Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1908-01-03

Jog craci.lSs. IN the fireplace. There
were plenty of candles. There was a
piano, too. tbs belonged to the cas-
tie; heayy tarraulin covering lay
heaped at enc side. There was ma
hogany sidebeard that would have
sent collector of antiques into rap
lures, and a table upon which lay the
remains Of fine supper. My mouth
watered. / counted over the good
things: roast pheasant, pink ham, a
sea-fcod salad, asparagus white bread
and unsalted butter, an alcoholburner
over which hung teapot and besides
all this there was a pint of La Rose
which was but holf-emptied. Have
you ever been in the saddle half
day? If you have, you will readily
appreciate the appetite that was war
ring with my curiosity.
Eat" bade she Who was called
Gretchen, shortly.
And my horse?"
Where is it,"
Tiled to tree by the gate"
She struck a Chinese gong. From
the kitchen appeared an elderly servi-
tor who looked to me more fitted to
handle a saber than carving knife;
at least, the scar on his cheek i'm
pressed me with this idea. Ct found
out later that he was an old soldier,
who lived alone in the castle as care
taker. }
Take this gentlemans horse to the
stables and feed him. said Gretchen.
You will find the animal by the gate"
With questioning glance at me the
old fellow bowed and made off.
| sat down, and the two women
brought the various plates and placed
them within reach. Their beautiful
hands flashed before my eyes and now
and then sleeve brushed my Shout
der.
Thank YOU" | murmured. Il will
eat first, and then make my apologies.
This remark caught the fancy of
Gretchen. She laughed It was the
same laughter | had heard while stand
ing in the great hall.
will you drink tea, or would you
prefer to finish this Bordeaux" she
asked pleasantly.
"The wine, if you please; otherwise
the effect of the meal and the long
hours in the wind will produce sleep
mess. And it would be frightfully dis
courteous on my part to fall asleep in
my chair. ] am very hard to awake"
The English girl poured out the
wine and passed the goblet to me.
IN, a1 o,,I
my head politely. Then | resolutely
proceeded to attack the pheasant and
ham. / must prove to these women
that at least / was honest in regard to
my hunger | succeeded in causing
formidable portion of the food to dis
appear.
And then | noticed that neither of
the young women seated herself while
ate. understood. There was no
hostility in this action; nothing but
formality. They declined to sit in the
presence of an unwelcome stranger,
thus denying his equality from a So
cial point of view. | readily accepted
this decision on their part. They
didn't know who was. They stood
together by the fireplace and carried
on conversation in low tones.
How shall describe them? The
elder of the two. the one who seemed
to possess all the authority, could not
have been more than 20 Her figure
was rather matured. yet it was deli
cate. Her hair was tawny, her skin
olive in shade and richly tinted at the
cheekbones. Her eyes. half framed
by thick. black-arching brows, remind
ed me of woodland pools in the dusk
of the cvening.-depths unknown, cool,
refreshing in repose. The chin was
fesolute, the mouth was large but
shapely and brilliant, the nose pos
sessed the delicate nostrils character
istic of all sensitive beings--that is to
say thoroughbreds altogether con-
fusing, bewildering beauty. At one
moment | believed her to be Latin, at
the next was positive that she was
Teutonic | could not discover a sin
gle weak point, unless impulsiveness
shall be called weakness: this sign of
impulsiveness was visible in the lips.
The other-well, / couldn't help it.
It was Kismet, fate, the turn in the
road, what yoti will. fell heels over
head in love with her at once. She
was charming, exquisite. one Of those
delicate creatures who always appear
in enchantments;. Bouguereau child
grown into womanhood, made to fit
the protecting frame of mans arms.
Love steals into the heart when we
least expect him; and before we are
aware, the sly little god has unpacked
his trunk and taken possession
(To he continued.)