Smyrna times., 1889-01-09

I IL
Tecnnlng on quaint old chaise lOnree
H. had been reading the 'Lotus Eaters. y
The lines
| How sweet it were
with half shut eyes ever to seem
railing asleep in a half dreaml
We're still running through nv head. I
was full of the spirit Of the poem. Nv
0iu nurse and constant companion sat in
% tne next room, where I could see her
UnIIugn Uhe open door, nodding, noddinr
so sleepliy. The cathedral tones of tIo
Glu CLOCK on the shelf fell upon my ears.
four five, six, seven, eight, nine ten
| eleven ----'0' 'eH'
is was time to send nurse to bed. but
Iazlly watched her head drop again and
again. TOO idly content to find will enouob
10 speak to her. The house was nTo-
IoulGly stlll. could hear the regular
breathing OF the nurse, and even nv own
heart throbs. O"H
suddenly l was aroused by the liobt
steps Of slippered feet on the stone A.,
OF the hall They halted. there was y
hurried tap at my door, and. before 7 boJ
Time TO assume q sitting posture. the door
was lung open and there stood n 0enfIe.
man. rose to my feet and berSed to
know 10 what chance was indebted for
50 untlmely a visit. He closed the door
gently then with his usual superb man.
ner saIqted me: 81 beg your pardon. mad.
am II have intruded l was roinp to
my room, and, seeing a light under Your
GOOr' ehought L might venture TO sion
ioT IeW moments chat with you"
a. :. !i@u Deeh IN l. year, and had met
sisters house; he had also ca1ie3d - TraI1 lll9
me- SO we were not strangers. TIo vyde
man or rather attractive personal or,,oo,
ance, about medium height. slender ond |
graceful, with the manners of on oiJ |
courtler. lie was O fine musician ond
lnSulst, and well versed in tho bis+or,,
ana literature of the several conntrioyS
whose whose language he spoke, and was also -
OtlIlanC conversatiOnalist. Still no+
Wins Iandlng all these accomplishments
anu ms charming manners, there was
3 something repellant about the mar. some
ShinS undehnable, that made every ono
half afraid of him. iy Oue
wen; IN reply to the implied Question
as 10 whether he might remain or NOT
sad that had been in the land of ~
lotus eaters, pointing at the same tiIno 10 10
y the book had laid upon the table. That
the smell Of the lotus leaves had oIp,ost
closed my eyelids, that my old nnrse Ivas
nooolng, and feared must ask that tbo
visit might be brief. ''-0
as brief as you desire, madam. " said
le; only there is something 1 sbonld lilo
TO tell you before 60" --N0
ne ne eyed me curiously as 1 sat down. and
~ IelC a shlVer OF repugnance 90 over me
10 advanced to the table, took up n vol.
Ii1e OF MRS. Browning, and, after turn.
. ''o1 'He leaves several times, read:
AS one alone, once not alone.
slI ana knock at Natures door
Heart bare, heart hungry, verv moor
whose desolated days go on.
Closing the book with a eiol, t,o-.,
y ne began to pace up and down +bo !
OOul; Dld you know that l was onco a., 7
aged TO be married? I never see Nrs r
u 11IioWnlng without thinkingo Of nv fianco ;, I
men Tor some time he walked to and fTo
PParehtIy obllvious of my presence. onof g
lg from German, French and Fnd,Iisb n
uUhors' and withal deligbtfullv mil i 2
ne stroke of the clock admonisbad ~ 4
!. 1ag II wanted but o half bour FIN MID p
lght reminded Mr. B. that half h., n
ad gone by and he had not vet told ~ 4
&c OBJECT Of his visit. Suggested tbat +,
nat he had to tell me migRt do fo1 1,.''o /,
1rlal al story and would take the noetr,, d
'F the Introductory. P0'-' n
lie mashed a savage glance over +ov,o.5 =.
70 S One quick step and he was at INV NJ
ue, saying In low tone: 'Wbv docs Il
SosI q az mere! pointing to my old nurse ts
l replied, Il shall as soon as Won oro f.
'he. with devilish look that daf;os d,
5sor pCioh ne stopped till his face yvae S,
80 80, 70 mine and said peremptorilv. e,
'iiiu ei.l. Aef away, tell you" 1 had heard 81
H. I;so siIie IT peIore that at one time in st
MS ire Mr.. B. had been insono - ro
had doubted it, It was rare --+','i1; 90 ag DuI -
ore cultivated or elegant man ~ -,iiu o,,a q
no was more punctilious in the o6sor,1 O--o ST
ICE OF all the conventionahties ~ go; II,
mat moment his face was Ii,a a. tI
70 OF demon, and as looked into biS Al
% ,.I doubted it no longer, and nv heart :ra
Ia ! IKE lead within me- What if fbo fo
= weakness had attacked him agoin9 he
Aeu myself At that hour BneS9 tbo+ fa
sFy soul IN the hotel would he in bod sb
y oHe ~. Nurse and myself were virtuaIIv bo
me Dld dare to call for helm H. va
. were 1xed upon me. think bo road Nj
.Is iIHsoug1ts. An impulse to protect ia.
ser made me rise and move fovorJ sa
7 Qoor. Quick as a flash he stenned in m,
,us OF me, locked the door, held the ha
J up before me for an instant tboT wi
= ,PioI IL INTO his pocket. l knew now re;
- ! had an insane man to deal with at,
! ! now h9wE 1t would take all the conraoo r'1l,
self possession could muster 70 81 tin
There was little time to consider. ~ ifG ST to
oe a false move there was no feilina car
at might be the result. rec
roc
Lne ~. nurse still sat noddine in her thu
l lr' IL was useless to alarm her. for I be
Z" sac was too timid to be of anv ser far
9 70 me; but 1 must act. I ogietiv mi
nt 70 her and told her to 90 To her del
nit adjoined the one in Which She enc
but not to 60 to bed, as might need an.
. Ihen, assuming the coolest manner OF
sloie, crossed the sitting room. opened the
stove door and renewed the FIRE and see
| ne my face was turned from him said we
ne farce has lasted an hour. Mr.. p wa
! /, Iall to appreciate it. However. II
nave patience to listen, will Won toll He
why, you are here2' l rose then and ira
qIned my seat on the chaise Tongue. thr
10 o. always moved quickly, but stealth. ala
IKE cat; and with some such move. Bisi
Mt he came behind me and wbisnere5 Bllg
80 close to my ear: "Are you not afraid COG
neF With my blood fairly standinC 1