New-York tribune., 1909-10-31

Possibly. Come Miss Wellesley"
The girl stopped gathered up the petals of
her rose, then let them filter slowly through her
fingers.
said gravely and walked past Griscom TO the
steps Neither of them spoke as they crossed
the garden and passed into the shadow OF the
live oaks.
furtivey about her and edged little closer 70
Ciriscom. There is no danger of my being
dissolved in moonlight here" She gave little
laugh, nervous and quickly huShed- 1t IS
much more likely that | shall be melted up IN
the perfume of the orange blossoms
That would be sufficiently esthetlc fate
said Griscom
Too much So I'd rather be moonlight.
The perfume is getting stronger every minute,
and it makes me feel queer.
Disagreeably so:'
Il can't tell | love it and hate it. and feel
as if it trying 10 tell me something do not
wish to hear
Il wish it would tell me where the path is.
said GriScOm, and as if in answer TO his word
the desire was fulfilled for the perfume grew
even more intense, and a broad band OF moon
light SplaShing through an opening IN the trees
in front of them revealed a narrow path on the
other side OF which was maSSed a protus1on OF
orange trees in full flower, the blossoms Sh1rn-
mering white and waxv in the moonlight.
=" NV wOrdi' said CIriScOm, " but the odOr Is a
bit overwhelming. Be careful not to dissolve.
The girl drew in her breath deeply l
know this place" she said in a hushed voice.
- have seen it Just like this with the moon on
those glittering leaves and the black shadows
behind them and the silverv edges of those big
walls. 1t is more familiar than the Forum, and
not nearly SO far away
Perhaps that Is because the moon and the
shadows and the orange trees are just the
same" said GriScom.
Perhaps. wish the petals had not dropped
| from my rose"
Never mind; l will get you another tails
man. They bloom on every wall.
HE stepped across the path broke of a spray
- of orange blossoms, and turned TO his com
paniOn. and as he did so his consciousness was
flooded with the emotion now growing SO fre
quently recurrent-the absolute conviction OF
having performed exactly the same act and in
the same circumstances. So vivid was the I'M
precision that for a moment the flood of recOl-
lection seemed to inundate the present, TO an
nihilate time and space, so that for instant
the clear sense of his surroundings was logged
and ne stood confused, bewildered, holding the
spray of orange blossoms IN front of him
As usual the impression vanished, leaving
nothing to which his mind could faSten. He
looked up at Miss Wellesley The girl was stand
ing motionless as a statue, one hand extended
to take the flowers while the other clutched at
her throat. Griscom leaned slightly forward
and looked into her face.
"Ah,' said he gently. You felt it too"
one nodded anu ner ndDtlS IGll 10 nST SlCe.
Would you like these fiowers-or is the per
fume too strong2"
Thank YOU" She took the spray and
slipped it through her belt
Il think this path will take us out said
GriScom.
"Yes, " she answered absently. This is the
way"
They moved slowly along the unkempt path
with the mounting ruins of TiberiuS palace on
one side. and on the other the luscious foliage
and bright star-shaped orange blossoms dis
tilling their fragrance in the warm moonlight
Presently the path stopped abruptly bench
drawn across it as though to arrest the pass
erbv.
Bother" said Griscom. 1T can't stop
here; there's no reason for it. If YOU wait a
moment | will go on and explore. Do YOU
mind'"
No. I'm little tired viii sit on the
bench"
IN not be long" He pushed his way
through the bushes. to find as he expected that
the path continued on the other side \ little
farther on 1t stopped at what appeared 10 be
gardeners Toulouse
Griscom hurried back We had better re
,I,