The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-09
CHAPTER XIV.
rHE OWLS

They were seated at the round table
b lofty. well-warmed dining room.
Quetere OF candles In great c~andelabra
0rsw 9 soft giow upon the plate Of
such - that they celebrated, on the
array Of sparkling glass and on the
4~edlc1ously odorous hot-house flowers,
Soaytng almost in shadow the room sur
Oounding them. with its wainscotting of
Nc oak, above which hung ancient
SD. i'e' 1sp'ssen''ns a''ek0'''ai SUP
Edith, who had been taken into din
Asr by Godfrey. sat besie.e him, her
gown, OF some soft lusue;ess material
the fl. aas, Of her gracefully-curved
fhoulderA. faint pink tint, like the
Asart of = blush rose, was Just visible
through the transparency OF her COM
plexion, and her eyes shone with the
mystic light of happiness. Her only
rnament was a string Of pearls clasped
about her beautifully rounded throat.
She was IN the strange position Of
sitting at table with three men, each Of
whom had asked her to he 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-
Dreeeion OF u~nrestratned and undis-
pulsed joyousness. to him whose coun-
stenance showed his triumphant salts
HASGAAOusN AuV 10lL IHGlI DlOOQ SI1TIGQ
With burning jealousy, with bitter dis
-Nuietude.
II thought your friend, signor Ven
.eto, most Interesting" Lady Bysshe
1paid to Dunstan, being anxious to rouse
him from the silent moo into which
Ae Q fallen. rs he still OF the verge
ct great discoveries 2"
She smiled at him with her gracious.
-enectionate manner. and he turned
toward her responsive to the sympathy
he intuttively knew she felt for his
wounded love; mi 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
arms n throat.
unknown power OF electricity. To him
~ 10 q genii, who IL only captured, can
work mlracles,"" he told her.
Like that poor DR.. Zofrani. who is
.cortAtn he will day be able to make
gold from lead"
r heard OF him when l was in Italy,
but mover saw him"
"Dreamers," calculated the count.
II 10 dreamers who make the worlds
history" remarked Dunstan. Their
s0reams are suggestions on which others
sAct"
% he turned his vacant eyes toward
bin. Z did not use the word disparag-
1ngiy. Our dreams. whether by day or
night, are the result OF Imagination:
and without It what should we be?
Mere human machines. Besides, I am
smyself . dreamer"
What do you dream Of papa?"
asked Edith.
Strange things" he replied.
Tell us Of them" Lady Bysshs en-
treated.
That would bs impossible" he said.
nis handsome face becoming unusually
thoughtful. Our dreams are the
secrets Of bur soulAs
but have your dreams never become
sActualities7" asked Dwnstan.
@Qh. yes; sorns Of them have-some
- thern.' the count admitted.
why. why1- the count asked, with
abrupt anxiety.
"oh. simply because It's = theory Of
tnaine that ones dreams. or In other
words ones desires, Il persisted in. be-
como realitiesEthough not always,s he
added. remembering his disap-
tDolntmsnt-
The momentary silence that followed
lis words was broken by the barristsr.
ing 9 wsll-known judge and his sinsu-
lar dream. and the conversation went
sbrtskly enough for the remainder Of the
smsal.
In III drawing room later on. al
-s:emsd 70 join in making the last
1ment in thought reading was proposed
BY Max. who had lately seen some
wonderful exhibitions Of this power,
aeot Il was objected to by the count
Who 6isliksd dabbling in suc matters.
and u was rejected IN favor Of music,
the count playing Beethoven and Cho-
PIN. and Edith singing some old Eng
ssNsh ballads that seemed inexpressibly