The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-03-26

in the country they had quite forgot
ten, and the melody of the water run
ming over the pebbles was song of
pleasure. They saw, too, that animals
and birds that lived in the open air new
er went into decline; that the chip
hunks health did not fail nor the
quail have nervous prostration.'
Yes admitted Llama, who had been
listening with her cheek on her hand,
sit is better to eat than to be eaten"
She said the words slowly and precise
ly. She was as proud of an English
quotation as most people are of Latin
one.
They chatted little more until half
past came upon them. Then it was
time for Llama to leave.
When she had dressed for dinner
/ that night, she went into the library
and. sinking. into chair by the open
fire, beg6h reading. She was all in
soft yellow, and bunch of yellow car
nations mixed with some maidenhaif
was buried in some creamy lace just
under each shoulder. Presently De
White parted the portieres and put in
his head.
"Beg pardon for disturbing you.
Where's mother?"
Llama took her head out Of her book,
! literally and figuratively, with some
unwillingness.
"Your mother? She's dressing, l be-
lieve."
"Oh, all right! l only wanted pin
FOR my necktie. The little loop at the
back has come away, and it gets con-
stantly crooked"
81 can give you a pin if that is all
you want"
! "Could you? 1t would be so good of
you" De White came in and stood
warming his hands by the fire. Llama
fumbled among her flowers and
brought out the desired pin. One Of
the yellow carnations that had been
added to make that bunch the same
size as it's companion fell to the ground
when she removed it's prop.
De Witte picked it up. "Bravo!' he
said. II had no flower"
But you mustn't take miner
Eyes, I must" he said earnestly. 1t
was hard work for Llama to resist even
a dogs dumb prayer these days. That
was why she answered.:
"Take it, then"
Llama loved flowers with an almost
personal love, and as the man was
clumsy and promised to break the car
nation In getting it through his but
tonhole she offered to fasten it for him
The nails of her white fingers rested
on his dark coat and cleaned like
milky agates in the bed of a moon
light stream. The heat of the oper
fire caused some Of her loose, fluffy
hair to fly up in his face.
The man whose wishes had always
been their own Justification was rapid
ly losing presence of mind. He caugh
her wrists suddenly and began show
] ering kisses upon them.
81 love you, and you know it," hi
said in a voice which she scarcely rec
ognized for its thickness.
: AS his lips met the flesh on her pulse
) she gave a great backward start ant
! remained at bay. painting. "How dar,
, you?" she gasped. But in a momen
5 she had recovered her poise
Il am sorry this has occurred. d,
5 not let it be renewed" And with
7 quiet dignity she left the room. TIL
dinner that followed was somethin:
: dreadful for her. She wondered if TIL
5 torture chambers of the inquisitiol
: could have looked much like this sump
! tuous dining room of the end of tn
f nineteenth century!
! That night she sobbed herself t
! sleep, questioning when the whirl il
Z all things would cease and reality re
. turn. Everything had got grotesquel
Y mixed, irrationally iumbled. Their
$ seemed no solid foothold anywhere
. Just as she was going into dreams
Q few words that Margaret had uttere
e that afternoon came back to her.
q There are only two or three grea
: facts in life; there is Death and ther
is Love-and there fs not much else
J. Yes, 80 be sure, one always Is cor
J. fionted with death her mother, he
father, her grandfather, her littl
G brothers, that famous musician tn
< other day. Llama reached for her ros;
;e ~ under her pillow. '.As to love-
D The little silver cross at the end c
the rosary caught the moonlight an
n seemed to smile a blessing
V CAS- to love-
ID How beautiful it was, the little eros
" in the moonlight. Llama looked at
IL dreamily through the lashes of he
It sleepy eyelids. They tlickered for
Il. few seconds and she was asleep.
n "a gentleman waits for mademo
I'd selle in the drawing room," announce
N the little French maid the next morl
t. ing.
T. His card,' said Llama Indifferent
r reaching back one hand toward IL
=, maid, while with the other she put Il
~ finishing touches to her morning toile
!, She had ordered her breakfast in III
: room.
y ut is that he had not one, mademc
iC | To ho1 tIn wis tn cl1TnIi