The Washington times., 1905-07-23
PART -CHAPTER VII.

Counting by human grades. the jour
ney from the southeast to the west OF
London Is longer than the crossing of
the desert. To Anna II was the momen-
tous undertaking OF her life Pursued
part of the way on foot and part by
omnibus, It held her spellbound with in
terest and delight.
First came the byways. the intricate
streets with their jutrng houses that
had been familiar TO her all her life
then the gradually widening thorough
fares. the warehouses, the atmosphere
OF steady commerce, the sense of colos-
sal enterprise: lastly after many inter-
mediate phases, hundreds of graduating
shades. the West End 1tseIf-tne throngs
of people. the glitter Of shops, the color
and movement and exhiIaration. the
surface suggestion OF lie without a care.
so novel TO one bred IN the ways Of toll
1t fascinated and drew her forcibIy: for
time it caused her - forget her er-
rand and 10 loiter in tile crowd. as dis
mounting from one omnibus, she waited
for the next that was % take her ~,
her way. But the detection was only
T1omeEtary: with n little gasp she recog-
ntzed her conveyance. frightened her I'm.
gers round the small linen bag she car
ried in her hand. and an instant later
was hauled on to the step Dy an irrta,-
ed conductor.
Seated on the top OF tie omnibus. her
interests became personal again ;blurring
her eyes, she let her thoughts steep
| themselves in consideration os what
was still to come. For ten minutes the
/ daydrcam lasted: then her g1Ze conCen-
trated and with a sting Of reality she
came back to facts. On one hand. as the
| horses carried her soberly forward. Iag-
the park, stretching AWAY in niimiIable
| stiffness, the cropped grass still green,
the bare tree-trunks, piac;1 and nlvste-
rious against a background of fog, on
| the other. the tall. Irregular houses
/ with their aloofness. their air OF sub
/ dued well-being. The whole struck on
| her with the suddenness Of unrcckoned-
| with things; the sense or "a world wide
| ~ separate from her own fell on her
with force. She Ieaut forward agttated-
| y and touched the drivers ern
! Put me down at Palace court" The
/ sound Of her own voice disconnected her
/ afTesh-
/ The man nodded. and # seemed that
the harness Jingled louder az they swung
steadily along. She wondered why anv-
| thing so common "a a bus was allowed
to pass that way, After two minutes.
wait she ieant out again.
| IS IL near?"
~ "
| He pointed with his whip and all at
/ once her breath seemed 10 leave her
throat. 4 moment later the horses
/ were pulled up; she rose, her heart beat
| Ing violently her hand grasping the lit
/ tie bag. and descended the steps with
/ headIong speed. Almost before she was
aware. she was standing alone in the
roadway, watching the omnibus urch
/ olacijly out OF sight, Then she walked
/ to the foot path and considered her next
act
She drew a slip Of paper from he,
pocket. read il carefully and glanced at
! the indicated house: then quite slowly
| her gaze Travelled to her dress of coarse
/ brown serge. and she became alive to
/ the strongest temptation that had as
sailed her yet-the temptation 90 run
! away. The inclination WAS so compel
/ ling that she turned inVoluHtari.y and
! walked fer q couple Of yards: then The
! face OF Johann pale ana nervous. rose
before her. and she stood very still. II