Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-29
CHAPTER TX.
Anna Gessner.

overlooking the trim lawn, and thither
they carried cigars and coffee. Alban
had learned to smoke f1ercely-one Of
the few lessons the East End hal
taught him thoroughly--and Richard
Gessner's cigars had just reputation
among all who. frequented the House
of the Five Gahles-some Of these, 1t
must be confessed, coming here for
no other particular reason than to
smoke them Alban did not quite
understand what it was that different
lated this particular cigar from any
he had ever smoked, but he enjoyed
1t thoroughly and inhaled every Whit
Of its fragrant bouquet as though 1t
had been a perfume Of morning
roses.
A profound stiffness. broken at rare
intervals by the rustling of young
leaves, prevailed in the garden Night
had come down, but it was a night
or spring, clear and still and wonder
full Of stars Distantly across black
waste Of heath and meadow, the
spire OF Harrow church stood upas a
black point against an azure sky. The
waters Of the Welsh Harp were as a
shimmering lake of silver in the fore
ground the lights of Hendon and Of
Cricklewood spoke of suburban life,
but might just as well have conjured
Up an italian scene to one who had
the wit to imagine it. Alban knew
nothing of italy he had never set foot
out Of England in his life, but the
peace and the beauty Of the picture
impressed him strangely, and he won.
dered that he had SO often visited the
Caves when such fairyland stood
open to his pleasure Let 1t not be
hidden that he would have been
easily pleased this night. Youth res.
ponds quickly to excitements Of what
ever nature they may be. He was
as far from realizing the truth Of
his position as ever, but the com
plete change of environment, the
penetrating luxury of the great house
the mystery which had carried him
there and the promise Of the morrow.
conspired to elate him and to leave
him in the common phrase, as ont
who Is walking upon air. Ever an
habitual cynicism stood silent now.
What mattered 1t If he awoke to-
morrow to reality Of misun dersrand.
Ing or of jest? Had not this night
CFVACu q flSCd WnlCll
after might shut out? And the truth
might be as Richard Gessner had
prom1sed--a truth of permanence Of
the continued possession of this Won
derland. Who shall blame him If his
heart leaped at the mere contempla.
tion of this possibility?
1t would have been about nine
o'clock when they carried his coffee
to the garden-it was Just half-past
nine when Anne Gessner returned IN.
eSpectedly to the house. Alban heard
the bell in the courtyard ring loudly
and upon that the throttled purr Of u
motors heavy engine. He had ex-
pected Silas Geary, but such man,
he rightly argued, would not come
with so much pomp and circumstance
and he stood at once, anxious and not
a little abashed. Perhaps some sug-
picion Of the truth had flashed upon
him unwittingly. He heard the voice
Of Fellows the butler raised in some
voluable explanation, there were n
few words spoken in pleasing girl
ish tone and then the boudior behind
Kim flashed its colors suddenly upon
his vision and he beheld Anna Cess
cognized In ten thousand, figure of
yesternight that would never be for
gotten.
She had cast aside her motor veil,
and held 1t in her hand while she
spoke to the butler A heavy cof:t
bordered and lined with fur stood
open to reveal a gray cloth dress;
her hair had been blown about by the
fresh breezes of the night and cover
ed her forehead in disorder far
from unbecoming. Alban thought
that the cold light in the room and
the heavy pallor to her usually pale
fnce exaggerating 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 attitudes were so entirely
graceful that he could not imagine a
picture more pleasing If he remem-
bered that he had likened her to
little Lois Boriskoff, he could not ad-
NIT the preposterous nature of the
comparison. True 1t was that nation,
atty spoke in the contour of the face
In Its coloring and its expression, but
these elementals were forgotten in
the amazing grace of the girls move
ments, the dignity of her gestures
and the vitality which animated her.
Returning to the house Unexpectedly
even lad was shrewd enough to SEE
that she returned also under the
stress Of an agitation she could not
conceal from none. Her very ques-
tons to the servants were 80 quick
and incoherent that they could not be
answered. The letters which the
butler put into her hands were torn
from the envelopes but were not read.
When she opened the boudoir win.
dow and SO permitted Alban to over
hear her hurried words, it was as
one who found the atmosphere Of .
house insupportable and must breathe
fresh air at any cost
HAS my father returned Fellows?"
mo, miss, he is not expected until
late"
why did you not send the carriage
to the station?"
Mr.. Gessner said that you were
coming tomorrow, miss
She flushed slightly at the retort
and mazda az though To stem 0,It into