the titan-第38章

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By　degrees　the　〃Garrick　Players；〃　as　they　chose　to　call　themselves；　developed　no　little　skill　and　craftsmanship　in　presenting　one　form　and　another　of　classic　and　semi…classic　play。　　〃Romeo　and　Juliet；〃　with　few　properties　of　any　kind；　〃The　Learned　Ladies〃　of　Moliere；　Sheridan's　〃The　Rivals；〃　and　the　〃Elektra〃　of　Sophocles　were　all　given。　　Considerable　ability　of　one　kind　and　another　was　developed；　the　group　including　two　actresses　of　subsequent　repute　on　the　American　stage；　one　of　whom　was　Stephanie　Platow。　　There　were　some　ten　girls　and　women　among　the　active　members；　and　almost　as　many　mena　variety　of　characters　much　too　extended　to　discuss　here。　There　was　a　dramatic　critic　by　the　name　of　Gardner　Knowles；　a　young　man；　very　smug　and　handsome；　who　was　connected　with　the　Chicago　Press。　　Whipping　his　neatly　trousered　legs　with　his　bright　little　cane；　he　used　to　appear　at　the　rooms　of　the　players　at　the　Tuesday；　Thursday；　and　Saturday　teas　which　they　inaugurated；　and　discuss　the　merits　of　the　venture。　　Thus　the　Garrick　Players　were　gradually　introduced　into　the　newspapers。　　Lane　Cross；　the　smooth…faced；　pasty…souled　artist　who　had　charge；　was　a　rake　at　heart；　a　subtle　seducer　of　women；　who；　however；　escaped　detection　by　a　smooth；　conventional　bearing。　　He　was　interested　in　such　girls　as　Georgia　Timberlake；　Irma　Ottley；　a　rosy；　aggressive　maiden　who　essayed　comic　roles；　and　Stephanie　Platow。　　These；　with　another　girl；　Ethel　Tuckerman；　very　emotional　and　romantic；　who　could　dance　charmingly　and　sing；　made　up　a　group　of　friends　which　became　very　close。　Presently　intimacies　sprang　up；　only　in　this　realm；　instead　of　ending　in　marriage；　they　merely　resulted　in　sex　liberty。　　Thus　Ethel　Tuckerman　became　the　mistress　of　Lane　Cross；　an　illicit　attachment　grew　up　between　Irma　Ottley　and　a　young　society　idler　by　the　name　of　Bliss　Bridge；　and　Gardner　Knowles；　ardently　admiring　Stephanie　Platow　literally　seized　upon　her　one　afternoon　in　her　own　home；　when　he　went　ostensibly　to　interview　her；　and　overpersuaded　her。　　She　was　only　reasonably　fond　of　him；　not　in　love；　but；　being　generous；　nebulous；　passionate；　emotional；　inexperienced；　voiceless；　and　vainly　curious；　without　any　sense　of　the　meums　and　teums　that　govern　society　in　such　matters；　she　allowed　this　rather　brutal　thing　to　happen。　　She　was　not　a　cowardwas　too　nebulous　and　yet　forceful　to　be　such。　　Her　parents　never　knew。　　And　once　so　launched；　another　worldthat　of　sex　satisfactionbegan　to　dawn　on　her。

Were　these　young　people　evil？　Let　the　social　philosopher　answer。　　One　thing　is　certain：　They　did　not　establish　homes　and　raise　children。　　On　the　contrary；　they　led　a　gay；　butterfly　existence　for　nearly　two　years；　then　came　a　gift　in　the　lute。　　Quarrels　developed　over　parts；　respective　degrees　of　ability；　and　leadership。　Ethel　Tuckerman　fell　out　with　Lane　Cross；　because　she　discovered　him　making　love　to　Irma　Ottley。　　Irma　and　Bliss　Bridge　released　each　other；　the　latter　transferring　his　affections　to　Georgia　Timberlake。　　Stephanie　Platow；　by　far　the　most　individual　of　them　all；　developed　a　strange　inconsequence　as　to　her　deeds。　　It　was　when　she　was　drawing　near　the　age　of　twenty　that　the　affair　with　Gardner　Knowles　began。　　After　a　time　Lane　Cross；　with　his　somewhat　earnest　attempt　at　artistic　interpretation　and　his　superiority　in　the　matter　of　yearshe　was　forty；　and　young　Knowles　only　twenty…four　seemed　more　interesting　to　Stephanie；　and　he　was　quick　to　respond。　There　followed　an　idle；　passionate　union　with　this　man；　which　seemed　important；　but　was　not　so　at　all。　　And　then　it　was　that　Stephanie　began　dimly　to　perceive　that　it　was　on　and　on　that　the　blessings　lie；　that　somewhere　there　might　be　some　man　much　more　remarkable　than　either　of　these；　but　this　was　only　a　dream。　　She　thought　of　Cowperwood　at　times；　but　he　seemed　to　her　to　be　too　wrapped　up　in　grim　tremendous　things；　far　apart　from　this　romantic　world　of　amateur　dramatics　in　which　she　was　involved。




Chapter　XXV



Airs　from　the　Orient

Cowperwood　gained　his　first　real　impression　of　Stephanie　at　the　Garrick　Players；　where　he　went　with　Aileen　once　to　witness　a　performance　of　〃Elektra。〃　He　liked　Stephanie　particularly　in　this　part；　and　thought　her　beautiful。　　One　evening　not　long　afterward　he　noticed　her　in　his　own　home　looking　at　his　jades；　particularly　a　row　of　bracelets　and　ear…rings。　　He　liked　the　rhythmic　outline　of　her　body；　which　reminded　him　of　a　letter　S　in　motion。　　Quite　suddenly　it　came　over　him　that　she　was　a　remarkable　girlvery　destined；　perhaps；　to　some　significant　future。　　At　the　same　time　Stephanie　was　thinking　of　him。

〃Do　you　find　them　interesting？〃　he　asked；　stopping　beside　her。

〃I　think　they're　wonderful。　　Those　dark…greens；　and　that　pale；　fatty　white！　I　can　see　how　beautiful　they　would　be　in　a　Chinese　setting。　　I　have　always　wished　we　could　find　a　Chinese　or　Japanese　play　to　produce　sometime。〃

〃Yes；　with　your　black　hair　those　ear…rings　would　look　well；〃　said　Cowperwood。

He　had　never　deigned　to　comment　on　a　feature　of　hers　before。　　She　turned　her　dark；　brown…black　eyes　on　himvelvety　eyes　with　a　kind　of　black　glow　in　themand　now　he　noticed　how　truly　fine　they　were；　and　how　nice　were　her　handsbrown　almost　as　a　Malay's。

He　said　nothing　more；　but　the　next　day　an　unlabeled　box　was　delivered　to　Stephanie　at　her　home　containing　a　pair　of　jade　ear…rings；　a　bracelet；　and　a　brooch　with　Chinese　characters　intagliated。　　Stephanie　was　beside　herself　with　delight。　　She　gathered　them　up　in　her　hands　and　kissed　them；　fastening　the　ear…rings　in　her　ears　and　adjusting　the　bracelet　and　ring。　　Despite　her　experience　with　her　friends　and　relatives；　her　stage　associates；　and　her　paramours；　she　was　still　a　little　unschooled　in　the　world。　　Her　heart　was　essentially　poetic　and　innocent。　　No　one　had　ever　given　her　much　of　anythingnot　even　her　parents。　　Her　allowance　thus　far　in　life　had　been　a　pitiful　six　dollars　a　week　outside　of　her　clothing。　　As　she　surveyed　these　pretty　things　in　the　privacy　of　her　room　she　wondered　oddly　whether　Cowperwood　was　growing　to　like　her。　　Would　such　a　strong；　hard　business　man　be　interested　in　her？　She　had　heard　her　father　say　he　was　becoming　very　rich。　　Was　she　a　great　actress；　as　some　said　she　was；　and　would　strong；　able　types　of　men　like　Cowperwood　take　to　hereventually？　She　had　heard　of　Rachel；　of　Nell　Gwynne；　of　the　divine　Sarah　and　her　loves。　　She　took　the　precious　gifts　and　locked　them　in　a　black…iron　box　which　was　sacred　to　her　trinkets　and　her　secrets。

The　mere　acceptance　of　these　things　in　silence　was　sufficient　indication　to　Cowperwood　that　she　was　of　a　friendly　turn　of　mind。　He　waited　patiently　until　one　day　a　letter　came　to　his　officenot　his　houseaddressed；　〃Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；　Personal。〃　It　was　written　in　a　small；　neat；　careful　hand；　almost　printed。

I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you　for　your　wonderful　present。　　I　didn't　mean　you　should　give　them　to　me；　and　I　know　you　sent　them。　　I　shall　keep　them　with　pleasure　and　wear　them　with　delight。　　It　was　so　nice　of　you　to　do　this。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　STEPHANIE　PLATOW。

Cowperwood　studied　the　handwriting；　the　paper；　the　phraseology。　　For　a　girl　of　only　a　little　over　twenty　this　was　wise　and　reserved　and　tactful。　　She　might　have　written　to　him　at　his　residence。　　He　gave　her　the　benefit　of　a　week's　time；　and　then　found　her　in　his　own　home　one　Sunday　afternoon。　　Aileen　had　gone　calling；　and　Stephanie　was　pretending　to　await　her　return。

〃It's　nice　to　see　you　there　in　that　window；〃　he　said。　　〃You　fit　your　background　perfectly。〃

〃Do　I？〃　The　black…brown　eyes　burned　soulfully。　　The　panneling　back　of　her　was　of　dark　oak；　burnished　by　the　rays　of　an　afternoon　winter　sun。

Stephanie　Platow　had　dressed　for　this　opportunity。　　Her　full；　rich；　short　black　hair　was　caught　by　a　childish　band　of　blood…red　ribbon；　holding　it　low　over　her　temples　and　ears。　　Her　lithe　body；　so　harmonious　in　its　graven　roundness；　was　clad　in　an　apple…green　bodice；　and　a　black　skirt　with　gussets　of　red　about　the　hem；　her　smooth　arms；　from　the　elbows　down；　were　bare。　　On　one　wrist　was　the　jade　bracelet　he　had　given　her。　　Her　stockings　were　apple…green　silk；　and；　despite　the　chill　of　the　day；　her　feet　were　shod　in　enticingly　low　slippers　with　brass　buckles。

Cowperwood　retired　to　the　hall　to　hang　up　his　overcoat　and　came　back　smiling。

〃Isn't　Mrs。　Cowperwood　about？〃

〃The　butler　says　she's　out　calling；　but　I　thought　I'd　wait　a　little　while；　anyhow。　　She　may　come　back。〃

She　turned　up　a　dark；　smiling　face　to　him；　with　languishing；　inscrutable　eyes；　and　he　recognized　the　artist　at　last；　full　and　clear。

〃I　see　you　like　my　bracelet；　don't　you？〃

〃It's　beautiful；〃　she　replied；　looking　down　and　surveying　it　dreamily。　　〃I　don't　always　wear　it。　　I　carry　it　in　my　muff。　　I've　just　put　it　on　for　a　little　while。　　I　carry　them　all　with　me　always。　I　love　them　so。　　I　like　to　feel　them。〃

She　opened　a　small　chamois　bag　beside　herlying　with　her　handkerchief　and　a　sketch…book　which　she　always　carriedand　took　out　the　ear…rings　and　brooch。

Cowperwood　glowed　with　a　strange　feeling　of　approval　and　enthusiasm　at　this　manifestation　of　real　interest。　　He　liked　jade　himself　very　much；　but　more　than　that　the　feeling　that　prompted　this　expression　in　another。　　Roughly　speaking；　it　might　have　been　said　of　him　that　youth　and　hope　in　womenparticularly　youth　when　combined　with　beauty　and　ambition　in　a　girltouched　him。　　He　responded　keenly　to　her　impulse　to　do　or　be　something　in　this　world；　whatever　it　might　be；　and　he　looked　on　the　smart；　egoistic　vanity　of　so　many　with　a　kindly；　tolerant；　almost　parental　eye。　　Poor　little　organisms　growing　on　the　tree　of　lifethey　would　burn　out　and　fade　soon　enough。　　He　did　not　know　the　ballad　of　the　roses　of　yesteryear；　but　if　he　had　it　would　have　appealed　to　him。　　He　did　not　care　to　rifle　them；　willy…nilly；　but　should　their　temperaments　or　tastes　incline　them　in　his　direction；　they　would　not　suffer　vastly　in　their　lives　because　of　him。　　The　fact　was；　the　man　was　essentially　generous　where　women　were　concerned。

〃How　nice　of　you！〃　he　commented；　smiling。　　〃I　like　that。〃　And　then；　seeing　a　note…book　and　pencil　beside　her；　he　asked；　〃What　are　you　doing？〃

〃Just　sketching。〃

〃Let　me　see？〃

〃It's　nothing　much；〃　she　replied；　deprecatingly。　　〃I　don't　draw　very　well。〃

〃Gifted　girl！〃　he　replied；　picking　it　up。　　〃Paints；　draws；　carves　on　wood；　plays；　sings；　acts。〃

〃All　rather　badly；〃　she　sighed；　turning　her　head　languidly　and　looking　away。　　In　her　sketch…book　she　had　put　all　of　her　best　drawings；　there　were　sketches　of　nude　women；　dancers；　torsos；　bits　of　running　figures；　sad；　heavy；　sensuous　heads　and　necks　of　sleeping　girls；　chins　up；　eyelids　down；　studies　of　her　brothers　and　sister；　and　of　her　father　and　mother。

〃Delightful！〃　exclaimed　Cowperwood；　keenly　alive　to　a　new　treasure。　Good　heavens；　where　had　been　his　eyes　all　this　while？　Here　was　a　jewel　lying　at　his　doorstepinnocent；　untarnisheda　real　jewel。　　These　drawings　suggested　a　fire　of　perception；　smoldering　and　somber；　which　thrilled　him。

〃These　are　beautiful　to　me；　Stephanie；〃　he　said；　simply；　a　strange；　uncertain　feeling　of　real　affection　creeping　over　him。　　The　man's　greatest　love　was　for　art。　　It　was　hypnotic　to　him。　　〃Did　you　ever　study　art？〃　he　asked。