced at the clock. John became
conscious of a certain feeling of curl
osity, which in a sense Sopby shared.
Your brother seems to me Ike q
man with purpose" she said, as they
stood In the entrance hall on their way
out of the restaurant. Like prophet
with mission, perhaps I should say"
John nodded. In the little passage
where they stood, he and Stephen
seemed to dwarf the passers-by. The
men, In their evening clothes and pallid
faces, seemed suddenly Insignificant
and the women like dolls.
For the last time, Stephen" John
said, won't you come to a music hall
with us?"
II have made my plans for the eve
ming, thank you," Stephen replied
holding out his hand. "Good night"
He left them standing there and
walked off down the Strand John, look.
ing after him, frowned. He was con.
scious of certain foreboding.
II suppose" Sophy sighed, as they
waited for a taxicab, 1--WE shall spend
the remainder of the evening In the
usual fashion,"
do you mind?" John asked
NO." she assented resignedly. 'That
play will end by making a driving
idiot of me. If Louise is tired tonight
though, warn you that 1 shall insist
upon supper"
ITS a bargain" John promised
Wen drive Louise home, and then TIL
take you back to Luigi's. We haven't
been out together for some time, have
wei"
She looked up at him with little
grimace and patted his hand.
"You have neglected me-" she said
Il think all these fine ladies have
turned your head"
She drew a little closer to him and
passed her arm through his. John
made no responsive movement. He was
filled with resentment at the sensation
Of pleasure that her affectionate ges-
ture gave him.
The curtain was up and the play In
progress when they reached the box
that John had taken for the season.
The spell of 1t all, against which he
had so often fought, came over John
anew. He set his chair back against
the wall and watched and listened, q
veritable sense Of hypnotism creeping
over his senses. Presently the same
impulse which had come to him so
many times before induced him to turn
his head, to read in the faces Of the au-
dience the reflection of her genius. He
had often watched those long lines OF
faces changing, each in it's own way,
under the magic of her art. Tonight
he looked beyond He knew very well
that his search had a special object.
Suddenly he gripped the arms of his
chair. In the front row of the pit, sit
ting head and shoulders taller than the
men and women who lounged over the
wooden rest in front of them, was
Stephen. More than ever, among these
inappropriate surroundings, he seemed
to represent something almost patri-
archal, forbfdding and disappearing
spirit sitting in judgment upon some
modern and unworthy wantonness. His
face, stern and grave, showed little
sign of approval or disapproval, but to
Johns apprehending eyes the critical
sense was there, the verdict fore
doomed. He understood as in flash
that Stephen had come there to Judge
once more the woman whom his broth
er desired.
The curtain went up again and the
play moved on, with subtle yet inevita-
Bile dramatic power, toward the hated
and dreaded crisis.
The play came to an end presently,
amid a storm Of applause. The grim
figure in the front of the pit remained
motionless and silent. He was one of
the last to leave, and John watched his
retreating figure with a sigh. Sophy
drew him away.
I'VE had better hurry round" she
said. Louise is always very quick get
ting ready"
They found her, as a matter of fact.
In the act of leaving. She welcomed
them naturally enough, but John
fancied that her greeting showed some
signs of embarrassment.
you knew that 1 was going out to
supper tonight?" she asked. "Oh didn't
tell you? The prince has asked the
French people from His Majesty's to
meet NJ. Graillot at supper. 1 am hur-
rying home to dress"
John handed her into her waiting
automobile in silence. She glanced
into his face.
as anything the matter?" she asked
Nothing"
''The prince would have asked Won
without a doubt" Louise continued
"but he knows that you are not really
interested in the stage, and this party
is entirely French-they do not speak
q word of English. Au revoirI SONNY.
take care of him, and mind you behave
yourselves !"
She waved her hand to them both
and threw herself back among the
as bAC SAIuSu JOnn
walked to the corner of the street in
gloomy silence. Then he remembered
his companion. He stopped short.
"Sophy," he begged, "don't hold me
to my promise. I don't want to take
you out to supper tonight. I am not in
the humor for It."
Don't be foolish !" she replied. "If
you stay alone, you will only imagine
things and be miserable. We needn't
have any supper, unless you like. Let
me come and sit In your rooms with
you"
mo-" he decided, almost roughly. ct
am losing myself, Sophy. 1 am losing
something of my strength every day.
Louise doesn't help as she might. Don't
stay with me, please. l am beginning
to have moods, and when they come on
l want to be alone"
She drew a little closer to him.
Let me come, please!' she begged.
with q no athletic aIr,oS% sabfIIIit-e r,r,ix-ar