The Washington times., 1905-01-29

{
antipathy; on the other hand. fate
/ brings us. sometimes, In contact with
personalities which at once appeal to
sixth sense within US, which is un-
expiatnables and indeinable, but which
seems to comprehend more than the
combined five educated and trained SEN
sibiiities of our beings
What is that sixth sense? Who can
tell? only know. that in five minutes,
felt as though 1 had known the min.
cess all my life. and I knew, Instructive
! ~. that the same influence worked In
her mind.
l will not attempt to describe her.
more than 10 afford a mere outline for
something that was indescribable, for
the charm which pervaded the atmos-
phere around her was felt rather than
seen 1t would be unfair TO call her
beautiful, as the prince had done. for
that word eomprehends merely an out
ward and visible sign, and with the
Princess Olga, that was the least of her
attractions
had always thought that I was born
/ and had lived devoid of that seIf-con-
seriousness which takes the form Of
egotism or of diffidence and which is the
bette noir to the happiness of many
found myself i'll at ease, and won
dered if I was appearing to advantage.
I was conscious OF myself, and what
was stranger still, I realized that this
| trained society belle, the undoubted
heroine of unnumbered conquests. was
as restless as I was.
We talked on indiferently-or appear
ed To do so-for some time. and then,
as there were many others who were
waiting to claim her attention. L got
upon my feet.
$50 soon, Mr. Dubraynik' she said.
Necessarily" I replied II cannot
take to myself all the delight OF the
/ evening
You viii return?''
If 1 may-when you are less &C.
cupied'
/ I was acquainted with nearly all the
guests, and was stopped a dozen times
on/Iny way across the salon to where
the prince was eonversing with a knot
/. of men. and as 1 glanced back N her
direction with each pause that made
I always met her eyes fixed upon me
unoonsciously, until they met my gaze
even though she was busy talking
with the people who formed the group
around her.
/ Instead OF joining the prince, turned
! aside with the feeling that 7 would
! rather be alone with the pleasurable
thrill which still pulsed IN my veins
| than to crush it out with society talk,
! which was my particular aversion.
I wandered on through the rooms.
pausing for moment here and there
i to exchange greetings with aequaint-
ances, at last emerging into the glass
covered garden, miniature forest OF
shrubbery, palms, and floral miracles.
| Il was a spacious place, dimfy lighted
by lamps shaded with red and green
and yellow globes, and traversed by
paths that were carpeted with Persian
rugs, and bordered by allurine hooks,
so daintiIy arranged and so suggestive
of all things sentimental as TO De in
describabIe It is an Oriental paradise,
/ and L thought, with smile, a dan
gerous place for bachelor, even
| though he were alone-for IL set him
to thinking
There was a furious Snowstorm with
out and 1 could hear the wind howl
ing and shrieking past the house, and
| the snow as it hurled itself into frag-
ments against the glass covering OF the
inclosure-
1 wandered on down the path mad
taken, as far as the extremity OF the
garden, then turned into other paths,
paused once TO light cigar, and went
/ on again. hither and thither, unheed-
ingly, and at last encountered one OF
the Turkish hooks, threw myself among
the cushions, and gave myself up to
the deliciousness OF the hour, for no
other word can describe It.
| There was not another soul IN the
II garden when entered it, and felt all
that bliss which solitude lends 10 per
feet surroundings There might have
i been a thousand persons tTayersing the
i paths. and could not have heard them,
:! but 1 was presently startled OUT OF
my reveries by hearing my own name
Or, rather, the one by winch was
known-pronounced in q voice which
had learned in a few brief moments 70
recognize
d ..Dubravnik," said the princess, evil
IDENTIFY in reply to a question concern
, ing ne
: bah! a friend OF Prince Michaers,
and therefore friend of the Cars.
lit would be a dangerous experiment 10
sound him. princess
perhaps; We will discuss it another
time Ivan. Shall We go IN mere.
They had evidently paused immediate
IL IN front of the place where was
concealed. or, rather only haI conceaI-
ed for they could have seen me if either
had CHANGED 70 look IN my olreceion-
could see them plainly
AS il was. I nestled closer among the
lcushicns and closed my eyes, expecting
discovery; but for some. reason-4ate
!mpelled doubtless-they passed on q
: few steps. and entered another place,
the counterpart OF the one that con-
ceaIed me, and seated themselves so
A near TO ne that I could have reached
out one hand and touched them. had IL
not been for the intervening screen OF
tapestry which partitiOned the two in
closures
:. The few words thatI had overheard
convinced me that | was not TO listen
10 condolences Of a sentimental nature
otherwise | should have made my pres
eHcs known. and esca~eG. The sentence
that had reached me. uttered by the
man. suggested another reason tor the
tryst. and / therefore listened. con-
WINGED that il was my duty 10 do so.
CHAPTER v.