The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-24
CHAPTER NO. ~.
NaaHaFt

NAlEAA Ell Nv -
Neanerl
So the day dragged through. Freddie
did not know it, but curing those hours
his emotions toward Estrelda resembled
those of THE Ancient Mariner toward
the tabled white Albatross." He knew
he had loved her the night before. He
could recall waves Of emotion that had
carried him on their crest TO his pro-
posal Of marriage. He knew, subcon-
sciously, that that same emotion would
at high noon, with a luncheon OF cold
roast beef and potatoes fried with
onions. set before them, he could not
for the life Of him feel-anything. He
simply feft-nothing. II he wanted any
thing at all it was 10 go back to his
hotel and take a nap.
And this irritated him; his numb
ness Of his, He was young enough to
expect the day to be as brimful OF
omanc as a cup may be filled with
sparkling water. When ne could look
at Estrelda and feel 30 thrill, he tried
to harass himself into loving her. In
with each passing hour,
they grew more tired OF each other.
And this Vas true because, had they
not been strangely attracted to n an
other, they never would have been
friends. There was no subject between
them that was a common meeting
ground. Forever their only mutual Lam
guage would have to be the language Of
kisses. When these palled there could
be ~only-silence; pitiful, aching, lonely
silence.
1t was Estrelda who at last had the
good sense practically to command
Freddie to leave her.
"Papa'll be coming home soon to din
ner," she said. 81 don't want him to
see you yet. He's nobody's fool, is
papa, He'd know something was up:
You go eat your dinner at the hotel
and-and call round afterward. Maybe
you'd like to take me for another
driven
Freddie went with a sense Of infinite
relief, He had shis nap and after 1t a
cold tub. Then he had a peaceful dim
ner and finally felt quite like himself
again. He walked to the livery stable,
chatted comfortably for a while with
the man who ran it; hired aInice little
horse and a nice little two-seated
wagon, and presently drove around
smartly TO the Smithers' garden gate.
Estrelda was waiting for him. She had
fitted down the shadowy path to him
and was beside him before he had a
chance to get out and help her.
'This-fs more like it!' said she,
settling her %ruffles. She gave him a
swift, challenging look. He thrilled to
it and leaned toward her quickly.
"Not-here in town." she warned.
"Wait-wait till we get out into the
country
They laughed happily; excitement
running through the timbre Of their
voices. They were glad, glad to be
shaken onee more with emotion as
they had been the evening before. All
the long day they had missed this
derful e~xhilaration. They had dropped it,
fearing ~inarticulately that it might be
gone from them forever. Now, with
the moon just %silvering the treetops as
1t rose, the world once more was be-
coming their world-all theirs. They
were too young to now that Love, the
great ~dramatist, demands the stage all
set before he will ring up the curtain
on the play.
Freddie urged the horse swiftly out
on the country roads away from the
houses. At last they left some twink
ling lights and "a front yard where a
little dog barked at them, far behind
them. The horse slowed down to a
peaceful walk. He was used to these
expeditions. He knew Just what to do.
Now and then the metal Of his shoe
would strike through the dust of the
road to a stone and clink sharply
against It. Freddie let the reins fall
lax. And
"Oh," said Estrelda. IAN awful bug!
OH" 1t was a poor little moth, bewil-
dered by the light they carried. that
had fumbled against Estrelda's bodice
and now chung there. Freddie was too
happy to harm it; to harm anything.
He detached 1t ever so gently and, with