The Washington times., 1905-08-13
PART II-cHAPTEP 7

PART II-CHAPTER I.
It was an April day; a day Of cool
sunshine, budding leaves and promise.
! On either side of Mrs. Maxtead's hall
! door was a narrow window; Branks.
| from his position IN the hall. watched
| the ebb and flow Of life through the
| glass. Looking to the left, he could
| scan the young green Of the Park
i trees. and raising his glance could
! catch a CLINT Of pale blue sky; but his
| eyes had an absent expression. One
| is apt 10 become absent when one has
| gazed on the same scene with small
| intermission for more than eight
! years. Not that Branks complained:
his bread was buttered with a liberal
| hand, and he. understood the value OF
! butter TO an ounce.
| His eyes continued to skim the
| greenness; then Yerged to the nearer
| gray Of the road with it's jingIfng
| stream OF vehicles; its bright, swift
| rush of life. London was filing; with
| every incoming train the food Of hui
manity thickened; with each new
morning blinds were raised, trades
mems ladders borne away, furniture
| resurrected from its holland coverings.
| The sense OF a brilliant season was
in the air.
| Branks speculeted on the point with
| lazy satisfaction. He was 8 little
! stouter. a little less superciiious than
/ IN the old days; time had dealt with
| him as il deals with q stcne WALL
| smoothing his surface and rounding
| his corners. In ten years." Mrs
| Maxtead sometimes said, 'Branks viii
| be tolerable; in twenty he Will be in
| valuable: IN thirty" But BraEks
was supremely unconscious Of his
! @7+
He watched the f1ower-girI on tha
| opposite pathway; he recognized an
| acquaintance on g passing brougham.
/ and leaned nearer to the glass; then
| ali at once CLEAN of genuine interest
| frightened his face and he stood up
right
AN 'ansom." he calculated, at 8 n
the afternoon" He looked at the hall
clock to verify his impression. then
his eyes returned TO the window.
| A second hansome. laden With Tug
gage, had drawn up behind the first,
| then almost simultaneously. a third
! swayed into view; the curiosity in
Branks' mind became almost a pain
With a great shaking Of harness
and slipping Of hoofs, the horses had
pulled up To Branks there was some
thing almost portentous in the ciatter
| of sound; he peered through the win
dow, then caught his breath A lady
descended. paid the cabman. and turn-
ed TO pat the horse. He felt his
mouth cape.
Where had he seen her before? The
question revolved slowly through his
brain.
She was talI-taIler for the straight
ness OF her figure and the poiss OF her
head; but she was something mores
from the curve Of her hat TO her per-
fecty shod feet she was distinguished
original, striking. She wore a travel
ing coat of dark sable and carried &
bunch Of vio1ets in her hand
| Where had he seen her beforeT HIs
dull mind was twisted by the ques-
ton. The outline was SO familiar, yet
so unfamiliar, so tantaltzing, so ag~
gravating. Then quite swiftly she
turned, and he gasped IN audible re-
lief
He remembered the portrait IN the
dining room, the girl in the trailing
muslin dress and wide-brimmed hat
ONLY Yesterday his mistress had turn
ed from & pile Of newspapers and nod
ded to the picture. THE greatest
actress in Europe, Branks!" she said;
and he had replied. Yes. ma'am." in
his most deferenttal tone.
With a flourish he threw the dooE
wide.
The stranger ran up the steps; hsS
lips were smiling, and her eyes SEEM
ed to reflect the smile.
sBranksr' she said. holding out hss
hand,
Branks drew back; custom ana gooS
training We're strong with him; but
the hand was still held out, and there
is a charm before which the most pep
feet training in the world goes Ia
evitabIy to the wall. With an awk-
ward movement he advanced.
AIa'arn-niss- He was some
what fncoherent we have heard o9
your success. miss. We all feel prouA
T if I might say
She laughed, but her eyes darkens4
for q second.
It's good TO be home again, Branas-
Where's Mrs. Maxtead? In her peg
room? All right don't announce me-
Just see to my boxes-and 10 nag
! maid; she's somewhere in the thlre
cab" She ran across the hall; but o.
l the lowest step Of the stairs zhs
. paused
''Branks!'
= Yes. miss.
is Mrs. MaNtead oedioohi S'isz
white? In all the times I've seen neg
I've never remembered to ask
0 The room is still white, miss
4 All" She turned and flew up tina
stairs.
Mrs. Maxtead laid down her news
paper with the nearest approach to .
: start she had ever allowed herself.
Anna she said sharply .Anna-
from the very skies
The girl crossed the room eagerly
e From nowhere so high, Jeanne She
bent iaughingly and kissed the others
: | cheek.
e (Tn Be Continued Next Sunday.)