Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Morning Lirht,

The Morning Ltght.
In the morning he had other news of It.
Even when be was relieved from duty he
never closed an eye. A blowing out Of the
lamp had turned his ideals and hopes all
topsy-turvy. His heart sang hot and loud
within him. He had kissed other girls in
deed before at kirns and country dances.
He laughed triumphantly within him at
the difference. They had run into corners
and screamed and struggled and held up
Intellectual hands. And when his lips did
reach their goal it was generally upon the
bridge Of a nose or the tip Of an ear. He
could not remember any especial pleasure
accompanying the rite.
But this! The bolt of an arbalast could
not have given him q more instant or tre-
mendous shock. His nerves quivered yet
responsive to the tremulous clinging of the
lips he had touched in the dark of the
doorway. He felt that never could he be
the same man he had been before. Deep
In his heart he laughed At the thought.
And then, again, with a quick revulsion,
the return wave CAM upon him. How II
she be az untouched as her beauty 10 fresh;
has she learned that skill In caressing?"
II remember my father saying that a
wise man should always mistrust Q girl who
kissed ever WE'LL"
Then again his better self would reassert
itself.
mo-" he would argue. tramping up and
down In the short bound Of the turnpike
head and again returning upon his own
footsteps. why should I belle her? She 10
pure - the air-only she is different to all
others. She speaks differently, her eyes
are different, her hair. her ~hands-why
should she not be different also In thls?"
But when Maud Lindsay met him in the
morning. coming suddenly upon him as he
stood, with q pale face and dark rings Of
sleeplessness about his eyes, looking medita-
lively out upon the broad river and the blue
smoke OF the morning campfres. there was
yet another difference to DO revealed to him.
He had expected that like others she would
be confused and bashful meeting him thus
In the dayfight-after, well after the extin-
gushing Of the lamp.
But there she stood. dainty and calm.
under the morning sunshine. in fresh, clean
gown OF lace and Wilderness, her face calm
and grave as q benediction, her eyes deep
and cool like the water OF the castle well.
Sholto stared at sight of her. recovered
hin e.lf and eagerly held out both his hands.
Maud" he said. hoarsely, and then again
In q lower tone. Sweetest Maud!'
But pretty Mistress Lindsay only looked
At him with a certain reserve and grave
surprise. looking him straight In the face
and completely ignoring his outstretched
hands.
Captain Sholto." she said, steadily and
calmly. "the Lady Margaret desires to see
you and to thank you for your care and watch
fulnesn. Will you do me the honor to follow
me to her chamber"
There was no yielding ~softness about this
maiden OF the morning hours. no conscious
droop and swift uplifting Of penitent eye
lids. no lingering slances out OF love
weighted Dyes. A brisk and practical little
woman rather. her feet pattering most pur'
posefulfy along the tagged passages and
skipping faster than even Sholto could fol.
low her. But at the top Of the second stair.
he was over quick for her. BY taking the
narrow edges Of the steps he reached tn,
landing level with his mistress.
HIS desire was to put out his hand Il
circle her 1.-THE waist. for nothing Is SO dan,
gsrousiy reproductive of Its own species as
nrst kiss. But he had reckoned without
the lady's favor. which in matters OF THU
kind 10 proverbially important. Mistress
Maud sluded him without appearing to d,