The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-09-08
CHAPTER XIV.
TgE OWLS

Sn the lofty, well-warrned dining room.
Clusters OF candles IN great candelabra
threw a soft glow upon the plate or
silver and gold, used only on festivals
array OF sparkling glass and on the
deiiciously odorous hot-house flowers,
leaving almost in shadow the room sur
rounding them, with its wainscottlng of
old oak, above which hung ancient
tapestries representing categorical sub
sects.
Edith, who had been taken into dim
ner by Godfrey, sat beside him. her
gown, Of some soft lustreleSs material
the color of dead gold, contrasting
the fairness Of her gracefully-curved
shoulders. A air pink tint, like the
heart OF a blush rose, was just visible
Through the transparency of her COM
pleEion, n her eyes shone with the
mystic light Of happiness. Her only
was a string of pearls claspeC
about her beautifully rounded throat.
She was In the strange position of
sitting at table with three men, each of
whom had k her to be his wife.
They whom she had refused would
have been more than human had they
forgotten their hopes of winning her.
They glanced from her, with her ex-
preston of u~nrestrained and undis-
guised ~joyousness. to him whose coun-
tehance showed his triumphant salts
faction, and felt their blood stirred
with burning jealousy, with bitter dis
.qutetude.
81 thought your friend. Signor Ven
etc, most interesting" Lady Bysshe
said to Dunstan. being anxious to rouse
him from the silent mood into which
he had fallen. rs he still on the verge
,of great discoveries?"
She smiled at him with her gracious,
'affectionate manner, and he turned
toward her responsive to the sympathy
Fha irtI1ftiualu 1rrny1r che fa)t fnI, his
wounded love: and admiring her hand
some, regular features with their eX-
preston of intelligence and humor, and
her well set, portly figure clad in violet
velvet with amethysts clasping her
inns and throat.
"Signor Veneto still believes in the
unknown power of electricity. To him
It is a genii, who if only captured, can
work miracles" he told her.
Like that poor DR.. zoffani. who is
certain he will one day be able to make
gold from lead."
Il heard of him when I was in Italy,
but never saw him."
"Dreamers," calculated the count
TT is dreamers who make the worlds
history" remarked Dunstan. ''Their
dreams are suggestions on which others
act"
My dear friend" the oun replied,
as he turned his vacant eyes TOWARD
SkASSls - AtA 2loL 81 IL NfSAN Sf~AN
angly. Our dreams, whether by day OF
might, are the result of imagination;
and without 1t what should we be!
Mere human machines. Besides. l am
myself a dreamer"
What do you dream of, papa?'
asked Edith.
Strange things" he replied.
Tell US of them," Lady Bysshe en-
treated.
That would be impossible" he said
his handsome face becoming unusually
thoughtful. our dreams are the
secrets of our souls"
But have your dreams never become
actualities 2" asked Dunstan.
"oh, yes; some Of them have-some
u thought they must"
why, why7" the count asked, witt
abrupt anxiety.
"Oh, simply because it's a theory OF
mine that ones dreams, or In other
words ones desires, II persisted IL. be
ON realities-though not always" hs
iadded. remembering his own disap.
;pointment.
The momentary silence that followed
mis- words was broken by the barrister
who plunged Into a witty story regard.
ing q well-known Judge and his stngu'
lar dream, and the conversation wen
brtskly enough for the remainder Of tn.
meal.
In the drawing room later on, al
seemed to Join In making the las
might Of the year merry. An expert
,ment in thought reading was proposed
by Max, who had lately seen som,
wonderful exhibitions Of this power
but 1t was objected TO by the count
who disiiked dabbling in such matters
and 1t was rejected in favor Of music
the count playing Beethoven and Cho
pin, and Edith singing some old Eng
!2ish ballads that seemed inexpressibl
sweet as given by her fresh youn
voice.
Tha applause b a followed one {
these was suddenly broken by the elias
OF distant church bells. ALI starte,
mot knowing 1t was 30 near midnight
They are ringing out the old year
aaid Max.
May I open one OF the windows {
hat we may hear them better?"
The rain had ceased, but the sky ws
smpenetrable and a heavy density hur
above the blurred earth.
They stood round the open windo'
within the warm, well-llghted roo1
listening to the bells in silence as
the peal brought each a message tn
went straight to the heart. Sudden
In q brief luil, a sound was heard III
q stiled scream. Edith started, al
asked what 1t was.
MAJ laughed boyishly, as If enjoyil
Ner ITlGnL. ltS My ne eNplalne
zone OF the owls that build in the 1
covering the wing where we siee
They sometimes wake me at nigl
tand make my blood run cold. Do
you think they ought to be done aw
with2'
NO, no. Edith answered, IT ha
always been fond Of owls, and I he
nobody will interfere with them"
II fear, dear, you may catch cole
aald her aun Let us close the wi
dow, and wish each other a happy NJ
year before we dispense"
But we ought not to dispense wit
out drinking to the health and hap,
ness of each other" the count su
gested.
"ot course not" responded Ed
turning to where the servants had
ready placed wines and whiskey a
ayphons on a side table; and in q n
nent acting on his fathers hint, M
had uncorked a bottle Of champae
and filled the glasses which Dunst
handed round.
Here" the count proposed, as
rose from his chair, here Is peace q
good will to all men"
Health and happiness to us a
Godfrey said.
with sunshine In our lives ad
Lady Bysshe.
The lovers g~lances met. Max
Dunstan kept silent and drained tt
glasses with downturned lids.
moment later and Edith and
ssS8 amt had ~atjre6 ~ INF NOT hafoYa