Daily inter mountain., 1900-10-10

Author of "The Fisherman's Song" etc.
Copyright 190O Daily Story Pub Coz
Dane English stood upon the hearth
rug storking his blonde mustache with
SLOW steady fingers. He was thinking
rather unpleasant thoughts. but was too
much of a man to admit the fact because
he was also thinking of his fiance whom
he had not seen for eighteen months
or more. He was to call upon her within
the hour and with slight shudder he
foresaw it all as he had seen it many
times before. The luxurious library. the
calm-eyed fastidiouss woman, the all
pervading air of fiawless elegance. He
saw her raising her eyes with a quiet
Good evening"" saw the flash of his
diamond on her perfect hand as she
leisurely laid her book aside and arose
to meet him; felt the emotionless touch
of her lips against his and the inevitable
dreary chilliness of the hour he must get
through somehow. The thoughts seem
to settle upon him like pail.
And this was the woman he had seen
foolhardy enough to WOO and win. He
was pledged to pass his life in this
frozen zone. For once Dane broke
through all gentlemanly restraint and
told himself with miserable honesty that
he made a mess of her life.
Then he buttoned his overcoat and
set forth to see the mistress of the beau
tiful villa around the corner. At any
rate, he could talk Teheran. She was
interested in the East and remarkably
well read upon eastern tradition, history
and religion. Whenever he could lose
sight of the fact that he was her lover he
enjoyed her Intellectual powers keenly.
But since their engagement he had gem
orally felt while in her presence as If
he was sitting on a block of ice to thaw
it and doing. more freezing than thaw-
ing.
At the sound of the doorbell the woman
who had been listening before the fire
with eager, anxious expression, suddenly
changed her attitude and took UP book
Something like a moan escaped her as his
football sounded in the hall. The door
opened and she looked up with a quiet
greeting.
And so you have really gotten home
again." she said pleasantly as she laid
aside her book with a slow, graceful mo-
ton and arose to meet him.
Yes" he replied cheerfully, 'home
again. He bent his head to kiss her.
This was a greeting, indeed, between
lovers who had not seen each other in
q year and half.
Are you unwell, Erle?" he asked.
mo, certainly not Why?" she spoke
more quickly than usual. If the idea had
not been SO preposterous he would have
Judged her little nervous.
Your hands felt rather cold" he re-
piled.
Holding heavy book often checks
the circulation in the fingers. Tell me
about Teheran. Did you find the tomb
of Alp Arslau?'
mo; but visited the shrine Of Abdul
Azeem.
4. "Yes?"
''It is we'll worth seeing. took a num-
ber of photographs. Also some of
cemetery near Teheran. You know it IS
really true about their mode of burial"
What is that?"
''Perhaps you remember we were dis
cussing it the evening I left"
"Ah, yes. I remember Ye gods, was
there the slightest detail of that terrible
evening that was not branded upon her!
''Their custom of placing the dead In
shallow open graves and determining the
destination of the departed SOUL by the
action of the birds in the air; if they
peck out the right eye first the dead man
has gone to heaven if the left, he has
gone-somewhere else"
''And that is really so "
1.-THE Persians believe So" Dane
smiled, but he looked puzzled. What had
come over his cool, collected fla ice. He
had never seen her absent-mndel l before.
"At any rate, it is a simple Way of
setting the question. Suppose You try
1t en- me- when die and"
';Don't," she interrupted hurriedly, and
ment to lean on the mantel. THE whole
Idea is distinctly repulsive." she added,
disdainfully.
Dane, who had half arisen, sank back
In his chair. ''There are a good many
repulsive things in life," he said in a
colorless tone.
eyes," she admitted and slowly re-
sumed her seat before the fire. Dane