The Falls City tribune., 1906-03-02

every ignoble suspicion: and whether
she cared for him or not. she would
comfort him for the nurt they had
been TO him.
The Halloween frolic was on
Through the long hall, lighted to pleas.
ant dusk by real Jack Lanterns. stray
couples strolled. with subdued mur.
murs and soft laughter In the big
white and gold parlor, in the dining
room billiard room, and In the tropic
jungle Of the immense palm garden the
party had bestowed itself In congenial
groups, ever intersecting and forming
anew. Little nutters of high laughter
now and then told of tests that were
being made with roasting chestnuts
apple parings, the white of an egg
dropped into water. or the lighted
candle before an open window.
Percival watched for the chance &c
fnd Miss Milbrey alone. His sister
had Just venturcd alone with n candle
into the library to study the face o.
her future husband in mirror. Tht
result had been, in sense, unsatisfac
her shoulder the faces of Mauburn,
Fred Milbrey. and the Ansstead twins.
and had declared herself unnerved by
the weird prophecy
Before the first in the hall Percival
stood while Mrs. Akemit reclined pic
turesquely near by, and Doctor Won
Her2lich explained, with excessive care
as to his enunciation, that protoplasm
can be analyZed but cannot be recon-
structed; following this with his own
views as to why the synthesis does not
produce life.
You wonderful mani" from Mrs.
Akemit; Il fairly tremble when | think
Of all you know. Oh. what a delight
science must be to her votaries!"
The Angstead twins joined the group,
attracted by Mrs. Akemt's inquiry of
the savant If he did not consider civ
ilization failure The twins did.
They considered civilization II failure
game. There was none to speak of
now except in Africa; and they were
pessimistic about Africa
Percival listened absently to the talk
and watched Miss Milbrey. now one of
the group in the dining room. Present
ly he saw her take lighted candle
from one of the laughing girls and go
toward the library.
His heart-beats Quickened. Now she
should know his love and IT. would be
well. He walked down the hall leisure
ly, turned into the big parlor, momen-
tarily deserted walked quickly but
softly over its polished floor to door
that gave into the library. pushed the
heavy portiere aside and stepped noise
lessly in.
The large room was lighted dimly by
two immense yellow pumpkins their
sides cut into faces of grinning gro
tesqueness At the far side of the room
Miss Milbrey had that instant arrived
before an antique oval mirror whose
gilded carvings reflected the light of
the candle. She held II above her head
with one rounded arm. He stood in
deep shadow and the girl had been too
absorbed in the play to note his com
her, but then through the curtained
doorway by which she had come he
saw a man enter swiftly and furtively.
Trembling on the verge Of laughing
speech, something held him back some
inexplainable instinct making itself
known in thrill that went from his
seet to his head; he could feel the roots
OF his hair tingle. The newcomer
went quickly, with catlike tread, to-
ward the girl. Fascinated he stood,
wanting to speak, to laugh, yet power
less from the very swiftness Of what
followed.
In the mirror under the candle light
he saw the mans dark face come be
side the other heard little cry from
the girl as she half turned; then he
saw the man take ..er in his arms, saw
her head fall on to his shoulder and
her face turn to his kiss.
He tried to stop breathing. fearing
discovery. grasping with one hand the
heavy fold OF the curtain back Of him
to steady himself.
There was the space Of two long
trembling breaths; then he heard her
say, In a low, tense voice, as she drew
away:
"Oh. you are my bad sngel-why?-
why?"
She fed toward the door to the hall.
Don't come this way" she called
back, in quick, low tones of caution.
The man turned toward the door
where Percival stood, and in the dark
ness stumbled over a hassock. In
stantly Percival was on the other side
Of the portiere. and, before the other
had groped his way to the dark corner
where the door was, had recrossed the
empty parlor and was safely in the
hall.
He made his way 10 the dining room
where supper was under way.
"Mr Bines has seen a ghost" said
the sharp-eyed Mrs. Drelmer
Poor chaps only starved to death. "
said Mrs. Gwilt-Athelstan. Eat some
thing, Mr., Bines; this supper is go-as-
you-please. Nobody's to wait for any