The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-07

N HEkALU, w Ed N I'D Ia u.
the fact that she was negTess. But that
was merely the negative aspect of my ad-
miration for her. From this time on. the
more was thrown with her in the in
innate way required by our cooperation.
the more ! began actually 70 find in her
positive beauty. a beauty that was
truly of her race and type-a beauty that
foreshadoWed what, were environment 10
permit its development her race might In
time attain. when. even though the skin
were still dark, the features, insensibly
modified by mental processes. would lose
something of the extravaganza of model
| ing now so repellent 10 whites
Such vision came in moments like this,
when her spirit was aroused and free.
Usually. and always when suffering pa
tiently the contempt or anger of Edna. /
saw her only as the persOnihcation of
| loyalty, the loyalty Of the hound who
Hicks the hand that smites him II was
then as if her womans soul were crushed
back further into the figure Of the serv-
ant But always those two qualities
were finely blended in her-she was slave
and friend. not alternately. but at once.
One dwelt with the other in perfect
peace. No hunchback ever carried his
deformity with a nobler grace than she
the trial OF her color,
Miss Fielding and the doctor remained
closeted together till dinner time. when
we three met at table She was slightly
flushed and her eyes were keen and
bright. Il was as If she somehow saw
more-as If she had passed from that
curious, mentally apathetc state which
l have callsi childlike, and were inspect
ing a new world But this analysis, no
doubt, comes from what l learned later
rather than from my observation at that
| time. Perhaps ali that impressed me
then was that she had, in some way,
changed. I could find 10 way in which
TO account for the precise degree OF diff
ference that I noticed. She was alter
nately gay and distracted at which lat
ter times she fell unconsciously into
poses SO like those OF her normal self
joys self-that it gave me. often, a start
Of surprise
But, as II 10 cover all this, the doctor
was more than usually jocose in a me-
chanical way so devoid Of real humor
that it irri-ated me. Try as I might I
could not set him 10 talk seriously. At
every remark or question OF mine he
threw me off with some nonsensical COM
ment- Ii was the more maddening be-
cause OF Edna's inevitable laughter. and
it was evident that she thought him a
most amusing companion, though 10 me
he seemed wholly without atmosphere or
radiation; everything appeared calculated,
deliberate. ] saw that there could be
nothing between US, unless, indeed, 1t
should come to open conflict. He was
the sort Of man who could, / was well
aware, arouse all my antagonism. II
was easy enough TO see that l was al
ready Jealous
We talked on thus through the meal
and then adjourned TO the library for
our coffee. AS We entered / cast quick
look about 20 see If | could catch any
revealing sign. / saw nothing except
that the morris chair was drawn up
to another, so that the two faced
each other, almost near enough 10 touch
There were a few sheets OF ruled yellow
paper on the table These the doctor took
up as he went in. and placed in his pocket.
The talk langUishing after while. We
spent the evening at cards, and what
with the doctors saliies and Edna's OBJ
vious replies, / think l was never more
bored in my life. The only amusing thing
about II was the way she played us of,
ona against the other. tV-itting the doctor
with his renissness when he was not so
complimentary as I was TO her, and &C
cusing me of a lack OF humOF when /
did not join in their badinage. She dis
tributed her fayors impartially. upon the
whole, though 1 caught several indica-
tons OF some secret understanding be-
tween them. which was not surprising
considering the length of their acquaint-
ance. He seemed TO enjoy the evening SIS
little as 1. and 10 be a trifie embarrassed,
even somewhat anxious. This was evil
deaf In the way he watched her covertly.
and in the way he headed on ali my Iues-
tons. as If always on the defense. From
look she gave him. once or twice. l got
the idea. also. that his foot was busy.
under the table, and that he was using
that method OF signaling when the con-
versation got dangerously near whatever
il was that he wished 10 avoid This in
terested me considerably for the reason
that her other foot was touching mine
In way that assured me OF her con
scious intention. The situation was as
unpleasant at Is was extraordinary. /
lost myself, at times. in the inconsist-
eney OF ft-the suangeness OF her actions
so unattuned 10 the exquisite body which
was won't TO house such deiicacies OF
soul. She had individually changed from
those first whimsical madcap moods OF
tho morning. Somehow her personality
had deepened; 1t had grown in strength
and color; il was more assertive. She
was no longer carelessly, thought,essly
frank and forward, she had some dem
mite motive,
Her coquetry and raillery lasted, thus,
till 10 o'clock, when she excused herself
and went up 10 her room The doctor and
/ remained in the library. I determined
to cross swords with him.
I'D like 10 know what you make OF
Miss Fielding's case" / began. ANY
thing. that is, that you can tell me with
propriety. / confess I'm much interested
in it."
He got up, long and thin put his hands
behind him under his coat tails, and stood
backing the fireplace.
''Oh. know what you're interested in"
he said with his grin.
DO you think there's any chance OF
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