The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-08-07
Dragons Drive You

through tluell0 anu the ~ MluUr sym
phony, she could regain him-Tricie
sat back In his chair. Finally she
gathered up his checks and replaced
them in the envelope which she had
slit. She took his pen and wrote on
a sheet Of his personal paper:
Il opened this"
She did not sign her name; she
could not. He would know her writ
ing, Of course; and he knew that she
was here. So she left the notation In
the envelope and escaped from his Of
fee before he returned.
One more mad thing-the maddest
Of all-she did She left on his desk
beside the envelope a ticket, for the
seat beside hers, at the Orchestra.
Beatrice had no lunch that day. She
went to the women's room at Marshall
Fields and lay down. At last she
went to Orchestra Hall and took her
seat.
Never, never before had Stock SO
conducted and the orchestra so played
the Fidelio and the d Minor Sym
phony. Bob did not come.
He, of course, received from Miss
oliver a report of Beatrice's visit and
departure; and he discovered her note
in his checks next the four to Cash
which his wife had assembled and left
together. But this did not tell him
how much more Beatrice knew; and
1t left him wholly in the dark as to
what she meant to do about 1t.
So far, she had asked him directly
nothing, for fear of the answer; for
fear, he was aware, of forcing an open
break between them. Now what would
she do?
The concert ticket gave him an aw.
full moment with it's power to recall
the past. He had to tear 1t up and
toss it out of sight.
He could keep away from the con
cert; but then came the hour when
he must go home and face her.
But she said nothing when she met
him, and they went to their separate
bedrooms at night without her having
referred to her visit at his office.
In the morning. after he had bathed
and shaved and was nearly dressed
he went into his wife's room. She
had been awake and she sat up in bed
without welcome and without surprise
II was thinking about us, Bob" she
said, supporting herself on her hands
Her hair was braided, as she had
slept, and drawn back from her fore
head. Its severity brought out the
clear, even outlines that gave her face
character.
"She's in New York, isn't she, Bob
She stays in New York;"
"She?" he repeated, but instantly
decided not to evade. Eyes; she stays
in New York" -
"You-you haven't brought her here
yet? You've never-seen her in Chi
cago."
mo-" he said. "Never-where yor
were."
"That's something, Bob. Not much
but something"
"Tricie, you don't understand this
You"
Don't, Bob. Yesterday"-sht
had to tell 1t to him-"Stock played
the Fidelio and Cesar Franck." Sht
shut her eyes and hummed the note!
of the solemn, exalted music. "Ht
came to that part-our part, Bob-tht
part that binds souls together forever
no matter what may happen to theil
bodies"
With her eyes closed. she saw her
self and him not middle aged bu
young together, and in awe before the
wonder of their first child within heI
body.
Oh, the notes had meant them II
their moments Of exaltatiOn thi!
theme of defiance of fear. 1t brough
back that night when her "pains" be
gan, and he was frightened that per
haps she might die and leave him
But she could never. never leave him
Cesar Franck by his music declared Il
impossible!
Bob Gleneith's wife, middle agei
and in bed before him, opened hel
eyes, which had wrinkles around them
at helped me again yesterday, Bob
she said. 1T made me know Tn
bound to you. whatever you do. Casl
| isn't"
"Cash?"
"Cash. You know whom I mean
| Cash."
"Yes," he said
"I'll never ask her name, Bob; OF
anything about her. If you wanted tt
tell me, I'd ask you not It's mucl
the best as it is. I can think of hel
now simply as Cash. I can see hel
| just as Cash. That's by all mean.
easiest for me. So never tell or ex
plain a thing about her. Bob. That's
not too much to ask of you, is 1t
Leave her, between you and me. JUS
Cash"
This had occurred more than a weel
ago; the emotionalism of its momen
long ago had loosed its hold upon him
only to trouble him occasionally since
He could not permit himself to live
in the past, on the relics Of lost ex
| altations. He felt too much life ahea(