Tombstone epitaph., 1918-02-17

How nice OF you TO come ana see,
your poor, lonely brotheri" she said
I'VE have done our best 70 spoil him.
but I'm afraid he Ii very homesick
sometimes. hope you've come to stay
a long time and to learn all about Lon
don. as John Is doing. II you are half
as nice as he is. wen give you such q
good timer
From his great height Stephen
looked down upon the girls upturned
face q little austerely. She Chartered
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 l
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 message from Louise"
"About tonightr
She nodded.
Louise is most frightfully sorry"
she explained. but she has to go down
to Streatham to open a bazaar, and she
can't possibly be back in time to dine
before the theater. Can you guess what
she dared to suggestf"
1T think I can" John replied. smiling.
"Say you will. there's q dear" she
begged. II am not playing tonight.
May Enser Is going on in my place. We
arranged II q week ago. / had two
fines to pay on Saturday. and I haven't
had a decent meal this week. But I
had forgotten" she broke on. with a
sudden note Of disappointment in her
tone. There's your brother. I mustn't
take you away from him."
"weT all have dinner together"
John suggested. you'll come. Of
course, Stephen
Stephen shook his head.
Thank you" he said. II 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 r
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. I'VE can go to
grillroom. John sha'n't dress. either.
want you to tell me all about Cum
berland. where this brother Of yours
lives. He doesn't tell us half enough y
John passed his arm through his
brothers and led him away.
"Come and have q wash, old chap.
he said.
They dined together at Luigfs, a
curiously assorted trio-Sophy. be-
tween the two men, supplying a dis
tinctiy 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 simny, 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 a certain feeling Of curl
oslty, which in a sense Sophy shared.
"Your brother seems to me like q
man with q purpose" she said. as they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
ont Of the restaurant. Like a 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 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 of down the Strand. John, look.
ing after him, frowned. He was con.
sci0us Of q certain foreboding.
Il suppose" Sophy sighed. as they
waited for q taxicab. I'VE shall spend
the remainder Of the evening In the
usual fashion,
do you mindT John asked.
"No," she assented resignedly. THAT
play will end by making a driving
idiot Of me. II Louise Is tired tonight
though, warn you that shall insist
upon supper"
Its a bargain" John promised
"weIl drive Louise home, and then III
take you back to Luigi's. We haven't
been out together for some time, have
WEI"
She looked uf ct 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 a 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 a1ectionate ges
ture gave him.
The curtain was up and the play In
progress when they reached the boa
that John had taken for the season.
The spell Of II all. against which h<
had % often fought, came over JohE
anew. He set his chair back against
the wall and watched and listened, q
veritable sense Of hypnotism creeping
over his senses. Presently the SANE
impulse which had come to him d
many times before induced him to turI
his head, to read In the faces Of the au
dience the reelection Of her genius. HI
had eften watched those long lines d
faces changing. each In its own way
under the magic Of her art. Tooighl
he looked beyond. He knew vefy vel