The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-24

myself. to compare II only 20 fairy foot
steps passing over flower tops Its tone
poised and lowered as II on the wing,
though they were as sure as the melody
OF an old song. II was. above all else,
graceful, and usually Il held trace
of mental eagerness, but its character
istic quality came more from delicate
nuances Of feeling than from any vibrant
intensity. II had the fiuidity Of running
water.
With her frst word she smiled. and
some of the melancholy escaped from her
eyes.
"Oh, you are better nowi I'm so glad"
The silver thread of magic that had
bound us was broken, and the episode be-
came real and humorous on the instant.
could not help smiling in my turn. for
assuTedly. from my point OF view. / was.
physically, decidedly the worse. / took IL
from her. by her remark. that had been
| ILL.,
Yes" I replied. II suppose I must be
better. since you say So but seem TO be
quite bad enough. How long have I been
/ here?"
''Twenty-four hours. You have been a
little deliriOus. you know. 1 was getting
quite anxious about you though the doc
tor said there was no danger"
| She came nearer. and put her small
/ beautiful hand upon my cheek. / noticed
/ that she wore no rings The touch OF her
/ fingers was soft and cool.
I'm glad your fever has gone.' she
said. Have you much pain?'
/ / felt sore all over. and there was trou-
/ Bile with my side when / moved; my head
| seemed TO be splitting. But 1 was so
much more interested IN her, and how 1
/ 4 L..
symptoms with a shrug, and asked what
had happened.
You were thrown from your automo-
bile" she said. "and you were pretty
badly shaken up. There was rib broken.
and a slight conclusion OF the brain. |
! believe, but nothing serious. You'll have
1 10 stay here several days. at least. an1
| keep quiet. Doctor Copln had 10 go back
10 town and / must notify him that you
are all right now. You mustn't fret about
/ il. for you are perfectly welcome 20 stay
here and Il won't trouble us IN the least
Only I'm afraid you'll be terribly bored.
It's quiet here. and I'll be rather dull
company"
I'm not worrying. I assure YOU" I
said. I'm In no hurry 20 get we'll"
She smiled again. family but with n
quick appreciation. and took a seat In
J
caught a glimpse Of a green silk stock
| ing and an exqusitely small foot In
Enthusiastically shaped slipper. She went on:
Il have been good deal troubled be-
I cause we have. OF course. no idea who
| you are I was afraid that some of
] YOUR friends might be alarmed about you
| So. If there is any one We can notify
| or send for. give me the address and
the message and I'll send it over 10 the
telegraph Office at the Harbor, or I can
telephone for you. II there's any one in
town. DR.. Copin could call and explain
your condition, II you prefer"
AS she leaned her face on her slender
hand and looked at me, she added: Your
motor has been taken care OF. so you
needn't worry about that Uncle Jerdon
hauled It into the stable. and it can stay
there until you have chance TO have II
repaired"
You were good to take me In and TO
get a doctor" I said. watching the tiny
vertical lines come and go in her fore
head.
"Oh, Or. Copin happened 10 be with
me when you We're brought IN by Uncle
Jerdon ] really don't know how you
managed TO escape with your life"
II didn't deserve 10 escape. I was rum
ming considerably over the speed limit.
I imagine. I wanted 10 get back 10 town
early" How much rather would i have
discussed the queer little corners Of her
lips that changed so distractingly, and
the transparent shadow under her cheek
bone that spiritualized her whole express
sion now and again.
'Oh, / must take your message," she
exclaimed. little embarrassed by the
pause that had fallen
She rose and went over 10 an antique
secretary. bringing back pad Of paper
and a pencil. Reseating- herself, she
waited for me TO dictate. / thought
a while ana then gave her a short re-
port of my condition TO be sent to my
partner. Having written this down. she
went out OF the room quietly, leaving
/ the candle with me. No sooner had she
left than my pain returned. For the
time | had forgotten all about il.
In spite of this. the thought OF her
filed me with a restful peace. / didn't
In the least want 10 know who she was.
! so long as I might see her and hear her
talk 10 me in that smooth. melOdious,
, eager voice, whose sound had established
her cOnvincingly as a lady OF rare prom
Use The prospect of having TO spend
several days IN her society, or at least
near her, was as pleasant a thought as
I could we'll imagine The fruit Of our
!
grant, which I wished only not to de-
! str0y. I found myself trying. in her
absence to recall each feature OF her
face, her poses. and her hands so keenly
alive and full OF graceful gesture. That
: / did not wonder who she was-what was
her name. her situation. her history
5 came, perhaps, from the state of bodily
weakness in which my accident had left
me. but it seemed 10 me then that il
was not merely the passivity of my
! physical state; II was an epieurean Joy
! took in tasting my impressions drop by
drop.
Meanwhile. as I thought It all over.
! my eyes wandered over that part of the
, room visible in the candle light. from
the four-posted bed in which ] lay, and
almost unconsciously I noted the many
, evidences Of taste and wealth. The
furniture was all OF antique style, I'M
doubtedly genuine specimens of the best
designs OF the later colonial period
The Japanese prints were the only
, | pictares visible that 1 could see. They
seemed ike Utamaro's and Hroshige $
mostly, though near by were couple OF
Yoshitoras and Toyokuni's brilliant act
resses, veritable riots of color against the
dull green Of the wall. The floor was OF
oak parauetry, covered with Persian
rugs Of what I knew to be rare weaves.
i Altogether. the room had, in Its severe
formal way, the dignity Of a museum.
She came back after about ten minutes
with a tray of toast and tea, jar OF
bar lie due, and the most appetizing OF
! lamb chops.
do you feel hungry?" she asked, set
ting the tray down upon stand at the
: head Of the bed.
/ As ! assented most heartily, she leaned
over and propped the pillows up behind
r my back, and then set the silver salvei