Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-06
THE SIREN
By CORA HATHORN SYKES
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

d
man or a woman going to live with a
family of which they were not part.
The Browns were humdrum couples
content with each other and their
home. When it was decided TO have G
governess for their childrenkiiss Olive
Markham was selected for the purpose.
Miss Markham was pretty. and Mrs.
Brown should have hesltated before
taking her into the sheepfold. Not
that the wolf was likely to harm her
lambs, but there was sheep In the
family who. though not very tender.
was liable to fall a prey to the new
conner. Neither Mrs. Brown nor her
husband gave the entrance OF Miss
tMarkam into the family thought so
far as danger was concerned Neither
had ever known a pang OF jealousy.
Mr.. Brown was pudgy, baldheaded
man OF forty-two; Mrs. Brown was
tall. angular woman but year his
Junior. Neither supposed that the
other could attract any one else even
II so inclined. The governess was but
twenty and replied to Mr.. Browns re-
marks WITH "Yes. SIR" and NO. sir,
as a person of an entirely different
generation. And yet there was danger
/ in her presence at the Browns.
Mr.. Brown had his own sleeping
room, where he might get quiet
nights rest without being disturbed
!. by the rest of the family. One night
The Weakened from e bad dream and
n 20 ell After
vainly endeavoring for an hour or
| more to do so he got up. put on dress
| ing gown and went downstairs TO get
| a biscuit and a glass of wine. hoping
| that by thus drawing the blood TO his
| stomach he might return to slumber.
He took great care to move softly that
he might not awaken any of the fam
| fly and on reaching the dining room
refrained even from striking light.
He found what he wanted in the side
board and. having partaken OF 1t. was
! about 10 return TO his room when ne
felt his hand clasped by softer one.
| Mr.. Brown knew Mrs. Browns hand
very we'll. 1t was not soft; it was not
even round. On the contrary. 1t was
hard and bony. A current shot quick
| ly up his arm and entered-his heart?
no, his self esteem. exciting that nat
ural qualification a man who has pass
/ ed middle life feels In attracting
young woman. The conviction that
| the governess had fallen In love with
!: him popped into Mr.. Browns head
and created there n disturbance at
once delightful and terrifying. On the
! one hand was his home. his wife. his
J children: on the other. the siren If
he listened to the one the wreck of
the others was sure to follow. But
! had he the power TO resist? Mr.
! Brown felt in his bones that he had
not
| All this flashed through Mr.. Browns
| mind in the two or three seconds that
he held the hand in his Then 1t was
! withdrawn. and without sound or fare
| well the owner passed. With wildly
| beating heart he stood. listened. hoped
| for further manifestation. feared he
would receive 1T, groped for it with
| outstretched hands. was disappointed
| comforted. troubled. pleased and
thrilled all at the same time. At last
| being convinced that the owner OF the
hand had gone. he returned TO his
| room
( Mr.. Brown lay awake till daylight.
| a prey to different emotions, then went
! to sleep and dreamed that he and the
governess were floating down n river
1 whose banks were covered with luxu-
rant foliage and overhung with fiow-
| ers. She was the same woman. but
| TRANSPORTED to one Of transcendent
beauty. He bent over the side OF the
| boat and saw his own face reflected
| in the water. To his surprise. his hair
had come back on his head with no
gray streaks IN 1t. and his eye had re-
| gained the FIRE Of youth.
Then he took her hand In his-tfe
same hand he had held before. There
was the same pleasurable thrill with
| out the dread OK consequences The
| wife OF his bosom. so far as his dream
was concerned. had no existence: his
children we're not yet born He drift
| ed in paradise
He was awakened by a shake and
the words: Elisha. are you going to
sleep all day: Get up"
1t was Mrs. Brown. IN dishsbilie and
| forming a dreadful! contrast With the
companion Of his dream Mr.. Brown
lay a few moments trying 70 get used
TO the returned reality. then slowly
got out Of bed. forces himself into his
clothes and went down into the din
ing room. The family were ct break
fast. His oldest daughter. aged four
teen. looked az him mischievously.
How did ron Ike the ghost papaT
! she asked. her eyes dancing with fun
What ghosty
But &c knew before she told him