New Britain herald., 1926-12-17


 Spartan maidens of old. The next to the last evening be- fore Jim was to go away found him and Rusty and Betty in the Elwell parlor. Jim was stretched out in his customary pose on the sofa. But Rusty and Betty, both dressed alike in lavender colored frocks, occupied a big leather chair, Betty half hid den in it's depths and Rusty sitting on it cushioned arm. IL was reminiscent Of that other evening in June. just short year ago, when Jim had come In with the i lreefsteak dressing on his eye and had demanded music to ease his euf- ferines.
 This was the setting tonight when Prof and Mollie Elwell entered the room as the darkening shadows were falling. But gone was all the happy, joyous spirit of that other June evening. The hearts that then beat in the peaceful breasts Of that little assen,blage now were gripped with foreboding. In truth. from ap- pearances, it might have been the night after a funeral in the house. It was Rusty who broke the pail Of silence with a low-spoken requst. "Oh. sister" she began, with little catch In her voice that was half q sob, "get your harp. will you, dear, and sing When Other Tongues and Other Hearts, My heart Is going to break anyhow. and 1t might as well break tonight
 Ordinarily optimistic people, it has been said, can on occasion get a sort of morbid enjoyment out 0, the most dolorous prospect. Perhaps Rusty was o, that nature. And that. perhaps. was the reason why Prof Elwell brought Betty's harp from it's place in the corner and stood it up in front of her. Probably. like Rusty, he felt that they might as well get the agony over with. Mollie Eweil, In a darkened cor I ner os the room, was silent, and Jim on his couch vas In an agony of spirit.
 Elizabeth Elwell began 70 play. Softly. like the breathing tones of fairy music. the low notes of the It. tie prelude to the old song fell on their ears. Then:
 When other tongues and other hearts
 Their tales Of love shall tell. In language whose excess i!nparts The power they feel SO well;
 There may, perhaps, in such a
 scene,
 Some recollection be Of days that have as happy been,
 Then you'll remember me, you'll remember, remember me-
 A sweet contralto voice died away | in a low candence of drifting melody. Silence fell on the little ! group. =. . Then suddenly from one Of the shadowy forms In laven- der came stifled. tearing sob.
 
 and left the room, He walked blind ly. feeling his way along out through ] the kitchen. At the door he paused and lifted his eyes toward the sky
 Cod" he said softly and then he walked 10 the woodshed, where he dropped down in a chair In dark corner and cupped his chin in his [ hands.
 He sat there for some minutes staring at the shadowed floor. Then the sound Of footstep fell on his car.
 IL failed to stir him at first, but another sound brought him 10 his feet. He looked up just in time tc catch fleeting glimpse of laven- ] der-colored dress where the moon beams. touched 1t as it crossed the yard. A moment passed, in which he stood thinking somberly; then he stepped across 10 the doorway.
 From under the trees in the back yard came the sound of sobbing. Jim Eiweli slipped quietly out and across the lawn, pausing under the shade I of the naples.
 Why. he thought reheliously. did this have 10 happen? Why couldn't he, like his friend, Dick Garfield. b. alone with no one to care too much : If he never came back? Why?
 The form Of a girl became visible 10 his eye. Her head was buried ir the hollow of her arms as they rest, half crying as he moved softly ur { haf crying as he moved softly UT behind her and placed his hands or her shoulders.
 Then she turned around, but her 1 face was hidden from the moon by 1 the shadow of the great tree. | Don't cry. little pal" he said to | her, his own voice husky: it'll probably come out all right In the wash, you know
 No words came from her for a | short space, as she stood there lean ing against him, her body shaking violently. Then, "Oh, Jim," came