The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-02-03
A Mask
By LESLIE DAVIS :
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iously II keep thinking every min
ute that they will come. and do dis
like to begin without them"
The ladies' FASTENED to reassure her.
They were not at all uncomfortable.
they declared: wait, by all means
Most of the gentler'ien said nothing;
they could not see why 30 persons
should be half-starved because The
Genius chose to be late.
"Oh. time means nothing whatever
to him. one of the Indies volun-
teered.
Il am glad my Alec never attempts
to write anything-but checks"
laughed vivacious little woman in
sparkling jet 81 should certainly pine
away and die If had TO he responsible
for such a creature"
"Is he really so dreadful?" asked
lady rear her. 1--WE never met him.
thought the stories might have been
exaggerated"
MY dear, nothing has been exagger-
ated." Mrs. Willoughby shook her
head in despair.
You can't depend upon thing that
he will do-unless 1t is to wear a blue
necktie! But just then she was in
terrupted by the arrival of The Genius
and his wife.
The wife hurried to Mrs. willough-
by, all apologies.
"Oh, 1 know we have kept you wait
ing!" she exclaimed. I've been so
anxious about it. We started in plenty
of time. really we did, but my husband
noticed boy on the street whose face
interested him so much that he insist
ed upon following with the carriage.
We are going to dine now, Paul." she
said, and The Genius meekly allowed
Mrs. Willoughby to lead him away.
IN the dInlng-room, the guest who
had inquired about the peculiarities of
The Genius was delighted to find her.
self at his right hand. Then the flow
ing tie caught her attention. SIS
blue your favorIte color?" she In
quired sweetly.
The Genius started out of reverie.
"Oh. the blue! Do you not recog-
nize its meaning? 1t is a token, SYM
boil the badge of ones partial divIn-
ity. you know"
The lady did not know, but she
nodded encouragingly.
After dinner the hour arrived to
which all had been looking forward.
The Genius was to recfte some Of his
poetry.
The poet made no attempt at ex.
treme elocution; he simply stood be.
fore them and poured out his soul Ia
verse.
II believe It is the personality Of
the man." gasped little woman In
yellow crepe, as she dashed the drops
from her eyes; II read that poem only
last week and never shed tear, and
here am crying like baby"
II know It is." answered her friend.
The voice ceased, and after one
breathIess second reclamation broke
out. but with a smile at the eager
faces before him The Genius nodded
to HIS wife. and they slipped away.
Once I'm the carriage. The Genius
sank back as though exhausted. He
reached for his wife's hand and held
1t during the drive across the city.
When the house was reached they
quietly let themselves in and stole up
stairs to the room where their little
daughter lay. Then each dropped a
kiss upon the drowsy baby and they
tptoed AWAY to their own room.
The Genius was already pulling at
the blue tie and shaking Off his coat
In anticipation of restful hour be-
fore the fire.
do the chains gan tonight, Paulr
his wife asked.
''IntolerablyT Sometimes It seems
as though could not go on with It
any longer. Bessie. II anything could
reconcile me to the loss Of our dear
boy. It would be the thought that he
never had to know"
Il can understand that she an
swered gently. But. Paul, don't take
II SO desperately, nor blame yourself
so. You know how hard 1t was to
live; we can neither of us forget the
struggle. We did our best to keep
afioat, but no one valued your work
enough to make 1t support u.s."
There Is that side Of It," answered
The Genius thoughtfully. Bessie, you
know that Tritons' March to the Sea
Kings Grave that they raved over
tonight and always applaud SO Wig
orously. Well, It was published six
years ago In The Northern Eight, and
no one took the slightest notice of It,"
Il dare say; II is a beautiful thing,
though, and they ought to applaud 1T.
oh. Paul. your work is splendid. and
I'm so proud of you'll"
And every business man has to
advertise, you know" she added cheer
fully.
81 suppose So" said The Genius,
land 1t can't last forever, anyway.
A little more patience and think we
will be out of the woods.
"And live in our air-castle." added
his wife.