The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MORNING LIGHT.


In the morning he had other news of
it. Even when he was relieved from
duty he never closed an eye. A blow
ing 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, indeed, be-
fore at kirns and country dances. He
laughed triumphantly within him at
the difference. They had run into cor
ners 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 remem-
Der any especial pleasure accompany
ing the rite.
But this! The bolt of an arbalast
could not have given him a more in
slant or tremendous shock. His nerves
quiVered yet responsive to the tremu-
lous clinging Of the lips he had touch
ed in the dark of the doorway. He felt
that never could he be the same man
he had been before. Deep down in his
heart he laughed at the thought
And then, again, with a quick revul-
sion, the return wave came upon him.
How if she be as untouched as her
beauty is fresh: has she learned that
skill in caressing?"
'I remember my father saying that
a wise man should always mistrust a
girl who kissed over well.
Then, again, his better self would re-
assert itself.
No" he would argue. tramping up
and down in the short bounds of the
turnpike head, and again returning
upon his own footsteps, why should l
belle her? She is pure as 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 this?"
But when Maud Lindsay met him in
the morning, coming upon him sud
denly as he stood, with a pale face and
dark rings of SleeplessnaSS about his
eyes, looking meditatively out upon the
broad river and the blue smoke of the
morning camDfires, there was yet an
other difference to be revealed to him.
He had expected that, like Others, she
would he confused and bashful mee1-
ing him thus in the dayiight-after
well, after the eXtinguishing of The
lamp.
But there she stood, dainty AMI calm,
under the morning sunshine, in fresh,
clean gown of lace and wilderness, her
face calm and grave as a benediction,
her eyes deep and cool like the water
of the castle WELL
Sholto stared at sight of lci, rccov-
cred himself and eagerly held out both
his hands.
Maud he said, hoarselv, and then
again in 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 ShoIto," she said, steadily
and calmly, the Lady Margaret de-
sires to see you, and to thank you for
your care and watchfulaass. VIII you
do me the honor to follow me 10 Ler
chamber?'
There was no yielding soitness atoLt
this maiden of the morning. hours, no
conscious droop and swift ltclifting of
penitent eyelids. no lingecing glances
out of weighted eyes. A bc.sJl and
practical little lady, rather, her feet
pattering most purpoSely along the
tagged passages and skipping tester
than even Sholto could follow her. But
at the top of the second stairs he was
over quick for her. BY taking the mar
row edges of the steps he reached tie
landing level with his mistress.
His desire was to put out his haEd to
circle her 1.-THE waist. for nothing is so
dangerously reproductive of it's own
species as first kiss But he had
reckoned without the lady s favor,
which. in matters of this kind is pre-
verbally important. MISTRESS Maud
eluded him. without appearing 10 dr. so,
and stood further off, safely poised for