The Washington herald., 1906-11-14

Perigod's message had sounded Ike the
kneil of his hopes, and he scarcely dared
TO dream that his sweetheart could have
been rescued. and no news thereof been
CLEANED during the days that had passed
between. Lying stretched out on his mat
tress on the sand. a mattress upon which
the Count d'Attala had often reposed. for
il had formed part of the old mans Ged,
he tossed and turned for the space of ar
hour. Vainly seeking a respite from his
sad imaginings. vainly longing for the
relief Of slumber. At last, utterly tired
Of the struggle. ne got TO his feet and
wandered along the beach away from the
camp toward the nearest prOmontQry, and
after a while threw himself down in
sandy nook shaded by jagged rocks.
which however, did not shut out the
sweet air Of heaven or the mild beaming
Of the planets
The god ne had wooed so long took pity
on him there. and touched his heavy eye
lids with the magic wand Of dreams. How
| long Cressingam slept, he did not know.
He was aroused by the sound Of voices
quite near 10 him. the sOft-toned voices Of
a man and maid murmuring together IN
derne8th the canopy Of stars.
| He vaguely recognized that it was De
sire talking to Won Oeltjen. and for a
while he was drOwsily indignant with his
1 friend for quitting the post assigned to
| him without permission,
He heard the German say: Yes, Desire.
| astronomers all tell US that each tiny
! twinkling lamp set in the sky above US is
another world. or a sun. perhaps, larger
and more glorious than ours. But for
myself, I prefer to think otherwise.
/ love 20 dream that with the fan of dusk
/ God draws a spangled curtain over US,
through riffs in which His angels curl
| ously peep 20 watch upon our doinEs 1t
/ is their eyes that tighten the gloom OF our
/ night; the ones that beam are the friends
| of lovers. for they are soft and kind;
/ those that twinkle smile at our fOlles. as
you may easily tell, while yOn thick veil.
misnamed the Milky Way, are the eyes Of
angels who weep for our sins-see how
blurred and misty is their light: their
tears form the rain which falls upon the
earth at intervals. Flowers spring from
those tears. Desire; beautiful sweet
scented flowers"
1T is pretty thought" unused the girl.
But what do you think Of the moon?"
Cressingham wondered how his friend
would face this poser. but Oeltjen did not
seem even momentarily puzzled.
''The moon. Desire" he answered soft
~. is part of heaven Itself, tiny part
which God only occasionally permits Us
to look upon, for none Of US are worthy
to regard 1t always. Is 1t not true that
when the moons golden splendor shines
upon the world the hearts of all who
walk and see are insensibly made mild
and kind. and inclined to love and to be
beloved? That is because il is the light OF
Gods own house. and God is Love. De-
sire
How beautiful your dreams are. my
friendi Neither the able nor Lord Francis
ever spoke to me like that. I love TO lis
ten to such things"
THAT is because you are at heart a
poetess. Desire"
Cressingham raised himself noiselessly
to his elbow. undecided whether to inter
rupt such charming converse or to keeT
his presence unreveaied He did not want
to spy upon his friend. and yet he had
distinguished something in the counts
voice that surprised him, a note of ad-
miration, almost passion Oeltjen was
standing upon the sand; Desire-dressed
al last in the costume Of w0man-besidf
him. They were holding each others
hands. and a very pretty picture they
made-the mans strong. earnest figure
the girls curved and tender outlines sill
houetted softly against the meaning suri
beyond Cressingham decided not 10 re-
veal himself. for somehow he had con
Ceived a positive affection and reverence
for Desires character. and he had growr
TO look upon himself as her protector
since she had no other; and besides, ht
owed her deep debt of gratitude i
was not exactly that he feared or dis
trusted the Count Won Oeltjens inten
tions. but he knew from his own expert
: ence how weak are all men before tbs