Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-11-02
THE HILLMAN

IRIS bargain" John promised
"Well drive Louise home, and then III
take you back to Luigi's. We haven't |
been out together for some time, have
we?'
She looked up at him with little
grimace and patted his hand.
"You have neglected me- she said
IT think all these fine ladies have
turned your head"
She drew q little closer to him and
passed her arm through his. John
made no responsive movement. lie 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,
verltable 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 an-
dience the reflection of her genius lie
had often watched those long lines Of
faces changing, each in its own way
under the magic of her art. Tonight
l. h.,uAn1 Ia
that his search had 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 patrl-
archal, forbldding and disappearing
spirit sitting in judgment upon some
modern and unworthy wantonness. His
face, stern and grave, showed little
sign OF approval or disapproyal, but to
Johns experimenting 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 ineyita-
bic 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
motonless and silent. He was one of
the last to leave, and John watched his
retreating figure with sigh. Sophy
drew him away.
"We had better hurry round she
said. Louise is always very quick get
ting ready"
They found her, as matter of fact,
in the net Of leaving. She welcomed
them naturally enough, but John
fancied that her greeting showed some
signs Of embarrassment.
you knew that ! was going out to
supper tonight?' she asked "Oh didn't
| tell you? The prince has asked the
French people from His Majesty's 70
meet NJ. Graillot at supper. | am hur-
ryIug home TO dress"
John handed her into her waiting
automobile in silence. She glanced
into his face.
rs anything the matter?" she asked.
Nothing"
1.-THE prince would have asked you,
without 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
word of English. Au revoir Sophy
take care of him, and mind you behave
yourselves! :"
She waved her hand to them both
and threw herself back among the
cushions as the car glided off John
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. | don't want to take
you out to supper tonight. am not in
the humor for IT,"
"Don't be foolish" she replied. IF
you stay alone, you viii 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"
"No!" he decided almost roughly. y
an losing myself, Sophy. 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 or
want to be alone"
She drew little closer to him.
Let me come, please !" she begged
with pathetic, almost childlike Quivel
at the corner OF her lips.
He looked down at her. A sudder
wave of tenderness swept every othe
thought from his mind. His menta
balance seemed suddenly restored, HI
hailed a passing taxi and handed Soph,
into 1t.
"What selfish pig I amw he OK
claimed. anyhow, it's all over now
Wen go back to Luigi's to supper b.
all means. l am going to make yo
tell me all about that young man fror
BATH"
CHAPTER XVII.