The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-07
CHAPTER Ill.
The Key and tho Label.

tiis
The Key and tho Label.
Miss Oakley!'' Jim exclaimed spring
ing from his chair and going towards her, |
more conscious Of the photograph among |
the lilies and the lock of glittering copper
hair on the white tablecloth than Of the
lady's charms. |
Yet she was charming, and had never
been more so, perhaps. than now as she
stood hesitating on the threshold. the
hardness which was the one defect Of
her face softened into blushing embar-
rassment
She was in evening dress, white and
gold, under a long cloak Of primrose yell
low. Her hair, piled high on her small
head and deliberately waved, was primrose
yellow, too; and her large eyes, under
long lashes which her enemies declared to
be artiicially darkened, were yellow
brown as topazes. Her skin was marble
white, save for the thin coral thread of
her lips (some people-women of course)-
doubted that nature alone was to be
| thanked for the perfect complexioD; and
altosether, she was this evening SYM
phony In yellow and white from the crown
Of her pale gold head to the brighter gold
Of a slipper which showed pointed CLEAN
under the folds of her trailing dress
After her striking beauty, one noticed
next about Vivien Oakley what essen
TALLY good form she was; how correct
|
between q woman of the Smart world
and one who only tries to copy such wom-
en-. She did not look at all the sort Of
girl to call upon young men In their
lodgings, yet here she was, this exquisite
creature who was supposed at this mo-
ment to be amusing herself and others in
a gay countryhouse near Brigton. But
it would only embarrass her the more to
betray how much her visit had surprised
him, and Jim controlled the astonish-
ment in face and voice after his first ejac-
ulation. ~. - - -
She saw the change, and understood it.
20, 1t Is no use to pretend you are not
surprised" she exclaimed. But don't be
more shocked than you can help. I am
paying you a great compliment
Don't you think I appreciate that?"
retorted Breakspear. He would have been
at his ease and rather enjoying the unu-
sual situation If he had had time to hide
away the curl Of hair and the photograph.
But as he drew Miss Oakley into the
room, his quickened self-consciousness
told him that swift glance Of hers had
stopped at the pictured face among the
lilies. At this, he rated himself for a
fool because the blood would rush up to
, his forehead as If he had been a school
boy; yet the more he tried the less he
could prevent the flush from spreading;
and he knew that the lady's gaze had
transferred itself from the aphotograp phi to
MIN. EdCH COulQ TeaQ the OIIloT s tHOuSHI,
yet nothing could be said of 1t on either
t side.
Miss Oakley ignored the chair which her
t host offered (out Of sight Of what the
3 lilies framed), and moved across the room
! to the fireplace. Whether or not this
fact had been in her mind, from the
= chosen place Of vantage the photOgra pf
Q could be plainly seen, the extraordinary
n beauty Of the face, which might have beer
t missed at a greater distance, Offering Its
e own explanation Of It's presence on young
. mans dinner table Matters would, how
S ever, only have been rendered worse by
o removing the picture now, and 1T had tt
s remain where 1t was; also the curl Of hail
y which could hardly hope to pass unno
d tced. ,....--. .-.-
n II came to you because felt SO sur,
o I might depend upon your friendship.
II Miss Oakley went on, in a slight!
changed voice. II knew you wouldn'
ee misunderstood me, and I thought 70,
q would be ready to help me. There aren'
, many men a woman could come to II
J.. such a way as this, but I was sure 70,
- were-the only one among all the me-
~ I know"
~ ''You say you thought all this Of me,
", W echoed Jim. Don't you think 1t stlll?"
81 "Oh I suppose SOL" she exclaimed
~ "Only-it, seems so much worse than
n had imagined, now that I'm actually here
In 1t was most audacious Of me to come,
"a know. But you are audacious. Do 70
re- sympathize with the same quality i
- others?"
a. II like courage, whether in men c
1e women" said Breakspear. But tell m
l. what I can do for you. I promise 70
that you may depend upon me, whateve
or 1t is" .., - u s
le you promise me that without eve
Of knowing what mean to ask?'
r. YES" Jim looked straight into her eye!
III 1>,,4
" a man to woman who had taken an un
to usual step in applying to him for help.
be "Thank you, thank your She spok
IN warmly, yet her voice was curiousl
IS strained, and the expression of her topa
sh eyes matched it. ~ must go to hous
e. where I, dare not go alone. It is onl
r to leave letter, butt must take tn
ne letter myself You see, 1T Is for frien
a "a friend whom could not refuse whe
On I heard that it was almost question
er life or death. I came from Brighton O
ea purpose to do this thing
I'll "Then I very nearly passed you on tt
:. way!" impulsively broke in Jim.
so To his surprise, she gave a quick star
ne her yellow eyes opening wide and dia
81 ~ ing. their look fixed on him as If in cha
{" lenge. What do you nean?' she cried.
e. why, I only meant that I was on tt
&C. point of starting for Brighton this afte
''' noon" Breakspear explained. IF ha
- gone our trains would perhaps hay
of passed each other. But I'm very glad
d. didn't CO. as things have turned out
nd Still her face was sharpened and cage
he why are You very glad?"
$50 If he had told the whole, unconvention
he truth, he would have answered: "Becau
Mt if I'd gone should have missed securir
a great treasure, and falling in love wi
he the most beautiful girl in the world-tl
II finding OF whom is likely to lead me
* strange dance"
Il But instead he only told the ''conve
he tional TRUTH saying that he rejoiced
me having remained in town because Of tt
he opportunity afforded him of seeing al
Ups serving Miss Oakley.
IN IF that is the only reason you're gil
ay not to have gone to Brighton she r
ed piled, ''you will keep your word and
err tomorrow Her eyes were on his face.
1ot I'll am afraid that's impossible"
stammered, uncomfortably. ''The fact
not I wrote you letter not long ago, telli
you how awfully sorry I was not to
able to see you in Brighton after ALL
"Yet you came near going, you say, IL
lafternoon?"
v Eyes. That was before I-er-kn,
ID ~ 49, 80, -