The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-19

rectlOn indicated ana saw man and
woman approaching slowly, side by side
They seemed to be conversing in.ermit-
tently, and rs they walked her shoulder
occasionally brushed his arm aud their
glances constantly met. The man seemed
to be under % years of age: he WIS tall
and active and of rather slender build.
and as he approached Bellinghanf noticed
that his features were of bold and
striking cast, with bright and somewhat
intolcrant eyes. His expression mt the
present moment was troubled and
gloomy lie frequently looked on the
ground and struck the pebbles from his
path with stick He would speak "A
few sentences at II time. energetically
and rapidly; then relapse into moody
silence. responding by shake of the
, head or other brief gesture to the dis
course Of his companion.
( The latter was Il woman whose aspect
/ Of the distinction he permissible was
younger than her looks. Her face and
figure We're youthful, but her bearing
and gestures were mature. Her features
were of n clear paleness, regular in out
line and of remarkable beauty. Some
thing in her aspect enchained Belling-
hams regard; she did not resemble any
woman he had seen, and yet she remind
ed him in some intangible, elusive way
of u woman whom he wished to forget
She was different-differen at every
point; and yet If he turned away and
glanced at her from the corner of his
eye there was an indcscribable likeness.
Was it the way she had of slowly lifting
her chin? Was it the slope of her shoul.
ders? Was it in the way the soft hair
grew on the nape of her white neck?
Was it in the smile that lighted her eyes
before it touched her lips? 1t was all os
these things-it was none of them, After
minute Bellingham forcibly dismissed
the question from his mind OF what
earthly consequence was it!
Here were good looking woman and
an enamored young man, n common
sight enough. They seemed to be in love
with each other, as Helwisc hal said: /:
but while the gentleman had evidently
lost his head the lady was entirely self
possessed. She seemed to he amused
superijcially at some extravaganza or
prrversity in her companion, but there
vas am underlying sadness or anxiety
perceptible when her face was at rest
She had The air of trying to make him
take some step or comprehend some
thing which he refused TO do or under
stand. As they passed the young man
glanced for Il moment toward Helwise
and nodded recognition. The lady did
2 not turn, nor eyince consciousness Of the
presence o! any third party They
slowly traversed the length of the ter
race and disappeared through the gate
way at the farther erd.
Bellingham.
''And how To walk" added Helwise.
"She must have aearned that on the
stage"
-An actress, then, you thinky
Yes; or an opera singer, perhaps.
Well, what do you think is the matter?'
~He hasn't money enough, maybe.
Basd Bellingham: "or perhaps she likes
him too well to marry him. A woman
like that knows that an ounce of imagi-
nation is worth n pound of reality
both to her and to him."
lyon have studied women since |
s'u htS's ht' iltiNlNt WIFI
3 smile.
"If | have" replied Geoflrey they
have only taught me TO disbelieve the
little ever thought knew Come. let
as be moving"
That night Bellingham dreamt vivid
ly of Mile. Mariana, and bis dream
awakened him before dawn in great dis
tress of mind. He imagined that he
was walking acress the Brooklyn bridge.
which on this occasion extended from
the roof of the opera house in New York
SO the parapet os the terrace where he
had sat with Helwise that afternoon.
The bridge was unfinished, and he was
obliged to make the transit ON a series
Of precarious planks irregularly disposed.
When midway across the Atlantic. whose
angry roar reached his ears from the
immeasurable depth beneath, I've saw
walking before him the figure of wom-
m. In whom he at'ouce recognized Mile.
Mariana. He hastened to overtake her,
for she seemed in imminent danger of
falling.
Just as he was on the point of reach
ing her, however, the plank on which he
stood gave way, and at the same mo-
ment she whom he had meant to save
tottered and fell. He closed his eyes for
an instant; then he felt his arm seized
by some one from behind, and, looking
round, he found himself standing on the
stage of the opera house, with Mariana
herself before him in the costume of
Marguerite. with bunch of daisies in
her girdle, He heard the applause of
the audience, like the roar of the sea,
and perceived that the performance was
going forward. and that he. instead of be-
ing properly attired, was in his every day
dress. II came across his mind also that