The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-14

voice a little broken. "You want me
reallyf l am to comeW
81 am sure" he answered steadfast.
ly. 81 shall expect you at eight
o'clock"
John went back to his rooms fighting
all the time against sense of unreal
ity, a sense almost of lost identity.
He bought an evening newspaper and
read it on the way. He talked to
the hall porter, he talked to a neigh
Dor with whom he assembled in the
lift-he did everything except think.
In his rooms he telephoned to the
restaurant for a waiter, and with the
menu in his hand, few minutes later,
| he ordered dinner. Then he glanced
at his watch-it was barely seven
o'clock. He went down to the barber
shop, was shaved and had his hair cut,
encouraging the barber all the while
to talk to him. He gave his hands
over to manicure, and did his best
to talk nonsense to her. Then he came
upstairs again, changed his clothes
with great care, and went into his
little sitting room.
1t was five minutes to eight, and
dinner had been laid at little round
table in the center of the room. There
was a bowl of pink roses-Sophy's ia
vorite fiower-sent in from the for
lists; the table was lighted by pink
shaded lamp. John went around the
room, turning out the other lights, I'M
til the apartment was hung with shad-
ows save for the little spot of color
in the middle. An unopened bottle of
champagne stood in an ice-pail, and
two specially prepared cocktails had
been placed upon the little side table.
There were no more preparations to be
made.
He turned impatiently away from
the window and glanced at the clock.
It was almost eight. He tried to imag-
inc that the bell was ringing, that So
ply was standing there on the thresh-
old in her simple but dainty evening
dress, with a little smile parting her
lips. The end of it ALL He pulled
down the blind. No more of the win
dow, no more looking out at the lights, |
no more living in the clouds! 1t was
time, indeed, that he lived as other |
men. He lifted one of the glasses to |
his lips and drained its contents.
Then the bell rang. He moved for
ward to answer it's summons with
beating heart. As he opened it, he re-
ceived a shock. A messenger boy stood
outside. He took the note which the
ooy handed him and tore it open under
4 lamp. There were only few lines:
John my heart is breaking, but I know
you do not mean what you said. I know
t was only moment of madness with
you. I know you will love Louise all your
ife, and will bless me all your life be-
,ause I am giving up the one thing which
.ould make my life paradise. I shall
,e in the train when you read this, on my
way to Bath. I have wired my young
nan, as you call him, to meet me. I am
,oing to ask him to marry me, If he will
text week.
ay think that life will right itself with
ou SOPHY.
The letter dropped upon the table.
ohm stood for moment dazed. Sud-
emily he began to laugh. Then he re- {
rendered the messenger boy, gave
i'm half crown, and closed the door. +
lie came back into the room and took ,
is place at the table. He looked at
ne empty chair by his side, looked at
be full glass on the sideboard. 1t >
eemed to him that he was past all
ensations. The waiter came in 81
sntly. =
"You can serve the dinner" John or
cred, shaking out his napkin. "Open :
lie champagne before you 60" :,
"You will be alone, sir?' the man :,
lquired. :,
81 shall be alone" John answered.