The Street of Seven Stars

again the moment it was over. He had lectures in the evenings, too, and although he lingered for an hour or so after su

f language, trying to explain to the little Bulgarian the reason American women wished to

er solid tread. The two men were not congenial, and the frequent intervals without speech between them were rather for lack of un

all r

ou to ask you to suppe

s it matter

ay. We're heari

riday,

m, but Stewart in his after-d

ore about our conversat

was

him playfull

of your assistance if you go on living the way you have been. I was at Schwarz's. It is the double drain there that t

ou

's off season and we're going to Semmering for the winter sports. We're ahead enough to take a holiday. And

ealized that the offer tempted him. To his

e said. "I

rather offended. "I can't do

sidewalks were slimy; wagons slid in the ooze of the streets; and the smoke from the little stoves in the street-cars followed them in depressing h

ed there came before him a vision of the little flat on the Hochgasse, with the lamp on the table, and the general air of warmth and cheer, and a figure presi

nce or, what was worse, an interest that frightened her. Like a bird in a cage she beat helplessly a

, recklessly. She played marvelously those days, crying out through her violin the despair she had sealed her lips against. On Thursday, playing for

amed of her. He was very fat, the little Georgiev, very swarthy, very pathetic. The Balkan kettle was simmering in those days, and he had been set to watch the fire. But instead he had kindled a flame of his own, and was feeding it with stray words, odd glances, a bit of music, the curve of a woman's hair behind h

rs of work, so many lessons at fifty Kronen, so many afternoons searching fo

t it best to go with her. The first interview, under Peter's grim eyes, was a failure. The shopkeeper was obviously suspicious of Peter. After that, whenev

r in time to hear enough. He had lifted the proprietor bodily and flung him with a crash into a glass showcase of ornaments for the hair. Then, entirely c

till not in love with the girl. He analyzed his own feeling very carefully, and that was

y. The little flat was cozy and bright. Marie, having straightened her kitchen, brought in a waist she was making and sat se

eir talk as she sewed, finding here and there a comprehensive bit. At those times she sat, needle p

the stone pitcher and knew she was on her way for the evening bee

" he finished. "It ought to be easy enough

n the coffee-house; but she'

of the diffi

reflected. "No fr

ree girls at first.

he teach

uld th

lessons? There's usually some sort of infant prodigy re

could put a card up in the club rooms. Damn it all!" cried Pete

gold you could hardly of

n the beer and was carefully filling the mugs. "Why do you not marry her?" she asked unexpectedly. "Then y

r up and carry her to church! The trifling fact that she

ed Marie. "Are you so certain, stupid

urdly modest, almost humble. It had never occurred to him that women might care for him for himself. In his strug

ing troubled him. He dreaded to disturb the delicate adjustment of their relationship; the terra incognita of a young girl's mind daunted him. There was another consideration which he put resolutely in the back of his min

, making each corner a fortress defended by the elements, a battlement to be seized, lost, seiz

fingers fumbled the key and he swore under his breath. He slammed the door behind him. Peter always slammed doors, and had an apologetic way of opening the door again and closing it gently, as if to show that he could. Harmony's room was dark, but he had surprised he

ver his hair, and he straightened his tie. These preliminaries to

ference to Harmony a thimble. Her flat breast was stuck with pins, and

ried. "Come in

gasp, and flung round her shoulders the m

" she said. "I

ll that any sort of clothing can do. Don't mind h

e red light from the little open door of the stove; Harmony in blue and pink and a bit of white petticoat;

"You fill the room so. Bless

on the eve of proposing marriage to a pink and blue an

ls's door," he said.

of course,

ates s

ural

it is hardly pension etiquette for you to g

led above t

all it throu

rdl

ising. "I'll go over, of course,

he knob, however,

her not." She turned to Peter. "You can say it before

ridiculous for the seco

earn to use the stove, unless, of course, you don't like housekeeping-and fo

Dr. Gates's quizzical glance fixed

r troubles anyhow." He was talking for time now, against Harmony's incredulous face. "You'd be taking on ot

rather shocked instant Dr. Gates joined her. It was real mirth with Harmony, the

He grinned sheepishly and made a las

of course. But we are such a pair of waifs, and I thought we

d E

o Emma. I m

sobered

was the first time she had called him Peter. "You know how things are with me and you want

n, the tears beat the laughter to the surface an

self, sat back and surveyed them

a dozen years. Any man can saddle himself with a wife; not every man can be what you may be if you keep your senses and stay singl

ntend to do it," rep

at I say. Matrimonially speaking, each of you is fatal to the other. Now

h the cold tiled stove and the bed that was as comfortable as a washtub. Undeniably h

not in love with her.

ng, had managed to warm the cold concavity of his b

ter, still com

Dr. G

'xcuse me," mumbled P

et

d and indignant consciou

el

door jus

e. An icy blast from the open window blew round him, setting everything movable in the little room to qui

hard knot, and hung in an equally uncompromising six-inch plait down her back.

's got into me, but I've forgotten for three day

at S

d for it and to-day he fretted a l

Peter contritely. "Overdue,

here I can get it in the m

envel

take my candle. I

otivkirche and echoed from the Stephansplatz across the city. It found Peter with the wind

fty pounds, Peter being strong on imagination and short on facts as regards the Alpine chamois. Then, trying to read the letter from a small boy's point of view and deciding that it lacked sna

oy-an envelope that stamped the whole episode as authentic, bearing as it did

ter put out the candle an

d in the general hospital, found a small boy very much awake on his pi

wake, when the Herr Doktor orders

German with a str

Elisabet said that in the mountains th

a certainty. The post has been delayed with great snows. Thy father h

ois have

eat hor

to me! And there

sleep, or-t