The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-10-19

"HOw nice Of you to come and SCI
your poor, lonely brother!" she said
1--WE have done our best TO spoil him
but I'm afraid he is very homeslcl
sometimes. hope you've come to sta!
a long time and to learn all about Lon
don, as John Is doing. If you are hall
as nice as he is, wen give you such
good timer
From his great height, Stepher
looked down upon the girls upturnet
face little austerely. She chattered
away, entirely unabashed.
II do hope you're not shocked at my
bursting In upon your brother like
this! We really are great pals, and
live only just across the way. We are
much less formal up here, you know,
than you are in the country. John, I've
brought you a message from Louise"
"About tonlghtT
She nodded.
Louise is most frlghtfully sorry"
she explained, "but she has to go 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?"
"I think can," John replied, smiling.
"Say you will, there's DEAR" she
begged. ~ am not playing tonight.
May Enser is going on in my place. We
arranged 1t week ago. had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and haven't
had a decent meal this week. But
had forgotten" she broke Off, with a
sudden note of disappointment in her
tone. "There's your brother. I mustn't
take you away from him."
"WeTl all have dinner together"
John suggested. "Youll come, Of
course, Stephen"
Stephen shook his head.
"Thank you," he said, II am due at
my hotel. Pm going back to Cumber-
land tomorrow morning, and my errand
is already DONE"
"You will do nothing Of the sort !"
John declared.
"Please be amiable," Sophy begged.
"If you won't come with us, / shall
simply run away and leave you with
John. You needn't look at your
clothes" she went on. "We can go to
a grillroom. John sha'n't dress, either.
I want you to tell me all about Cum
berland, where this brother Of yours
lives. He doesn't tell us half enoughW
John passed his arm through his
brothers. and led him away.
"Come and have wash, old chap"
he said.
They dined together at Luigl's, a
curiously assorted trio-Sophy, 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
tiving all their suggestions for the re-
of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced at the clock. John became
conscious of certain feeling of Curl
osity, which in a sense SOphy shared.
"YOur brother seems to me like q
man with a purpose" she said, as they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
out of the restaurant. "Like prophet
with a mission, perhaps 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 music hall
with us?"
II have made my plans for the eve
ming, thank you," Stephen replied,
holding out his hand. "Good nightp
He left them standing there and
walked off down the Strand. John, look
ing after him, frowned. He was con-
Scious of a certain foreboding.
II suppose" Sophy sighed, as they
waited for taxicab, 1--WE shall spend |
he remainder of the evening in the |
Usual fashion!"
"Do you mind?" John asked.
mo" she assented reslgnedly. "That |
olay will end by making a driving
dot Of me. If Louise is tired tonight,
hough, l warn you that I shall insist
lpon supper"
"It's q bargain" John promised.
Well drive Louise home, and then I'll
axe you back to Lulgi's. We haven't
'een out together for some time, have
ve?
She looked up at him with little
rimace and patted his hand.
"You have neglected me-" she said.
I think all these fine ladies have
urned your head"
She drew a little closer to him and
assed her arm through his. John
lade no responsive movement. He was
lied with resentment at the sensation
( pleasure that her affectionate ges-
lre gave him.
The curtain was up and the play In
rogress when they reached the box
nat John had taken for the season.
The spell of it all, against which he
ad so often fought, came over John
new. He set his chair back against
le wall and watched and listened, a
eritable sense Of hypnotlsm creeping !
YER his senses. Presently the same s
npulse which had come to him so |
ANY times before induced him to turn |
Is head, to read in the faces Of the au-
lence the reflection Of her genius. He
ad often watched those long lines OF ]
ices changing, each in it's own way, t
nder the magic Of her art. Tonight s
3 looked beyond. he knew very well