The Washington times., 1905-10-01
PART III-CHAPTER l.

1t was early forenoon, but the light
that filtered into the curio shop was so
dim that only the white Chinese vases
that stood close to the door were clear
| ly discernible; the shelves, rising tier
on tier along the walls, and filled for
| the most part with Eastern cloths,
seemed but many reflections OF the
| gloom; whiffs of hot air came through |
| the overshadowed doorway and min
gled with the scent of spice: the whole
atmosphere sanded the throat with a
dry and enervating warmth.
! At the father end of the shop Johann
was attending to IL customer; in the
scanty light his pinched face was bare
ly to be seen. but as he moved from
| place to place a strangers eye would
have been caught by the stoop, acquired
of late years, that added point and
pathos to his deformity- The minutes
| passed; the customer was testy and
hard to please; it was hot day for
bargaining, but Johann was conscien-
tious and buried himself in his task. So
absorbed did he become that when a
new shadow fell across the doorway,
then drifted inward. and new figure
entered the shop. he failed TO notice it.
The newcomer entered softly. She
was tall, so tall that unconsciously, and
passed through the low door; her dress
and hat were black and simply made.
but with the simplicity of marked dis
tinction. Ii. the first instant she paused,
but quickly gathering decision. moved
into the shadows on the right-hand
side and stood looking slowly round.
Her survey was studied and deliberate.
but instantly it was completed she let
her eyes droop. shivered a little ner
vously, then pulled off her gloves with
peculiar haste.
Seller and customer were engaged in
an argument. neither thought Of look
ling round. 1t was early day, but yet
i the sun had not made it's tardy way into
0 Felt street: outside in the close air
I children played on the cobbles, their
! cries and laughter and disputes coming
r sharply audible; inside the spicy smell
I mingled overpoweringly with the heat,
0 and Johann's high-pitched voice. with
t its faint foreign intonation, sounded
. glaringly real.
q To the girl standing in the shadows II
seemed that the circle of life was COM
4 plete From the neutral tints she had
; passed through every graduating shade
= that existence can possess, revolving
e slowly past the faint light tones of hope
u and expectation to the vivid colors
= of actual fulhllment. from the vivid
s colors steadily and inevitably forward
10 be confronted once again by gray
ness and shadow She put out her hand
and tentatively touched the bronze
Buddha that still held its place on the
Is second shelf behind the set Of ivory
"A chessmen. The dust came off thickly
i, on her finger; she raised her hand in an
unconscious gesture and scanned the
w marks; then quite swiftly she let her
arm drop. The customers purchase was
! | made.
n She heard his last gossiping word. his
lingering parting; lastly. his SLOW
IN movements as he passed her. quietly
oblivious of her existence, and disap
no peared into the street. With the feelin,
.d of chill that always assailed her il
re moments of nervousness. she move,
nj from the shadow and walked slowl,
a into the center of the shop.
n Johann had moved back into tn
SO partitioned desk; he saw through tn
imperfect glass that a new figure ha
on come into the shop; with slight sig
he pushed back his chair.
hit What can 1 do for your he aske
gently. His voice was quiet, his fac'
III as he turned it towards her, caught
CLINT of light from the street, and wit
ce a culver Of realization she saw h
is features distinctly-the patient eyes, tn
dropping mouth. the mark of the ol
scar running from eyebrow to templ
She laid her hand heavily on III
m. counter.
: He looked at her. but without recogn
m. ton.
She moved little. and a faint seer
ast OF violets was carried to him on the hC
he air The silence was strained
IL, ~ eh
What can 1 do for your" he sai
he again.
Her fingers pressed the counter: the
md quite abruptly she lifted her head.
zone thing. Johann. Forgive me.
rrs it's not too late
m Johann drew back against the pile'
nj. up uniforms that were stacked behir
the counter. precisely as other uniform
,ad had been stacked in other days +
ntv covered his face with his hands; the
IN at last he looked up. Anna he sa
80, in. a blind way. Anna" At the repet
,w ton of the word his breath failed.
in, The girl bent forward. leaning aero
the counter. Yes" she said. hurriedl
xaa "Anna-after all the years. after ever
- thing" She suddenly crouched lowe
laying her face against the shinil
rou wood.
Twice he moved from the pile Of ur
forms and twice retreated; twice
-, passed his hand agitatedly across /
-. mouth; then finally grasping his dete
rnination he came forward and touch
- her shoulder.
There never was anything 10 70
- give" he said.
- Her head remained bent. She was n
crying. but a silent agitation, quite 1
,A comprehensive TO the man. was sha
- ing her almost tears might ha
rife done
His fingers pressed her arm depi