The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-31

than you are in the country. John, I've
brought you a message from Louise"
"About tonight?'
She nodded. .
"Louise Is most frightfully sorry. =
she explained, "but she has to 60 down
to Streatham to open bazaar. and she
can't possibly be back in time to dine
before the theater. Can you guess what
she dared to suggest" ~ .
II think.I can" John replied, smiling.
"Say you will, there's a dear" she
begged. II am not playing tonight.
May Enser Is going on in my place. we
arranged It % week ago. had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and haven't
had a decent meal this week. But l
had forgotten" she broke off, with a
sudden note OF disappointment In her
tone. There's your brother. mustn't
take you away from him."
"Wen all have dinner together"
John suggested. you'll come, or
course, Stephen?" 49,, ..
Stephen shook his head. ~
'Thank you" he said. II am due at
my hotel. I'm going back to Chmbar-
land tomorrow morning, and my errand
is already done" r...&..~., .
"You viii do nothing of the sortl'
John declared. G
"Please be amiable."' SOphy begged.
IT YOU won't come with US, l shall
simply run away and leave you with
John. You needn't look ut your
Clothes" she went on. I'VE can g" to
a grillroom. John sha'n't dress. either.
/ want you to tell me all about Cum
| berland, where this brother Of yours
lives. 4 He doesn't tell lis half jenough!"
John passed his arm through his
/ brothers and led him away. ...8
"Come and have wash.5Oid chap"
) he said '&s
They dined together mt Luigi's, a
, curiously assorted Philosophy, be-
tween the two men, supplying a dis
| tinctly alien note. She was always
gay, always amusing, but although she
addressed most of her remarks to
Stephen, he never once unbent. He ate
and drank simply, seldom speaking Of
himself or his plans. and firmly mega
living all their suggestions for the re-
malnder of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced ut the clock. John became
conscious of a certain feeling Of curl
osity, which In sense SOphy shared.
"Your brother seems to me like a
man with q. purpose" she said, as they
stood In the entrance hall on their way
out Of the restaurant. rIike a prophet
with mission, perhaps II should say"
John nodded. In the little passage
where they stood. he and Stephen
seemed to dwarf the passcrs-by. The
men, in their evening clothes and pallid
faces. seemed suddenly Insignificant.
| and the women like dolls.
"For the last time, Stephen" John
snid, won't you come to d music hall
with us?" ,r., AL.
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 of down the Strand. John, look
| Ing after him, frowned He was con.
scious Of a certain foreboding.
s"I suppose" Sophy sighed. as they
waited for a taxicnb, 1--WE shall spend
the remainder of the evening in the
usual fashion," ID, -
do you mindy John asked. y
mo-" she assented resignedly. "That
play will end by making driving
idiot of me. If Louise is tired tonight,
though. I warn you that shall insist
upon supper" :, ..as;s
"It's bargain" John promised.
"We'll drive Louise home. and then I'll
take you back to Luigis. We haven't
been out together for some time, have
| wei" " ys2 Fl
She looked up at him with little
/ grimace and patted his hand.
"You have neglected me-" she said.
II think all these fine ladies have
turned your head" i
She drew little closer to him and
passed her arm through his. John
made no responsive movement. He was
filed with resentment Mt the sensation
Of pleasure that her affecuOnate ges-
ture gave him. s |@s
The curtain was up and the play In
progress when they reached the box
that John had taken for the season. Z
The spell Of it 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 cone to him so
many times before induced him to turn
his head. to read in the faces of the arI.
tlience the reflection of her genius. BE
had often watched those long lines OF
faces changing, each in its own way,
under the magic Of her art. Tonight
he looked beyond. He knew very well
that his search Ind 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