Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-12-07
The Lighted
Candle
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

90. 1898, by Mcclure Newspaper SyndicatS)
Isabel was Of the opinion that she
must have been ushered into this
world by candlellght. She was so con
fident of the influence Of this soft light
on her disposition that she felt sure
1t was not merely an inordinate fond
ness for the mellow glow but a trick
of the fate for which she had such
profound respect.
She was an unusual combination of
the practical and the artistic type Of
girl. She could create poem-not
wonderful, to be sure-or she could
create salad out of her own re
sourcefulness that would be veri
table picture to look upon and equally
tasty and digestlble at the same time.
She could sing and play with under
standing skill one Of Brahms most
subtle creations, and yet the same girl
could sit at the piano and teach with
patience and practical application her
sisters child to do her scales and exer-
cises.
Therefore it was not strange that
with this many sided nature she had
found 1t difficult to center her affec-
lions on a single sort Of man with
whom to travel through life. Yet she
knew she should marry. She knew
she would marry. But whomP
All sorts Of men liked her-artists,
musicians, brokers, bankers, floor
walkers, tradesmen, fathers friends
and brothers friends alike. She had
no difficulty finding companionshlp,
because within herself there was al
ways the response that quality In
another temperament called forth.
She had just been reading little
volume with whimsical painted bind
ing--a ship sailing on vague blue
sea with wagner blue sky beyond
"Where the Blue Begins" was the
title, and the text was as fantastic,
as capriclous as even Isabel's most i'm
practical moments could lead her to
desire
81 wonder where 1t does begln?" she
asked herself as she closed the little
volume 81 wonder"
her window was just bidding a reluc-
tant goodby TO the warm afterglOw of
the sun, The shadows we're falling
Isabel lighted a candle on her table.
Then she arose and lighted a pair on
the mantelplece and seonce holding
three candles on the wall
She was waiting for man whom
she had found very companlonable
and interesting They had danced to-
gether; dined together. He had
played tennis with her and he had
taken her for LONE drives IN his road
ster. He was doing well enough IN his
business and he was older than Isabel
81 seem to miss something In him."
she was thinking as she sat there in
the yellow glow. II suppose l shall
always miss something In everyone"
Footsteps on the porch brought her
back. She went to the door to greet
not the man she had been thinking of
but another
"Why, Bruce Benjamin I didn't
know you were even on this side Of
the Atlantic" she cried, giving him
both her hands impulsively and drag
ging him into the room.
81 haven't been--long," said the
man. arrived last night and am off
again the end of the week."
They had not seen each other for
months and their last meeting had
been anything but CHEEKY moment.
Something in the environment or the
stars had led them that night into
sentimental channels and the man
without forethought, apparently, had
told Isabel all sorts of things that
neither one Of them really believed.
They had been bit ashamed Of It
afterward and he had sailed away on
foreign business without seeing her
again.
Seated In the candlellght, both the
man and the girl recalled wildly their
last meeting and there was a moment
OF embarrassment which each one Of
them promptly dlspelled. But during
that one brief lapse II had occurred
to them that something lmpercelveble
TO both had placed them together
again almost as soon as they we're In
the same country.
Before they had time for getting ac-
qualnted again the other man arrived
and made It trio, with all the three
cornered necessities Of conversation
She was not unaware Of the undertow
Of romance that seemed to be drag
ging her out of the prosalc conven-
tional atmosphere Of the room, but she
concealed It with dexterlty and mel
ther Of the men felt uncomfortable,
It must have been another pre-
arranged move ON the program Of
destiny that made 1t necessary for
John Hamilton to leave so early. He
seemed genuinely to dislike leaving.
He seemed to have bona-fide engage
ment that called him. 1t was not be-
cause he felt himself third
Alone, Isabel and Bruce Benjamin
moment.
"Nlce fellow-John." The man felt
that he should say something
"One Of the finest" countered Isa-
bel quickly.
Further silence. Isabel studied the
Pickering candle on the table beside
her. The man watched her with eyes
that would have told any observer that
what he might have told her many
months ago had not been a mistake
but probably the most sincere, most
earnest speech of his life.
| Are you doing any sihglng--or
writing, IsabelT" he asked at last.
L 4 L l. 4