Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
DECEMBER 19, 1909.


beauty and grace could live so near
New York was quite marvellous. He
wondered that the city had not dis
covered her and gone mad. Yet, as
he observed her while they conversed,
he fancied he had seen her before.
The impression grew on him. There
was something strangely, insistently,
familiar about her. He was sure that
he had admired her wonderful beauty
on some previous occasion. Try as he
would he could not tell where or when.
She had not referred to HIS iden-
tty, but ne felt it incumbent, or, at
least justifiable, to Introduce himset.
II am Arthur Van Tasel of New
York" he told her, and she smiled. Ye
gods what witchery.
"Of good old Dutch stock?"
Yes" he answered II am proud
that my ancestors trace themselves
back through noble families, but I am
equally proud to declare that l am an
American all the way through But
am 1 not to know the name of the
young lady who has favored me so
greatly tonight?"
She laughed in a silvery ripple and
Van Tasel came near losing his head.
Favored you, Mr.. Van Tasel, by
making you climb half a mile, nearly
straight up"
lie would have been glad to climb
ten miles Win neT at Ills SluSg anu llS
came near telling her so, but caught
the words on his lips.
Just then footman appeared In an
swer to a ring she had given.
"Tell Madam Boltwood," she said to
the servant, that / am here and that
1 shall be ready for dinner in half an
hour"
The footman bowed and was leaving
when she called him back.
Are any of the servants away from
the castle tonight?"
"I know of none that are out, Miss
Boltwood," the man answered. "Ah!
now that l recall there is one-one of
the maids. She had to leave to go to
New York"
"And the men servants-are you sure
all of them are in the castle?"
II am quite sure, but If you wish, I'll
inquire"
Ascertain at once. Wait! Tell the
chief watchman to rigidly enforce the
rule against admitting strangers with
out permission from myself or Madam
Boltwood."
There was a cloud on the face of the
imperious young mistress OF this
curious place as she turned again to
her guest, but her brow cleared
quickly.
"The servant has told you my name.
l am Miss oltwood-Mildred Bolt
wood. This castle is on top of the
highest cliff of the Hudson. I wish 1t
were even higher-still wider and more
inaccessible"
"If It were as high as the sky" said
Van Tasel, "and as wild as the sea,
and as inaccessible as the bottom or
the crater of Vesuvius. l would still get
up here again, Miss Boltwood, to call
on you-unless, of course, you foroade
me-"
Van Tasel was crushed to observe
that his fairy creature suddenly pout-
ed His heart went into his shoes.
"You may CALI she answered, after
n moment. "when send for you"
Van Tasel looked so black that Miss
Boltwood took pity on him. you have
been good to me-" she said. Perhaps
7 shall send for you soon."
Van Tasel mentally made up his nina
tn call whether she sent for him or
not. and his spirits came back. van
Tasel was not the sort of man TO wait
for permission to do things
"When you do send for me-" he SAID
"please let me come in the DAY tiile'
I am something of an authority ol
castles I can't understand how nave
lived in New York twenty-five years.
on and off without knowing or Cra-
mum. It isn't new I perceive"
"No. II is old. All castles should pe.
II has been here forty years, ana yet
I'm not surprised that you shouIdht
have known of it. What do New YORK
men care about castles? It's steer
mills. and wholesale stores, and stocks
and bonds that you New Workers IKE
7 hate them, myself"