The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28


regarding her Mysterious relative. That that
shadows presence was more or less exaRRer-
ated-if not an absolute myth--he moro than
half suspected. but Of the discomfort that had
produced 1t. or the recklessness IL Nigh
| evoke. there was no doubt. She might be
tenn pted to SOM act OF folly. He wondered II
Mary Rogers knew 1t. yot with his sensitive
| ideas Of loyalty he would have shrunk from
any confidence with Mary regarding her
| friends secrets. although he fancied that
Mary's dark eyes som etimes dwelt upon him
| with mournful consciousness and prvmoni-
ton. He did not imagine tho truth. that
this romantic contemplation was only
the result Of Mays conviction that susy
was utterly unworthy OF his love. 1t so
CHANGED one morning that the Vaduero
who brought the post from Santa Insz
arrived earlier than usual. and so anticipated
tho two girls. who usually made a youthful
point OF meeting him first as he passed the
garden wall. The letter bag was consequently
delivered to Mrs. Peyton in the presence OF the
others and a look OF confederation passed be-
tween the young girls. But Mary quickly
seized upon the bag MS II with girlish and mis-
chievous impatience. opened 1t. and glanced
within II. There are only three letters for
you,'s she said. handing them to Clarence with
a quick look Of Significance which he failed to
comprehend. and nothing for mo and Susy."
But" began the innocent Clarence as his
nrst glance at the letters showed him that one
was directed to Susy. "here is" A wicked
pinch on his arm that was nearest Mary
stopped his speech. and he quickly put
the letters In his pocket. Didn't you
understand thut Susy don't want her
mother to soc that ~letter?" asked
Mary impatieutly. when they were alone a
moment later. NO." said Clarence simply.
handing her the missive. Mary took 1t and
turned 1t over In her hands. Its In . mans
handwriting" she said innocently. II hadn't
noticed it." returned Clarence with invincible
nxrvet6. but perhaps 1t 10" And you hand it
over for me to give to Susy. and amt q bit Gu
rious to know who it's from ?" No." returned
Clarence. opening his big eyes in smiling and
a~pologetic wonder. "Wsll.' responded the
astonishment. certainly OF all things YOU are
you really are With which inco-
herency. apparently perfectly Ineligible to
herself. she left him. She had not herself the
slightest idea who the letter was from; she
only knew that Susy wanted it concealed.
The incident made little impression on
Clarence except as part of the general un-
e~asiness he felt in regard to his old playmate.
It seemed so odd to him thatthis worry should
come from her-that she herself should
form the one discordant note in tho Arcadisn
dream that he Ind ounds so sweet: in his pre-
yious imaginings it was the presence OF Mrs.
Peyton which lie had dreaded: she whose
propiniuuity now seemed SO full OF gentle
ness. reinsurance. and repose. How worthy
she seemed OF any sacrifice he could make for
her. He had seen 80 little OF her for the last
or three days. although her smile and
greeting were always ready for him.. Poor
Clarence did not dream that she had found
from certain incontestable signs and tokens
both in the young ladies and himself that he
did not require watching. and that becoming
moro resigned to Susy's indifference. which
seemed so general and passive in quality.
she was no longer tortured By Jealousy.
Finding himself alone that afternoon. the
young man had wandered somewhat listlessly
beyond the low adobe gateway. The habits Of
the siesta obtained in u modified form Mt the
rancho. After luncheon Its masters and en-
ployees usually retired. not SO much from the
torrid heat OF the afternoon sun. but from the
first marrying OF the afternoon trades. whose
monotcnous whistles swept around the walls.
A struggling passion vine near the gate beat
and struggled against the wind. Clarence
had stopped near it. and was gazing with
worried abstraction across the tossing fields.
when q soft voice called his name. .
1t was a pleasant voice-Mrs. Peyton's! He
glanced back at the gateway; 1t was empty.
He looked quickly to tho right and loft: no one
was there.
The voice spoke again with the musical ad-
dition OF a laugh: it seemed to come from the
passion vine. All. ycs--behtnd it and half
BY it's branches was q long. narrow
embrazured opening in the wall. defended by
the usual Spanish grating. and still further
back. as in the frame OF q picture. tho half
figure Of Mrs. Peyton. very handsome
and striking. too. with q painted picturesque
ness. the effect OF checkered light and shade.
You look 50 tired and bored out there" she
said. II am afraid you are finding it very
dull at the rancho. The prospect certainly is
not very enliveninR from whore you stand"
Clarence protested with . visible pleasure In
his eyes as he held back Q spray before the
If you are not afraid OF being worse bored.
coms in here and talk with me. You have
never seen this part OF the house. l think-my
own sitting room. You reach 1t from the hall
in the gallery. But Lola Or Anita will show
you the way"
He re-entered the gateway and quickly found
the hall-a narrow. srched passage. whose
black. tunnel-like shadows were absolutely
unaffected by the vivid. colorlsss glare Of the
without. seen through An open
ing ut tho end The contrast was sharp. blind
ing. and distinct: even the edges OF the OPEN
ing were black: the over light halted ON the
and never penetrated within. The
warm odor OF vsrbena and dried rose leaves
stole from a half-open door somewhere in the
clustered gloom. Guided by 1t. Clarence pres
entity found himself on the threshold OF a low.
vaulted room. Two other narrow embrasured
windows like the one he had Just seen. and a
fourth wider-latticed easement. hung with
gauze curtains. suffused the apartment
with a clear yet mysterious twilight that
seemed its W n. Tho gloomy walls were
warmed BY bright frinGed bookshclves.
topped with tribes of light feminine c~oloring
and adornment. Low easy chairs and q
lounge. small. ~fanclful tables. a dainty desk.
gnyly colored baskets OF worsteds or mvs-
FERROUS Kaleidoscope fragments. and vases OF
flowers pervadsd the apartment with a
mingled sense OF grace and comfort. There
was a womanly refinement in it's careless neg
ligence. and even In the delicate wrapper Of
Japanese silk. gathered at the waist and fall