The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-01
BY GELETT BURGESS


lightful time together"
II can understand that. Just as we
have had
Her gaze went down TO her feet. yes
just as we have had here at Midmead-
ows.''
1 reached over and took the prism
from her hand. I couldn't help wanting
to touch her. however casually.
And OF course-you don't need 20 tell
me-he did find the fairest lady Ia the
whole world
She smiled dimiy and clasped her hands
THANK yOu," she said, not too absorbed
TO pay me most graciously for my COM
pliment Then. more seriously. she add
ed. Yes. / am the White Cat That is
the way you must think OF me when you
have gone. The enchanted White Gait"
I dared not answer. All the peculiar
moods she had shown me came up for a
new vision So she knew that something
was the matter. something of which her
amnesia was only a symptom. She had
never come so close to II before.
stopped down, took her hand, and car
ried Il 20 my lips.
white Cat" I said. IT don't know
whether you are enchanted or not, but I
know you're enchanting"
BE careful ] don't scratch you! she
said, a little bitterly.
"Ah. White Cat never did that I'm
sure"
yes. once. when she was invisible The
prince doubted her. DO you know how Il
ended?" she asked
How
white Cat told the prince that 10 de-
stroy the fatal work OF the fairies II was
necessary for him 10 cut of her head
and her tail and fling them into the fire.
She put her hand gently upon mine
Would you do that for me. II I asked
it?"
puzzled with IT, There was something
tragic IN her tone. but I was quite at a
loss TO interpret her symbolism.
Would IL ever come 20 that? Are you
likely 70 call on me?" asked her.
She tipped back her head again, shak-
Ing away some unpleasant Idea,
'Ah, this Is only the first quest. you
know. You may never come again TO my
palace. But would your"
A dreadful meaning came straight from
her eyes TO mine.
NO: I'm afraid I would not It would
be too terrlble"
She threw of light laugh and rose
and walked 10 the bookcase beside the
chimney. Here she took down an old.
tattered. red-covered volume and rapidly
turned the pages till she found her place
Then she came back 10 her seat beside
me. and pointing TO the lines read aloud:
7" exclaimed the prince. 'Blanchette.
nv love- I be so harbarous as 10 kin
yOui All YOU would doubtless try my
heart: hut rest assured il Is incapable OF
forgetting the love and gratitude il owes
to you
" No. son OF a king continued she. I
do not suspect thee OF lngratitude. I
know thy worth It is neither thou nor
who In this affair can control our des-
tiny. Do as I bid thee. We shall both
OF us begin TO be happy. and on the faith
OF a cat Of reputation and honor. thou
wilt acknowledge that am truly thy
friend
but Il ended happily. Ike all fairy
tales. So will yours, I'm sure" I re-
marked
She let the book drop YEARLY. 1T
must end some way-why not that?"
/ clasped her hand you must not
think OF Il. Miss Fieldingl II appalls me-"
'Well I won't speak OF IL again. But
I should be glad 10 have friend who
would help me If worst came to worst"
You forget that, in spite OF what
know. ] am still on the island. after all
! can't Yet Judge OF such a necessity
You said once that could trust Leah
In everything DO you stiH mean that?"
Absolutely. In fact. YOU can trust her
when you're uncertain Of me. Do you
understand? 7 can't make il too en-
phatic"
II understand" said.
II was almost time 10 go now. and so,
while I went upstairs TO see that nv
things We're ready, Miss Fielding and
Leah got Hiawatha. fixed a collar and
chain on him, and put him into the car
riage. highly excited az the prospect Of
| travelling. Leah shook my hand and
looked into my ewes with gratitude.
Uncle Jerdon drove up to the front
door. and I got IN beside him and cap
tured the frisky puppy. who proceeded
10 bite my hand playfully. Il had been
arranged that I was 20 send some one
down 10 repair the automobile, and I
permitted myself TO hope that I might
find in that a sufficient excuse to come
back myself So II was not altogether
with feeling of permanent parting that
finally gave ms hand to Miss Fielding.
Well good-by, White Cat" l said as
Uncle Jerdon took up the reins
"GoOd-by. Prince" she answered. smil-
ing
We drove of, and as we turned into
the long lane which led to the highrOad
I saw the two women standing In the
sunshine at the front door and waved a
last farewell 10 them. With all the SIMS
ter suggestions that had been crowding
upon me. I could not bear to leave them
alone white Cat, White Cat" was stnl
echoing In my ears.
Unce JerdOn winked AT me.
Lord. she's crazy as a loon. amt
she?'
DO you think 500" I asked coldly.
Plum crazy. She ought TO be into an
asylum, and would be If she had any
folks To send her there. But she's a
dandy when she's all right, you can bet
on thatp
l did not encourage him TO go on. and
for the rest OF the way TO the station we
talked of his rheumatism and the ex-
travagance of his nephew's second wife,
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.