The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-15
CHAPTER TX. Anna Gessner

AnIld ttSSItI.
 They set table in the vestbule over looking the trim lawn. and thlther they carried cigars and coffee. Alban had learned to smoke freey-one of the few lessons the East End had taught him thoroughly-and Richard Gessner's cigars had just reputation among all who fre- quented the House of the Five Gables some of these, it must be confessed. coming here for no other particular rea- son than to smoke them. Alban did not quite understand what 1t was that diff ferentlated this particular cigar from any he had ever smoked, but he enjoyed it thoroughly and inhaled every whiff of it's fragrant bouquet as though it had been a perfume of morning roses.
 A profound stiffness, broken at rare in- tervals by the rustling of young leaves prevailed in the garden Night had come down. but 1t was a night of spring, clear and still and wonderful of stars. Dis tantly across a black waste of heath and meadow, the spire of Harrow church stood up as a black point against an azure sky. The waters of the Welsh Harp were as a shimmering lake of silver in the foreground; the lights of Tendon of Cricklweood spoke of suburban life, but might just as well have conjured up an Italian scene to one who had the wit to imagine 1t. Alban knew nothing of Italy he had never set foot out of Eng land in his life, but the peace and the beauty of the picture impressed him strangely, and he wondered that he had so often visited the Caves when such a fairyland stood open to his pleasure. Let 1t not be hidden that he would have been easily pleased this night. Youth responds quickly to settlements of what ever nature they may be. He was as far from realizing the truth of his posi- ton as ever but the complete change of environment, the penetrating luxury of the great house, the mystery which had carried him there and the prone of the morrow, conspired to elate him and to leave him, in the common phrase, as one who Is walking upon air. Even an habit ual cynicism stood silent now. What mattered 1t if he awolIe tomorrow to a reality of misunderstanding or of jest? Had not this night opened vista which nothing hereafter might shut out? And the truth might be as Richard Gressner had promised--a truth of permanence, of the continued possession of this won derland Who shall blame him if his heart leaped at the mere contemplation of this possibility?
 It would have been about o'clock when they carried his coffee to the garden it was just half-past when Anna Cess ner returned unexpectedly to the house. Alban heard the bell in the courtyard ring loudly, and Upon that the throttled purr of motors heavy engine. He had expected Silas Geary. but such a man, he rightly argued, would not come with so much pomp and circumstance, and he stood at once anxious and not little abashed. Perhaps some suspicion of the truth had flashed upon him unwittingly. He heard the voice of Fellows the butler raised in some voluble explanation, there were 8 few words spoken in a pleasing girlsh tone. and then, the boudoir behind him flashed its colors suddenly upon his vision, and he beheld Anna Gessner her self a face he would have recognized in ten thousand, figure of yesternight that would never be forgotten.
 She had cast aside her motor veil, and held it in her hand while she spoke to the butler A heavy coat bordered and lined with fur stood open to reveal d gray cloth dress her hair had been blown about by the fresh breezes of the night and covered her forehead in a disorder far from unbecoming. Alban thought that the cold light in the room and the heavy bright panelling against which she stood gave an added pallor to her usually pale face. exaggeratng the crimson of her lips and the dark beauty of her eyes, The hand which held the veil appeared to him to be ridiculously small; her att- tudes were so entirely graceful that he