The Washington herald., 1910-11-26
THE WHITE CAT
By GELETT BURGESS
Author of@v Ister OF Destiny Sc
Copyright 1907 The sslarno an7Anyl
CHAPTER III.
By GELETT burgess,


There was. next morning. little dia-
logue much like that which I had over
heard the day before. except that this
time 1t was ''stewed rose leaves with a
small pot of sunshine" which Miss Field
ing was fanciful enough TO demand.
wondered what. after such pleasantly,
she did have; for took It to be some
joke between her and Leah. who. no
doubt, translated the metaphor into some
thing more substantial.
AS l ate breakfast, / could hear Miss
Fielding singing In her room. She came
in before I had finished my egg and
coffee, bringing an armful OF new maya
zines. This time she was dressed In
pongee and wore a short string of grad
uated white coral beads which was
mimieked when she smiled, by her little
teeth.
i've found out about you-quite by
accident. though, Mr.. Castle. really" she
said gayly; and. opening one OF the mag
azines. she tapped with her hand the pic
ture OF a country house my firm had
just rather successfully completed. $50
you're an architect, And I'm the first
to get of the island. after all.
1T doesn't matter. I suppose. so long
as l stay on?" / asked.
"Oh. this doesn't by any means absolve
you of your promise. she answered. ex-
amining the illustration carefully, still
standing at the foot OF the bed.
You aren't really very much wiser.
are you? There are architects and ar
chitects. you know"
Yes she said. apparently thinking OF
something else. quite as there are
women and women" she added. turning
over the pages idly.
There's only one OF your sort" ex-
claimed.
A queer smile passed and was repressed
upon her lips. molding them into new
curves. Yes; only one. OF me"
Il don't exactly mean that, either
went on. The fact IS, rather, that there
is more than one Of me. There's the ar
chitect and the man In me-and hOw
many more! One is always astonishing
the others. Aren't there, after all. sew
eral OF you, Miss FieldlngT'
She gave me a frightened glance, then
tossed the magazine on the bed. Ii was
not petulance; she seemed 10 be dis
turbed at the subject
"Oh, I'm only White Cat" she said
graphically.
She seemed anything but that TO me.
III tell you about it some time-per-
haps." she added. But not now"
She stood with her hands behind hei
back. raising herself on her toes. and
changed the subject. I'm awfully anx-
/ ious 10 show you this house, now that
know you're an architect 1t is ont
/ OF the oldest hereabout, and IL wa:
a wreck when l bought IT. I've had IL al
| done over inside. and l shall expect yoI
| TO compliment me on my taste, for it.;
mainly my own IDEAS
What I've seen OF IL is charming-bu
bit impersonal. perhaps
"Oh, this is only the guest chamber
One doesn't infict ones ideas on the
transient visitor. OF course. this is g
bloodless. sexless place. You'll find per
sOnality enough In my room. / fancy.
hope you'll be able TO get downstairs by
day after tomorrow, and have a chance
to look about at the place. I'm sure
you'll love Midmeadows. I'm expecting
the doctor down here this afternoon. and
he'll probably be able 10 tell you how
long you'll have 10 stay. / do hope you
won't get well too fast. Mr.. Castle"
Trust me for that" 1 said Il givs
| you fair notice. / shall probably do some
malingering. But / shall be glad 20 SEE
the doctor, II only 10 make sure that
can impose on him"
My heart sank, nevertheless al The
thought Of his interruption OF our idyl
I l felt an illogical right TO her by discov,
! cry, a certain franchise in her good
/ graces that Fate herself had given me
The possible weakening of our alliance
/ however. was only the negative side OF
my annoyance. The positive aspect was
that DIR. COpin seemed 10 be an old ac
/ qualntance. even friend; for Miss Field
! ing had mentioned that she was goins
10 walk over 10 the Harbor TO meet him