The morning call., 1890-08-03

last she turned and looked toward me. / was
right. Ii was like Ilka Ilka, the long sought,
the mysterious. the fascinatingl NY heart gave
joyous bound, and i'll another instant would
have betrayed my presence, had not the thought
flashed through my mind: Walt, be little
PATENT III she is customer of This dairy, she
must live In the neighbOrhoOd; she must be
known to the proprietor"
Shielding myself behind an iron column. was
enabled to follow every movement of the en-
chantress. But how tall she looked How OLD
she looked How changed, and yet how beauti-
full She wore loose flannel robe de ehambre
IN old blue, which haTm0DiZed well with her
white SKIN and Titan hair. Long Suede gloves,
fresh and finely lifting, set of the delicious SYM
metrv OF her hands, wrists and arms She had
thrust her bare feet into hieh.heeed Russia
leather mules embroidered with gold and white
lace scarf was wrapped around her head and
neck with a careless grace.
Approaching the counter. she set down small
mills jug in unglazed Seyres ware. flowers on a
white ground. She exchanged no words with
the proprietor; there was no familiarity Cath
crime ii buying len cents worth OF milk She
paid for II, gave friendly nod and left the shop.
Separated from this dairy BY narrow alley
there was a chaTc0al-dealer's place OF business.
/ noticed the incODgruliy-a double blank and
double SKI As the richly dressed lady with the
Sevres milk-pot crossed the door-sIli size raised
her dress several inches 10 make sure aud escape
any puddleS OF milk, and bad there been any
doubt in my mind that she and llka were
and the same person 1t would have been dssi-
pated by The display of those fauliessly formed
feet and ankles, thiough lie TOse-leaf skin OF
which shone an exquisite tracery of blue veins.
'uO plOpiiottees VI INC CtehiheIy netueu Uut
slight encouragement 10 Induce her TO Tell all she
knew concerning her beautiful customer, " Mile
llka," as she called her
Mile. lka inhabited a modest apartment on
The ground floor, opening on a small court yard
In which she cultivated as many flowers as Dos
sible. She had no servant, and came every
morning for her milk herself. She also did her
own cooking. tile little that was necessary, as
she lived almost entirely ON tea and bread and
butter. There was a hired piano in her apart
ment, ana she appeared 10 be very fond OF music
Mile. llka had number OF strange PETS so they
told me Two gold fish, lizard. and a large land
turtle, which roamed about her room with a
dog. She Was well known at bathing establish
ment in the neighborhood, where she went three
times week to take her bath. Mile. Ilka wore
no corsets, so the bathwoman had reported to
my informant; she needed none such was the
wonderful symmetry OF her figure from head 10
foot, perfection, a living statue, In fact
The laHitTess took entire charge OF her apart
ment, Tor this dainty lady was afraid Of any kind
OF work which might injure the satiny texture of
her skin. What she did do, she did with gloves
on. Mile. llka was engaged 10 be married, so l
was Informed, TO some Kind of a foreigner-yery
tail, thln pale and with black beard.
But the black beard had no ieTrors for me. In
lhe most perfect roses 10 be had IN the neighbour
nood, and IN response TO a gently spoken Come
Ia, pushed the door open and stood face to
face with Ika.
"Ah, mon ami" she murmured but with no
more snow Oh feeling or surprise than sister
brother. At sight OF the lovely roses her eyes
Frightened little, and she took them oul of INV
hand and buried her face In them
love Them" she SAID gently, athey are so
like me-cold and beautiful" aud then. raising
her Large eyes hlled with light had never seen