The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-06-03

Today, I'm fact, Is the anniversary
the second Of March. Three years
ago today | found this"-from under
his cum he slipped a dainty handker.
chief Of exquisite lace and dropped II
In her lap. II loved It's owner then
love her now. ! have always loved
her. / always shall love her. Every
thing | have l owe 70 her
She picked up the bit Of lace, bent
her eyes on IT, The warm color had
crept from her cheeks, leaving them,
II he could have seen, as white as
her arms and shoulders-an exquisite,
fue-gralned white as pure and as
beautiful as the petals OF milk-whlte
rose.
The act was nearing It's close. The
ocean Of melody had touched high tide.
81 am waiting for my answer" he
whispered
She made no sign that she heard.
IF there's any hope, II I've a ghost
me again. You needn't speak. Only
smile"
Some friends Of Mrs. Otis, making
an entr'-acte call, had peeped In her
box to say "how'do," and Mrs. Ous,
dlmpling and gracious and stout (and
watching her daughter from the cor
ner Of one eye) stood gosslping with
them a few moments In the corridor
entrance.
AS the lights came on Kathleen had
leaned back In her chair, pressed her
lovely shoulders against the cushions
and breathed deeply. Now she very
deliberately walked to the seat her
mother had vacated, and, with her
back partly toward Fitzhugh, she en-
gagged herself In airy conversation
with Artie Sparkle and the third man
Of the party, a middle-aged bachelor
named Chlckering. Not once had she
glanced Fitzhugh's way. Not once did
she notice his existence.
There is one thing at which even
the most determined Of lovers will
stop, and that thing Is Indifference.
Indifference raises a wall there Is no
scaling.
Fool Fool that l was ever
to imagine she cared A girl
like her-what idiocy"
He determined that when the act
ended he would excuse himself on
some pretext and rush into the streets,
and walk and walk, as he had walked
on this same night three years ago.
He did not look very far beyond
that. Only he repeated to himself
that for him everything was over. All
his ambitions, all his dreams and aspl-
ratlons had gone for naught. He
thought of Esther.
But all at once he sat up very
straight, and his deep-brooding mel
ancholy slipped away from him. His
sinewy fingers spread, then clenched
qulckly-hls familiar battle sign. Was
he, Daniel Randolph Fitzhugh, to be
lashed into oblivion by a girls indlf-
ference?
He was not aware act three had
IiOStu ulllll Nllt iOdi VI 'Ilih-
apprised him of II. Automatically he
Joined in. AS the lights came on II
heard Artie's voice.
81 say, Miss Otis, won't you come
for stroll In the corridor? It's
frightfuly warm heah."
u really prefer staying here. thank
you, Mr.. Sparkle, but you CO."
When he knew Artle had gone Fitz-
hugh walked over to say goodby.
But as he drew near she rose hur-
riedly and FASTENED toward the cur
tains at the rear OF the box. leaving
him with her mother. who. with her
lorgnette 10 her eyes, was placidly
and studiOusly ignoring him. Kath-
leen vanished into the corridor, and,
turning, drew the curtains together SO
that her face and neck and shoulders
were framed In the aperture. And Tor
long moment her soft pansy eyes
gazed into his leaping black ones,
And the smile on her lips was heav-
enly. And the light In her eyes, afraid
yet glad. spoke with an eloquent
tongue.
Then the curtains fell together, and
he was alone with Mrs. Otis.