The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-10
The Lighted
Candle
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

world by candlelight She was so con-
fident of the influence of this soft light
on her disposition that she felt sure
1t was not merely an lnordinate 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 a poem-not
wonderful. to be sure-or she could
ci cate a salad out of her own re
sourcefuiness that would be q vert
table picture to look upon and equally
tasty and digestibie at the same time.
she could sing and play with under
standing skill one OF Brahms most
s. bile 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-
,ses.
Therefore 1t was not strange that
with this many sided nature she had
e. und 1t difficult to center her affec-
tions ON q single sort Of man with
hom to travel through life. Yet she
sne would marry. Rot vhomf
All sorts, Of men liked her-artists.
musicians. brokers. bankers. floor
walkera trdesmen. fathers friends
aid brothers friends alike. She had
no difficulty finding companIonshlp.
because within herssaf there was al,
ways the respouse that q quality In
another temperament called forth.
She had Just been reading little
,lume with wisimsicai painted bind
go ship sailing on vague blue
q with ayaGuer. blue, sky beyond.
Where the Blue .Begina." was the
,tle. and the text was ss fantastic.
capriclous as even Isabei's most Im-
acticaI moments could lead her to
sire. -afuHa.i f- rt.4.1i ft,s- .,'-r,IlI d..
II wonder where II does begin 7" she
'ked herself AS she closed the little
lume. II wonder"
It was twilight, and the sky outside
sr window was Just bidding a reIuc-
Mt goodby to the warm aftergiow OF
re sun. The shadows were falling
abel lighted candle on her table
hen she arose and lighted a pair on
e mantelpiece and sconce holding
rec candles on the wall
She was waiting for a man whom
ie had found very companionable
ID interesting. They had danced to-
'ther; dined together. He had
aged tennis with her and he had
ken her for long drives in his road
er. He WIS doing well enough In his
lsiness and he was older than Isabel.
81 seem to miss something in him."
'e was thinking as she sat there in
yellow glow. 81 suppose shall
ways miss something in everyone"
Footsteps on the porch brought her
ok. She went to the door to greet
It the man she had been thinking of
1t another
why. Bruce benjamin, didn't
now you we're even on this side of
e Atlantic she cried, giving him
th her hands impulsively and drag
ng him into the room.
81 haven't been-long," said the
an. Arrived last night and am of
;ain the end Of the week"
They had not seen each other for
onths and their last meeting had
zen anything hut CHEEKY moment.
Dmethng In the environment or the
ars had led them that night into
influential channels and the man
lthout forethought. apparently had
Id Isabel all sorts of things that
,ither one of them really believed.
hey had been n bit ashamed Of II
terward and he had sailed away on
reign business without seeing her
ralu.
Seated In the candlelight, both the
an and the girl recalled vividly their
st meeting and there was a moment
embarrassment which each one Of
lem promptly dispeiled But during
iat one brief lapse II had occurred
them that something impercelvable
both had placed them together
gain aInost AZ soon as they were In
he same country.
Before they had time for getting &C
uainted again the other man arrived
nd made II trio. with all the three
,rnered necessities OF conversation.
he WAS not unaware Of the undertow
romance that seemed to be drag
'ng her out OF the prosaic conven-
onsl atmosphere Of the room. but she
,ncealed Il with dexterity, and nei-
Ter of the men felt uncomfortable.
1t must have been another pre-
rranged move on the program of
sstiny that made II necessary for
ohm Hamilton to leave 30 early. He
,emed genuinely to dislike leaving.
ie seemed to have q bona-fi engage
,ent thst called him. II was not be-
1use he felt himself a third
Alone, Isabel and Bruce Benjamin
'rsed Into an awkward silence for
oment.
"NIce feIiow-John." The man felt
lat he should say something.
"Ons OF the, hnest." countered Isa-
el quickly.
Further silence. Isabel studied the