Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-24

stories. shut in by a garden inclosed by a
high wall Just as George got under shell
ter of the wall a door in the middle opened
and out of the darkness tie voice OF the
girl he had just mot spoke to him:
You will never find your way Into the
village through this snow. Won't you
come inside tho house until it has left off
a little?"
George stepped. He could hardly see the
girls pretty face in the darkness and
the binding snow. but the voice was al
Turing in it's sweetness and the tempta-
ton to look once more upon such excep-
tional beauty as hers decided him.
THANK you. 1t Is very good OF you,
ir truding 1 shall indeed be glad to accept
your kind offer for a few minutes"
She stepped nimbly back, opening the
door for him. He passed through on to a
stone-hagged path which led, under cover
all the way, to a deep porch under which
the iamplight streamed brightly and in
willingly through the open door.
The curtains of large window on the
right of the porch were drawn; but those
on the left were still open, and allowed
George to see into a dining room made
coy by the shaded light of lamps, and by
the glow of a bright fire. He caught
glimpseS of armor, helmets, spears, shields.
shining on a dark rich wall; and OF flowers
and sparkling silver on white-covered
table.
George. who was half dazed by his strug-
gle with the wind, and by the action of the
snow upon his eyes, thought vaguely of
the story of Beauty and the Beast" as
he staggered up the stone path There
was something mysterious, almost uncanny
about the shut-in house and its curiousy
hospitable inhabitant, which made him
change his mind as he realized II, and turn,
with an excuse upon his lips, to go out
again.
At that moment he heard a key turned
in the door by which he had come, and he
knew in moment that he had done wrong
in entering. He made two rapid steps
back, and was met by the young girl.
This way" she said, as, passing him
quickly with a smile of invitation on her
face, she led the way into the hall.
He followed reluctantly, lured by the
wish to see the attractive countenance in
the full light, but resolving as he went that
he would make an excuse to leave at once
She went quickly and he so slowly,
that she had entered the dining room by
| the time George reac he'd the hall She held
the door of the room invitingly open, and
| spoke again is he stood. hat in hand, on
| the threshold of the house.
Wont you take off your coat and shake
the snow off before you come in? Then,
when this storm has passed, you will be
| able to start On your way again quite dry
II am deeply obliged to you for your
! Kindness" said George. who was utterly
bewildered by the situation in which he
| fourd himself, so that his words came
| haltingly from his tongue
Seen I'm the bright light Of the lamp
| which hung from the hall ceiling, his I'M
| conventional hostess was even more beau
| tiful than she had looked outside in the
| darkness. She was tall and fair with q
| figure more suggestive of strength than is
usual In young women, almost masc uline,
| indeed, in It's unpinched, natural waist
and rather square shoulders. A massive
young woman. with long white hands and
| quick. 1.-THE movements, and with certain
| frank simplicity Of manner which suggest
| ed that she did not live the cribbed and