The morning call., 1890-08-03

proof that had money aud therefore made pur
chase OF Two gifts for her-the one diamond
bracelet, at as high a figure as my savings would
perEt. and the other thoroughbred King
Charles spaniel, for was resolved al all hazards
TO make an attempt TO Wean her affections from
the crawling things which she now called her
pets
she came at the very hour promised 1t was
not even palm TO palm, holy palmer's KISS"
for l didn't touch the tips of her fingers, recelv
ing her wi til only deep and silent reverence.
She seemed pleased with thls; but didn't forget
her promise TO let me unlOose her glorious hair.
1t fell in wayelets of fire her shoulders
transferring her until she stood before me as
radiant as a celestial messenger. then gath
cred up This blanket of golden sheen with
mbling hands and held it aloft while she COM
posed herself in the chaiSe Tongue; then spread
IL over her, covering her with IL like mantle OF
glory.
AS 1 gazed upon her. heaped maledctions
upon my calling, word-juggler, Instead OF
artist or sculptor. As well attempt to put uo
words The harmony Of 4 Beethoven symphony as
to describe The beauty of this earthly Artemis
AT that instant the King Charles spaniel, which
had lett in the adjoining room intending TO sur.
prise llka with the gilt, came bounding toward
me barking furiously. llka gave start, and the
habituaI palor of her skin visby increased. A
wild look of half fright, half aversion, came into
her wide opened eyes IL was another manlfes-
tatiun OF her b auty quite unlike any had wit
messed as yet, and delighted while II troubled me.
For heavens sake, llka," L stammered,
"WhatS the matter?"
ION, take ii away; take it away Don't let it
touch me- j mean that noisome beast" cried
the trembling girl, as she pointed at the little
spaniel gambOling and barking around my feel.
" Don't lei II come near me. L shall die II feel
its feverish skin against me, or catch the odor OF
its hot breath"
Strange child" murnured as took up The
little spaniel carried him into the adjoining
room and closed the door.
Thanks, thanks mon ami" whispered Ilka,
with Just enough OF smile TO part her lips
You must not be angry, for you know cats and
dogs never agree" and then alter moments
pause she added archy:
- thought you loved my beautiful hair?"
Il dA n fnnn VFf Nd hnr
fear me with a little more feeling Than my new
principles possibly permit ed. Then delicious
hour was spent stroklug pettlng, carressng.
toying With. bradng and unbfaiding those won
doi iui tesses. So absorbed in my bltssful labor
did / b. come that l quite forgot the dIamOud
bracelet which had so depleted my store OF saw
lnes.
Coverly drawing it from my pocket, clasped
il around her wrist so gently that not until a
lock of her slken hair had caught upon IL did
she become aware of its presence, and even then
she showed not Trace OF that Eye-ike satisfac-
ton natural in her upon the coniempla-
ton Of a rare gem rich jewel intended for per-
sOnal adOrDment. Beyond doubt, lad 1t not
been for the cloud Of disappointment that
could plainly feel settling uDon my counte-
nance, she would not even have raised her
dainty, dimpled hand so that might get full ef.
iecI OF The beauty of tie gem as II spaTkled iu
the uncertain llgnt of the room. Sitting UP. she
defty and gracefully punched her scattered
tresses in one glorious tacne aud said TO me:
Hold them oul OF my way for moment, mon
ami"
/ did so. Then with quick and feminine
grace she unbuttOned her dainiiy embroidered
Jacket which she had on, drew first one arm out
OF IL and then the other, aud tossed ii playfuy
The waist of the dress which she wore was cut
deeply decoeGe, and The wOndrous beauty of her
neck aud arms was now revealed to me.
WAS young man in those days, still had
completed my wander jahre " aud had affected
society not little, but never had my gaze rested
upon such divine manifestation Of the plastic
beauty OF the human form. Without taking any
note of my dumfouuGed condition, Iika I'M
cIasped her diamond bracelet which fell TO the
floor, and then raising her arms and assuming
pose which would have restored and glorihed
The Venus de Milo, she asked nalvely
"Am moi beautiful enough without tt?"
''Ies, yes, llka, you are, you are" cried out
rapiuIously, quite outside oil all the philosophi-
cal restraint which had so lately laid upon my
self, land you would be as dynely good as You
are divineiy beautiful If you only lad a" The
muscles of my throat loosened my voice died
away, could not speak The word. L could only
sit there and gasp.
Poor boy" said lisa. softly u know what
you were going TO say, but haven't one. Nay,
don't look so amazed. | mean it! | really
haven't one. Come heiel" And passing one Of
her arms around my neck she drew me over
until my cheek rested upon her neck. Listen
she whispered.
was loo nearly dead to know exactly where |
was and what The word meant which, bending
over me, she had just murmured in my ear. But
made SuperhuInaD effort and succeeded in
collecting MY senses bit, and then | did listen
as my head was slowly, alb, so slowly, so gently
and so bssfully rocked upon that firm, cool,
dvlnely cbseled bosom.
do you hear anything, mon aml?" came from
Ilka with just faint timbfe of raillery in her
"NoIblng !" 1 whispered hoarsely. for my
tongue was dry aud was shuddering In spite OF
my eonvulsive efforts to appear calm.
AS l raised my head | noticed that a blue
traeeTy, wOudeiously delicate and beautiful,
marked one side of Ilkas neck. reappearing on
her cheek below one ear and still again family
on her temple, like the veins Of Carrara marble.
Il told you that | had no heart" she said,
lapsng into Circean mood and fixing her half
closed feline ieer
scious superiority: "or at best very weak and
sluggish one. Feel 70. yourself" she added ex-
tending her hand, and laying her wrist within
my palm with It's pulse uppermost
Half in dream, half daZed, l placed my fin
ger upon The spot where natures mysterious
III Obbng may usually be so plainly felt. AT
first, either from its faintDess from the tumuit-
uous disorder relgnlng within my brain. could
feel nothing; but by degrees caught the slug
gish movement OF nka's blood within that hol-
low thread OF lite, and then, drawing out my
watch, counted it, There were but thirty beats
TO the minute. II seemed so incredible, for my
reading had taught me that In girl of Ilka's age
1t should be almost three times thirty-eignty, at
least-tbat counted again and again, but the
record never changed; 1t was an actual physiO-
logical fact. There were only thirty heart-beats
to the minute.
"You don't blam me now for not loving any
one, do you, mon AMP" inquired the beautiful
Ilka, with her gaze fixed intently upon my face.
was obliged TO confess that did not; but
sigh deep enough and heavy enough 10 gladden.
many woman's heart lifted my breast and
dropped IL stone like into the sea of despair For
the l1rst time In my life, learned the difference
between having principles and putting them into
actual practice In silence l sat down and
gathering up Ika's wonderful hair, plated it
into two thick braids, wound them around her
head and fastened them with the shell pins which
l had taken out; then Tied her hat strings.
helped her on with her jacket aud drew on and
buttoned her gloves. If l could have kissed her
would have been willing 10 die then aud there.
but l was brave and taking her gloved hand
within mine aud leading her to the door, stood
for several moments with my eyes fixed upon her
face and figure in mule alteration. She was so
motionless That you might have called her dead,
had not those glorious eyes OF hers been filled
with flow OF mysterious light. i understood
now how II was possible for man to abjufe the
world and hnd warmth, light and bliss within the
monks cold, dark aud narrow cell, and / was
very thankful for The lesson.
ts"May l not come to see you soon, Ilka?"
asked.
mo. mon ami.n. she answered gently. ''but
may come 10 you"
CHAPTER III.
BY tempting Ilka with white roses in sucl, pro.
fusion That the expense was guile as much