The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-12-29

your poor, lonely brother!" she said
I'VE have done our best to spoil him
but I'm afraid he is very homesick
sometimes. hope you've come to stay
a long time and to learn all about Lon
don, as John is doing. If you are half
as nice as he is, well give you such q
good time!"
From his great height, Stephen
| looked down upon the girls upturned
face little austercly. She chartered
away, entirely unabashed.
81 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 tonight?
She nodded.
| Louise is most frightfully 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?"
81 think can" John replied, smiling.
"Say you will, there's a dear" she
begged 81 am not playing tonight.
May Enser is going on in my place. We
arranged it a week ago. l 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."
"We'n all have dinner together"
John suggested. you'll come, OF
course, Stephen?"
Stephen shook his head.
''Thank you" he said, 81 am due at
my hotel. I'm 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.
eff you won't come with US, l shall
simply run away and leave you with
John. You needn't look at your
Clothes" she went on. eve can go to
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 enough"
John passed his arm through his
brothers and led him away.
ri oh n
he said.
They dined together at Lulgi's,
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
living all their suggestions for the re-
mainder of the evening. Occasionally
he glanced at the clock. John became
conscious of q certain feeling of curl
osity, which in sense Sophy shared.
"Your brother seems to me like
man with a purpose" she said, as they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
out Of the restaurant. Like a prophet
with a mission, perhaps I 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 pGllid
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?"
81 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 a certain foreboding.
II suppose" Sophy sighed, as they
waited for taxicab, 1--WE shall spend
the remainder of the evening in the
usual fashion,"
do you mind" John asked.
"No," she assented resignedly. "That
pay WALL ChO ny nuhAAS q AAAFA4S
idiot Of me. If Louise Is tired tonight,
though, 1 warn you that I shall insist
upon supper"
"It's q bargain" John promised.
"We'll drive Louise home, and then I'll
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.
II think all these fine ladies have
turned your head"
She drew little closer to him and
passed her arm through his. John
made no responsive movement. He was
filed 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, a
sense Of hypnotism creeping |
over his senses. Presently the same |
impulse which had come to him so |