Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-25
CHAPTER XII.
Iona Heller

Iona Heller.
Even in the remotest mountain cabin one
may find .comelness-roundne of figure,
and iuster of eyes. and even perfection of
color and mold of feature But beauty
Is quite another thing. 1t is an atmos-
pnere rather than contour and a color:
IL is subtle blending of all things to-
sether; and 1t is more. There Is heredity
IN 1.-THE cumulative charm of a long
hne OF fair mothers and fairer daughters
me essence of II eludes analysis; II Is
the bouquet of rare wine indescribable
and indefinable. When one finds Il In the
wilderness It whispers Of old tragedy 1t
is the fuli-blown Jacqueminot among the
Jingle thorns. There has been rude trans
planting; there is a romance to tell, though
perchance II has been forgotten
NO one could deny that Iona Heller pos
sessed peauty--a wild, barbaric type of
beauty, perhaps yet one that attracted
attentlon instantly and held it by a force
lhat was little short of uncanny. A sin
gle glance marked her as an exotic. a child
or the south, Of the Latin lands-with
cheeks of pale olive with eyes such as
only the daughters Of the Mediterranean
ever possess, and with hair abundant and
sort and glistenfng in it's perfect black
ness. with the sun full upon It, 1t was
still an absolute black. The supple fig
ure, 1.-the and cat-qutck, the arms rounded
for the dance. for the fling of the tam
BOURNE or the castanets, the feet and
limbs light as the daughter of Herodias
the neck and head for toss and coquettish
pose-eyery line and feature was of this
earth, JOY to see, but of the moment
alone. A curious type for old Poppy Mil
iers cabin in the Run, type clearly not
evolved amid the Seven Mountains.
NO wonder that the valley folk, who had
caught only glimpses of this girl, whis-
pered among themselves, and no wonder
that Tom Farthing, alive and twenty-one,
went home from the Run in a iutter. He
n rof,i oxrf
for seeing her again, and he found one
1t would require tact, he unused, to con-
quer her shyness. Doubtless he would find
difficulty in seeing her at all; for she was
wild as a forest creature and as timid
But the evening changed the face OF
things. She had not avoided him at all;
she had been self5possessed and at her
ease; and there had been in her every at
tftude and intonation the stateliness of one
who is condescending graciously. He was
the mental and she the daughter of the
house. 1t mystifed him and haunted him.
AS he walked home through the twilight
he could think of nothing else. How could
a woman like that live at Poppy Miller's,
in that squalid cabin?
That was the beginning of visits. He
went almost every night. He carried her
water from the creek; he sawed her wood;
he walked with her in the twilight.
Then all in a moment she changed like an
April day. AS by an impulse she dropped
her aloofness and reserve and made a
comrade of him. It took his breath away.
1t sent him home powerless to Danish her
from his thoughts. He was as wax in her
hands; he changed with her every mood,
and her moods were infinite. Now he was
joyous and confident-he could win her yet,
for she loved him, 1t must be; then swiftly
he would despair, for she was infinitely far
away and he was but an episode; then for
tense moment he would feel like one who
awakes in grip that holds him rigid fight
as he may-but 1t was only for the moment.
Once he found her dressed in a strange,
clinging costume of yellow, brilliant and
glittering, her arms bare to the shoulders,
and her feet in curious sandals. Her hair
was knotted in wild, gypsy fashion.
dash of color at the crown. a sparkle of
beads at the throat-he could only stare
at her.
Don't you like the dress?" she called.
But what is it?''
Just a dress. Seer She sprang up and
spun around till the short skirt stood out
Look!" She caught up a tambourine-like
thing with fluttering streamers, flung up
her arms in joyous abandon, and glided
and flashed and spun. Her eyes were full
upon him. They seemed unnaturally large
and brilliant, and always looking straight
into his. moment and she sank upon
the rock.
Wonderful! wonderful" he burst out
strangely exhilarated. He could not take
his eyes from her.
But what kind of dance is it?" he
asked eagerly. What is it?"
It's just dance"
But where could you have learned it?"
L never learned it,
''Ah, but you must"
Its in the blood. It's like breathing"
THE blood what do you mean? What
blood?" He leaned forward intensely.
See; here's another" Again he watched
the flash and weave of her bare arms, the
of her garments. The rhythmic thump
thump and chatter seemed beating In his
throat. The streamers. floating and cir
cling about her head and throat and breast
to-, boz, 7arr
him. He began to feel strange and unreal
Infinitely far off. and ever those eyes were
full upon him. They seemed to be growing
larger and more black. When she stopped
he drew a long breath, but he did not move
we call that The Fling" she volun-
teered
THE witches fling Did YOU like it?',
cit was beautiful, beautiful he half
whispered, still looking full at her. There
seemed to him no past nor future. no mere
nor there, only now and her-and II was
enough just to look.
'Ah, see!" With her arms flung above
her head and the ribbons flashing and
ward down the path He tried to follow
her, but he seemed to have no power 70
move. Her eyes were still full upon him.
Iona" he called.
gaily, then disappeared into the house.
Would she come back? He watched the
door eagerly until the twilight had deepen
ed into the darkness but he saw her no
more.
The next day was Saturday. He went
down earlier than usual; the sun was stun
in sight over the ridge, though dimmed Dy
the smoke to mere plate OF brass. Inc
old cabin lay dead and deserted The
blinds were drawn close: there was not
even smoke. He hesitated moment
then raped at the back door, and after
long walt he raped again. No one there.
He turned and scanned the path to the
creek. Perhaps she was getting the water
No movement. All! al he turned again,
there she was, not two steps away. she
had opened the door without noise he
jumped almost guiltily.
''Why-why-you here?' he almost gaspea.
'Come IN" she said grayely.
''Why no. Perhaps we can
Come in" He followed her without
word.
The kitchen was quite dark when she
closed the door A few Goals glowered in
the stone fireplace, but they furnished no