The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-01


10 be drawn across the reception rooms
through the long corridors and dow
the broad digit Of steps that led % IN
conservatory
The conservatory was feature o.
the Bramfen town house. and to Lode
II came as something wonderful ane
unlocked FOR. with its clustering greer
branches, its slight. unoppressiv6
scents. Its temperately pleasant atmos
phere. He felt no wish to spcas as
still guided By Blessing.o-i. he passed
down the shadoWy paths that In the
half light had the warmth and mystery
OF a southern garden. Here and there
from the darkness came the whisper
Ing OF a voice or the sound OF a laugh.
bringing with IT the necessary touch Of
life. Otherwise the place was still.
Absorbed by the cir of solitude, con
trasting so remarkably with the noise
and crowded glitter left behind in the
reception rooms. he had moved half
way down the long green aisle before
| the business In hand came back to him
with a sudden sense OF annoyance. 1t
seemed so paltry TO mar the quiet Of
the place with the absurdlty OF side
show. He turned to sBlessington with
touch of abruptness.
what am l expected to do?" he
asked
Blessington looked up, surprised.
"Why. | thought. sir he began; then
he instantly altered his tone. "Oh,
just enter into the spirit of the thing.
Lady Astrupp won't put much strain
on your credulity. but she'll make a
big call on your solemnity." He laugh
ed
He had an infectious laugh. and Lo-
der responded to il.
But what am 10 dO?" he persisted.
"Oh, nothing. Being the priestess, she
naturally demands acolytes but she'll
let you know that she holds the prior
place The tent Is so fixed that she
sees nothing beyond your hands, so
there's absolutely no delusion." He
laughed once more Then suddenly
ne lowered his voice and slackened his
steps. Here we are" he whispered
In pretended awe
At the end of the path the space wild
ened to the full breadth of the conserv-
atOry. The light was DINNER, giving !
an added impression of distance; away |
to the left LoJer heard the sound of
splaShing water, and on his right hand
he caught his first glimpse of the tent
that was his goal
1t was an artistic little structural
pavilion formed Of silky fabric that
showed bronze in the light Of an orien-
tai lamp that hung above its entrance.
AS they drew closer a man emerged l
from it. He stood for a moment in n
looking about him; then,
sight of them, he came for
ward, laughing.
BY George, he exclaimed, its as
lark rs limbo in there! l didn't see
you ut FIRST iiut | say, Blessington,
It's beastly shame to have that thur
lercloud barrier shutting off the SOL
:eress II she gazes at the crystal,
naynt we have something to gaze at
oo?"
Blessingon laughed. You want too
much. Gallery" he said. Lady As ,
rupp understands the value of the I'M
Come along, sirr' he added
o Loder. drawing him forward with
n energetic pre- sure of the arm.
Loder responded, and as he did so a
ticker of curiosity touched his mind {
To fA,s
II instant who this woman was who
reused so much comment. And with
lie speculation came the remembrance
f how she had assured Chilcote that
Il enc point at least he was invulner p
BILE He lad spoken then from the t
ence so fully passed that he wonder
now if It had been as staple guar
ntee as he bad then believed. Mans "
opacity for OUTLYING is astonishingly u
omplete. The long ago incident in the 81
allan mountains had faded, like a e
'ayon study in which the tones have W
erged and gradually lost character.
he past had paled before the present, IL
J golden hair might pale before black. 81
be smile came with apparent irrele- 9.
lnce. Then again Blessington pressed -
8 arm. a.
Nov, STRIP he said, drawing away
Id lifting the curtain that hung before st
e entrance of the tent. OF
Loder looked at the amused, boyish ii,
ce lighted by the hanging lamp and
allied pleasantly; then, with shrug -,
the shoulders, he entered the pa -
Iion and the curtain fell behind him. d.
ITO be Continued.) DC