The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-03-16
His Lady Of Dreams.

BY SUSAN sAYRE YARMOUTH.

thought of doing in the vividness of
his first impression, but six months
without any further developments,
keen conviction of its psychic value.
Meanwhile, a comfortable check from
the magazine had seemed to take the
thing out Of the province of psychic re-
search.
Ashe was a modest man, but not too
much so to find little lionizing quite
to his taste, and he went to afternoon
teas and cotillions with a feeling that
tomorrow would be some one elses
day, and he must gather his roses
while he might. So he entered Mrs.
Fosters long drawing room prepared
to smile as he listened to his verses
misquoted by fair flatterers; he re-
tanned that serene attitude Of mind
while he shook hands with Mrs. Fos-
ter, and not one minute longer. For
beyond Mrs. Foster, and standing just
outside the ring of light from a tall
lamp, was the lady Of his dreams, with
her white gown that clung TO her
shoulders and round waist, and flared
with heavy folds at her feet. This
time she wore fan on the long,
silver chain around her neck, and she
had no hat nor veil, so Ashe could see
that she was regarding him with the
frankest interest from pair Of most
attractive brown eyes. He flushed with
surprise, and his remarks to Mrs. Fos-
ter died on his lips. She was not a
dream, then, his princess! A sudden
recollection Of the check from the Hun
dred Years made him warm, and as
a corollary came the realization Of
his narrow escape from the Society of
Pschic Research-good heavens!
Meanwhile Mrs. Foster was saying
graciously-
80 good of you to come, Mr.. Ashe,
and not to forget your old friends, now
you are such celebrity. And to re-
ward you, am going to introduce you
to a very dear young friend of mine,
Miss Gregory, who admires your poems
so much" And Ashe found himself
before his princess, while Mrs. Foster
went on fluently: Constance, my
dear, this is Mr.. Ashe," and turned to
greet another guest. All remnants Of
his self-possession vanished at the
sound of the names, and interrupting
Miss Gregory's polite expressions of de-
light at making his acquaintance, Ashe
asked abruptly:
Are you a princess?"
She opened her brown eyes wider
and looked at him in surprise.
"Do-do you believe in telepathy,
and astral bodies?" he went on after
moments pause. "Or are you only a
dream?"
Dear mel" said the girl, Mrs. Fos-
ter said you were so nice, and not
startling-that no one would know
that you were a poet or anything else
at all awe-inspiring, and here you have
called me three alarming names in as
many minutes. Is this poetic license,
Mr.. Asher"
did you really mind Cissie Loftus?"
he asked anxiously. you see, she's
my favorite pipe, but she's rather old,
and I'm afriad she's little too strong
to be pleasant to strangers. But !
didn't expect you, you know, when you
came in so suddenly"
The girls face was gravely puzzled,
but her eyes looked amused.
Il am afraid Mrs. Foster has a mis-
taken idea of you," she said, with a
shake Of her head.
where do you live?" inquired
Ashe. when you're not in dream,
you know-when you are not in the
Thurston's library?"
We'll" said Miss Gregory, 81 am re-
lieved. am so glad to find that | can
at last take an intelligent interest in
the conversation. The Thurstons' IL
brary-itn't it a fascinating placer"
"You weren't in 1t long enough to
find out" objected Ashe. "And do you
think it was quite kind of you TO make
me bump my head?"
Long enough! I've spent hours in
the Thurston's library" said the girl
in mock Indignation. And / never
made you bump your head"
"Well, perhaps, not consciously" ad-
mitted Ashe, but it was under your
SPELL"
Miss Gregory looked at him with a
smile beginning TO show at the corners
Of her mouth
"You are certainly casting a spell
over me-" she said. Really, Mr.
Ashe, don't know what you mean
I'm sure ! never had anything to do
with your humping your head-but I'm
not sure that 1t would not do 1t good!"
Cruel" cried Ashe. well, since
you won't admit it. let's begin again.
| am very glad to meet you, Miss Greg
ory. Mrs. Foster is too good to me.
Do you know, your face is very famil-
iar-haven't | met you before?"
Mrs. Foster has been kind to me,
too" returned Miss Gregory, prettily.
mo, Mr.. Ashe, I'm sure that I would
not have forgotten it If we had met be-
fore. My home is not in New York,
and l am not here very much. But /
have heard Of you often from Mrs.
Foster. and rhs Thurstons In Morris-