The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-25
CHAPTER II.

was awakened early Dy the sunshine
which came pouring across my bed from
the window opposite. lighting up the
white wainscotfng and showing the room
now. clean and brightly distinct TO the
least detail OF the crisp japanese prints
upon the wall
One sash and the window shade had
been left up. and / could see the slope
of a hill which rose behind the house,
seeming to shut the place in. The other
window was filled with the waving
boushs of an apple tree. The day was
fine and balmy the fresh air of the
morning swept delieiously over my bed.
1t was maddening to have 10 lie there
helpless.
Before long I heard doors opening
and closing below, and the sounds
of preparations for breakfast - the
rafting or stove. a pump that
squeaked whimsicalIy like a bray
ing donkey. the clattsr of pots and pans,
and a Chinamans voice singing in a
queer falsetto. With the Odors OF flowers
and damp earth the smell OF coffee came
up to me, mingled, too. with whiff from
the stable. Then the clock, whose hourly
chimes had measured for me the slow
march Of the night, struck seven with q
peal OF golden notes.
/ heard footsteps como upstairs 10 the
hall outside my half-opened door. There
WAS a soft tapping across the way, and
Leahs voice asked quietly:
What would you Ike for breakfast,
Miss Joyf"
I Gould just make out the reply in Miss
Ffeldings blithe tones:
"Oh, Just a couple Of butterflies wings,
Leah, and a drop OF rose-dew. please
How prettily 1t sounded From another
II might have seemed silly TO me. but not
from her l was amused at her fancy.
Miss Fielding. then, was poet. IL was
all so in key with the freshness OF the
morning and the gay. sweet sunshine.
I was more comfortable now, and more
sane. So. as / lay awaiting her. l Won
dered how such a woman. so instinct with
refinement and with the air OF having
had considerable social experience, was
to be found In so far-away a place. /
knew of no residences IN this vicinity ex-
cept an occasional farmhouse; It was
remote even from any village. The sight
Of her as she appeared last night IN her
elegant neglige came back TO me, Ike
the scene OF a play. / lcnged to see her
asl!n, 10 discover II, perhaps. / had not
exaggerated II all. or even, perhaps, had
dreamed OF one so exquisitely gracious.
Leah, also. was a part of the strange
ness. She had none of the disturbing
beauty OF the quadroOn-her beauty was
without diablerie, it was far from show
ing any sensuality. 1t was even spiritual
In type. Her face, as / brought IL up, was
more than intelligent, it was lighted by
an inward vision. The more 1 thought OF
her, the more / wondered II / had not
been tricked by my impressionability, by
the strangeness of my adventure, by the
glamour OF the night awakening. To put
II 10 the test. 1 took advantage OF Miss
Fielding's suggestion and rang the bell
Leah appeared in few moments, and
came a little shyly into the room. She
wore a clean. fresh. crisp gown Of blue
like a hospital nurses uniform. and was
as trim and dignifed. No; had not been
mistaken. The light of day showed her
still more remarkable than 1 had remem-
bered Her regular features. her smooth.
cofee-colored skin. her well-kept shapely
hands, all testified TO an extraordinary
breeding.
ARE you ready for your breakfast
honey as she inquired how | had passed
the night. and apolOgized for Uncle Jer-
don's snoring.
'TU bring your water first" she sug-
gested. and retired noiselessly, 10 return
in a moment with a bowl, some towels
asd toilet articles.
She seemed a little embarrassed by the
situation. but assisted me in sitting up.
Then, finding that ! could do for myself
well enough. she went downstairs. and
by the time I had finished my washing,
she was back with the tray.
Miss JOY will be in 10 see you IN q
little wAile, sir" she said as she made
me comfortable with dexterous adjust
ments OF my pillows.
But for her "sir." she had in no way
acted as a servant. though, on the other
hand, she had assumed no attitude Of
equality / could not help admiring the
fine neutrality she maintained without
committing herself TO either role All
my first Impressions OF her were intensi-
fed by this demeanOr. and l awaited
the opportunity Of assuring her by my
own manner of my lack of prejudice on
account of her color. Indeed, II was not
long before / was almost as unconscious
of H. so far as any social distinction was
concerned, as a child might have been.
Miss Fielding came in a little later,
dewy and shining dressed all in white
an embroidered linen blouse and a short
skirt of serge, which made her seem even
younger than I had remembered. The
sight of her expressive, thoughtful eager
face, and the music in her sympathetic
voice gave my room quite another aspect,
It became a stage again where last
nights drama would go on. How long j
had waited for her, and now she was
come! Only an invalid, perhaps. can I'M
derstand the difference in atmosphere in
that first quick sight OF an expected de-
nghtful presence to one who has waited
for the weary hours TO go by and bring
the wished-for vision.
She made a few kind inquiries at TO
my condition, moving meanwhile about
the room, disposing or the fresh roses she
had brought. lowering the window sashes
and raising the shades, rapid and grace
ful as a bird on the wing She was all
modern, now; the medieval princess had
given place to something more complex,
and as much more interesting. Every
word, every infection of her voice. every
gesture OF her hand, every expression
of her mobile face showed subtlety Of
thought and sentiment; she was obviously
a creature of fine distinctions, of nuanees
of feeling, though at present her talk
was as simple and joyous as child's,
That simplicity of hers. however, was the
simplicity of a Greek temple, made up OF
subtle ratios and proportions. of imper-
ceptible curves and esoteric laws.
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