The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-28

was doing this thought heard the
sleeper stir, but when l glanced quick
~ down she was as still as ever. With
perfect caution lifted the ladder over
anu let II down OH the other side. A
moment later was in the entrance to
the summer house. \
Save for the breathing of the sleeper
the stiffness was almost painful. 1t
| occurred to me once to wonder what
she would say IL she found me there,
but did not trouble to answer the
| question. l had read of similar cases
before, and everything always came
out nicely. or course she would sec
at once the romance and beauty of the
situation. felt quite sure Of this
when saw that the book before her
was volume of Tennyson, open Mt
'oThe Coming OF Arthur" My own
name is Arthur-Harold Arthur Slmp-
| son.
She was absolutely charming. Be
meath the rakish cap stray curls OF
dark, glossy hair wandered down to
the graceful little ears and about the
ivory temples. The cheeks were rather
pale, and the lips were closed just n
trifle too firmly for perfect repose, but
but NIL that only seemed to increase
the charm. 1 did not gaze too earnest
| ly, fearing to disturb her, and presently
| took UP the other book which lay Oh
| the table. 1t was morocco bound
autograph album, with the majority Of
| the leaves empty. / turned them ST.
| lently to read number of unfamiliar
| names and commonplace quotations.
While was doing this a bright idea
came to me, full Of the spirit Of ro-
nance. I would write something In
the album!
AS 1 searched for my pencil de-
cided what this something should be-
Finding vacant page, quickly drew
upon it the outline Of a heart Within
this wrote the name arthur" When
she nwokc after had gone, she would
find this symbol and know that her
prince had been with her. would
leave the book open st that place.
Prince! AS laid the book down
another thought flashed to my mind.
It made my heart beat madly and sent
the hot blood rushing to my checks.
Here was the sleeping beauty-here
was the prince. There was one thing
wanting to make the story whole-one
thing.
Somehow felt that it would not
waken her; otherwise perhaps should
not have dared. But her slumber was
sound, and 1 was strung to the highest
pitch of reckless excitement. No, it
would not waken her. 1t would be but
touch.
With intense caution drew nearer.
There was no difficulty whatever, for
her face was turned toward me.
trcmbled as bent down; the fragrance
Of her breath was in my face and then
1T was just touch, and nothing more.
But it sent a tremor through her
frame as from q shock. For a breath
less moment I stood still behind her
chair, and then 1 saw the madness, the
utter folly, Of what had done. I had
vague thought Of police. and turned
cold with fear.
But she did not wake, and passed
out like q shadow. Some instinct i'm
PEELED me to close that awful album
rs I turned away. In another three
seconds, it seemed, had climbed the
waiting ladder, drawn it 7up after me
and placed it In its first position.
was back in Aunt ESt:;er's gafleu,
tremulous with mingled dread and tri-
umph.
"Good heavens! I said to myself.
''That was the maddest thing man
ever did"
walked twice around the garden to
quiet my nerves and then went In
doors. With the relief of my sudden
panic came the desire TO know more
about my sleeping Beauty. The ro-
H,n1 a.
should move forward. had some 12
days in which to work 1t out.
Naturally I had forgotten oil about
the thunderstorm, but now found
that it had passed over without break
ing. The skies were clearer, and my
aunt had gone to the kitchen to make
arrangements for luncheon. AS soon
as she came back I opened the subject.
"Aunt Esther" said. "whose is the
garden next to yours? When looked
over the wall, saw q young woman
sitting in little summer house, fast
asleep"
My aunt seemed surprised. ::Asieep?"
she said. "That is strange. But it
must have been Mrs. Portingdale."
"Mrs Portingdalew gasped. Mrs
eyes," said Aunt Esther quietly.
"She is the person was about to tell
you Of this morning. When there is
thunder about, she dare not stay In the
house, because there are SO many steel
articles in 1t. She goes to that ridlcu-
lous little summer house until the
storm Is over. But she could hardly
have gone to sleep there. She would
be too nervous"
felt horrible sensation Of bewil-
derment.
"But-but," cried helplessly, "this
was quite q young girl. She was not
2O'-
"Mrs. Portingdale," said my aunt,
hodding. sis Just 20. She was married
six months ago. There is no other
young woman there"
These measured words struck me
with dumbness. Aunt Esther looked