The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-18


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, Wen give you such
good timer
From his great height, Stephen
looked down upon the girls upturned
face little austerely. She chartered
away, entirely unabashed.
II do hope you're not shocked at my |
bursting in upon your brother like
thisl 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 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?"
ST think cam" John replied, smiling.
"Say you will, there's dear" she
begged. Il am not playing tonight.
May Enser is going on in my place. We
arranged it week ago. l had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and haven't
had decent meal this week. But
had forgotten" she broke off, with
sudden note of disappointment in her
tone. "There's your brother. l mustn't
take you away from him."
"We1l all have dinner together"
John suggested. you'll come, of
course, StephenT
Stephen shook his head.
''Thank you," he said, 81 am due at
my hotel. I'm going back to Cumber-
land tomorrow moraing, and my errand
is already DONE"
"You will do nothing of the sort J"
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. 1--WE can go to
a 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 !"
John passed his arm through his
brothers and led him away.
"Come and have wash, old chap"
he said.
They dined together at Luigi's, a
curiously assorted trio-Sophy, be-
tween the two men, supplying 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 a certain feeling of Curl
osity, which in a sense Sophy shared.
'Your brother seems to me like a
man with a purpose" she said, as they
stood in the entrance hall on their way
out of the restaurant. Like prophet
with mission, perhaps / should say"
John nodded. In the little passage
where they stood, he and Stephen
seemed to dwarf the passers-hy. 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 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.
81 suppose" Sophy sighed, as they
waited for taxicab, 1--WE shall spenC
the remainder of the evening in the
usual fashion,
do you mind?" John asked.
mo" she assented resignedly. "Tha
play will end by making drivin:
idiot of me- If Louise is tired tonight
though, 1 warn you that I shall insls
upon supper"
Its a bargain" John promised
''We1l drive Louise home, and then II
] take you back to Luigis. We haven
been out together for some time, hav
we?"
She looked up at him with littl
grimace and patted his hand.
"You have neglected me-" she said
81 think all these fine ladies hav
| turned your head"
| She drew a little closer to him an,
passed her arm through his. Johl
made no responsive movement. He wa
! filled with resentment at the sensation
of pleasure that her affectionate ges
Il ture gave him.
/ The curtain was up and the play Il
i progress when they reached the bo
II that John had taken for the season.
4 The spell of it all, against which h
had so often fought, came over job
anew. He set his chair back agains
4 tba wall ord ruo +ohad and icfa