ANTICIPATION AND REALISATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 10

ANTICIPATION AND REALISATION

Ho hadn’t said he was coming, hut for a week she had been expecting him <.u that Tuesday night. Dressed in a pretty black lace gown, with red rose at her taroat, she stood looking into the glass. The colour in her cheeks and the brightness of her eyes assured her that as far as looks were concerned sire would do. But, tossing her head, she declared to herself that she Had not messed for him. Sho wont downstairs and'into the double doorway lending into the parlour. Thu room was’empty, apd it looked as if a(ro would have to receive hjm alone, for a second she didn’t know whether she wi; glad or sorry. On the whole, she rather wished Alice pad remained at home instead of strolling away with Mabel. Alice wohld have stayed in a minute if sho nad known that John Pointer was to call vhat evening.

But the absurdity of it all. It bad been ages since he had even hinted that be was going to call, much less on that Particular evening. Bh.e walked up to die window aud looked scrutimsingly up and down tlie- moonlit walk. Only tall, bare elms gad a sapwy glistening smoothness met her gaze. Turning her hack to the window anl glancing around the room critically, she noticed that the cut glass vase on -he manrei stood a iittie too near the wall. She walked across the room and placed it iu a better position. Then, after surveying the room again, stie changed the position of several chairs, placing (he largo leather chair just whore she would, like to have him siti Then the utter! senselessness of her manoeiues struck her with consternation.

Sitting down hy the table she took up a volume of Browning, determined, to concentrate her thoughts on it. Sne had not read three lines, however, before she began to wonder, what she would like him to find her doing. Through the lace curtained window in the wall-lighted window he would certainly see her before, she ~aw him. Wondering it she would make discords before she heard his tpotetepa. the, half arose from her chair. Then, oeclar-' iag that she wfcn’t going to play just to be showing off to him. she leaned oaek iu her chair and read three mure lines of Browning.

Next, she decided she would have played anyway, if it hadn’t occurred to tier that he was going to call. So she walked to the piaup and began turning the leaves of her music. But what would she lit© him to find her playing? Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” seemed in keeping with- his personality. But was she actually going crazy? To prove that she was not she'eat down to the piano and struck up a two. step. In some way the two-step jarred upon her ears, and without finishing it she reverted to ths sonata..

For several minutes she actually lost herself in its melodies. Then she stopped suddenly and listened. Her heart peat violently, for footsteps were* sounding on the walk. She turned tho leaves of her music nervously, but upon she heard Alice’s voice, So it wasn’t he, after all. Continuing playing she beard Alice and Mabel enter the room.

Tor twenty minutes more she pounded away at the piano. A}l the while t)m chatter of tho two girls*caine as an am pleasant distraction. She wished after all that she might receive him alone. Finally she walked across tha rump to the window again, but again only .all bare trees and level whiteness met an* convinced at last of her delusion she determined to take complete possession of her senses for the rest of the eveniue at least. She walked carefullv about the rami and put everything she came ra contact with out of order —the-chairs in awkward positions, the music iu. a neap on the piano and the cut glass vase .absurdly behind a bust of Mohart. As a last effort she tipped over a pile of booas on th? table. "Good-night.” she said to the girls, and went flying up to her room. Once there she snatched the rose from her throat and threw it into the waste paher basket. Sh® nest pulled off aer pretty lace evening dress and donued a blue ten gown. Thus arrayed and with Browning in her hand she began to read in earnest. ~ Fivo minutes later she heard the door bell ring. Two minutes after that tho maid entered and placed a card in her band. It bore the name of John Pelmcr,