The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-24

myself. to compare 1t only to fairy foot
steps passing over flower tops. Its tone
/ poised and lowered as II on the wing.
though they were as sure as the melody
OF an old song. IL was. above all else
graceful, and usually IL held a trace
of mental eagerness, but It's character
istic quality came more from delicate
nuances Of feeling than from any vibrant
intensity. 1t had the fiuidity Of running
water.
With her first word she smiled. and
some Of the melancholy escaped from her
eyes.
''Oh. you are better now! I'm so giad."
The silver thread of magic that had
bound us was broken, and the episode be-
came real and humorous on the instant
l could not help smiling In my turn, for
lassuredly. from my point OF view. I was.
| physically, decidedly the worse. / took IL
from her. by her remark. that had been
| ill.,
Yes" I replied. II suppose I must be
better. since you say so, but seem to be
quite bad enough. How long have I been
here?"
''Twenty-four hours. You have been
little delirious, you know. l was getting
quite anxious about you, though the doc
tor said there was no danger"
She came nearer, and put her small
/ beautiful hand upon my cheek. / noticed
that she wore no rings. The touch OF her
| fingers was soft and cool.
/ I'm glad your fever has gone,' she
said. Have you much pain2"
/ 1 felt sore all over and there was trou-
bic with my side when / moved: my head
seemed 10 be splitting. But 1 was so
much more interested IN her, and how 1
came 10 be there, that I dismissed my
symptoms with a shrug, and asked what
had happened.
You were thrown from your automo-
bile" she said. "and you were pretty
badly shaken up. There was rib broken.
and slight conclusion OF the brain.
believe, but nothing serious. You'll have
10 stay here several days. az least. an1
keep quiet. Doctor Copln had 10 go back
| 70 town. and l must notify him that YOU
are all right now, You mustn't fret about
| H. for you are perfectly welcome to stay
here and Il won't trouble US IN the least
only I'm afraid you'll be terribly bored.
It's quiet here. and I'll be rather dull
company"
I'm not worrying. ! assure YOU" I
said. I'm In no hurry 10 get Well"
She smiled again. family but with a
quick appreciation. and took a seat in
an armchair which stood beside my bed.
caught glimpse Of a green silk stock
ing and an exquisitely small foot In
Enthusiastically shaped slipper. She went on:
u have been a good deal troubled be-
cause we have. OF course. no idea who
you are. I was afraid that some of
your friends might be alarmed about you
So, If there is any one We can notify
or send for. give me the address and
2 h, 10
telegraph Office at the Harbor, or I can
telephone for you. II there's any one in
town. DR. Copin could call and explain
your condition. II you prefer"
AS she leaned her face on her slender
hand and looked az me- she added Your
motor has been taken care Of so you
needn't worry about that. Uncle Jerdon
hauled q into the stable and it can stay
there until you have a chance TO have II
repaired"
you were good to take me in and TO
get a doctor" I said. watching the tiny
vertical lines come and go in her fore
head
"Oh, DR. C0pin happened 20 be with
me when you We're brought IN by Uncle
Jerdon. ] really don't know how you
managed 10 escape with your life"
II didn't deserve 10 escape. I was rum
ming considerably over the speed limit,
I imagine. I wanted 20 get back 10 town
early" How much rather would ! have
discussed the queer little corners Of her
lips that changed so distractingly, and
the transparent shadow under her cheek
bone that spiritualized her whole express
sion now and again.
"Oh. / must take your message" she
exclaimed. a little embarrassed by the
pause that had fallen
She rose and went over 10 an antique
secretary, bringing back a pad OF paper
and a pencil. Reseating herself, she
waited for me TO dictate. I thought
while ana then gave her a short re-
port of my condition to be sent to my
partner Having written this down. she
went out OF the room quietly, leaving
the candle with me. No sooner had she
left than MY pain returned. For the
time | had forgotten all about il.
In spite OF this. the thought OF her
filled me with a Testful peace l didn't
In the least want 10 know who she was,
so long as I might see her and hear her
talk TO me in that smooth. melodious,
eager voice, whose sound had established
her convincingly as lady of rare prom
Use The prospect of having TO spend
several days in her society, or at least
near her, was as pleasant a thought as
L
moment was a mystery, rich and fra
grant which I wished only not to de-
stroy. I found myself trying. in her
absence to recall each feature OF her
face, her poses and her hands SO. keenly
alive and full OF graceful gesture That
did not wonder who she was-What was
her name, her situation. her history
came. perhaps, from the state of bodily
weakness in which my accident had left
me, but it seemed 10 me then that il
was not merely the passivity OF my
physical state; II was an epicurean Joy
l took in tasting my impressions drop by
drop
Meanwhile. as I thought It all over.
my eyes wandered over that part of the
room visible in the candle light, from
the four-posted bed in which / lay, and
almost unconsciously I noted the many
evidences Of taste and wealth. The
furniture was all OF antique style, I'M
doubtedly genuine specimens of the best
designs OF the later colonial period
TIE Japanese prints were the only
pictares visible that 1 could see. They
seemed like Utamaro's and HirOshiges
mostly, though near by were a couple OF
Yoshitora's and Toyokuni's brilliant act
resses, veritable riots of color against the
dull green of the wall The floor was of
oak parquetry, covered with Persian
rugs of what I knew to be rare weaves.
Altogether. the room had. in its severe
formal way. the dignity Of museum.
She came back after about ten minutes
with a tray of toast and tea, Jar of
bar lie due, and the most appetizing OF
lamb chops
do you feel hungry" she asked, set
ting the tray down upon stand at the
head Of the bed.
As ] assented most heartily, she leaned
over and propped the pillows up behind
my back, and then set the silver salver