The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-01
CHAPTER VII.

down early. MY AOSlesS, uEeSseu III white
duck. was IN her most exquisitely grace
full mood, quite the delicate, refined. In
tense woman I had first known,
DO you really think that it's safe for
YOU 10 leave to-day?" she asked when I
had announced my intention 20 her. II
am afraid we shall miss you very much,
Mr. Castle I feel quite as II had made
friend"
IF you do, il more than repays me for
my accident. Miss Fielding. It only re-
mains for you TO prove It by permitting
me 10 do something for YOU"
She smiled quickly. stay here while
longer. them"
"Ah, you know how glad I'd be to-!
4 But really must get back. I've imposed
on your hospitality uneonseionably al
ready"
"oh, WELL" she turned to the window.
IF you're going to pay me the conven-
/ tional compliments, we won't press it"
eff you knew what an Immensely un-
warranted interest I've begun 10 take in
/ you. you spare me-" replied.
/ She held out her hand TO me. her grace
/ ful fingers slightly divergent, exquisite
/ ~ poised. Thank you for your gallan-
| try" she said. you came out of the
dark. were literally dumped here. you
know. and II has been wonderful that we
have understood each other as well as
we have" She stayed my interruption
| with wave OF her hand. oh, 1 under
stand you. I think. at least well enough
| TO be sure OF you. But let's be frank
/ you don't quite understand me yet. You
don't quite approve OF me. Nevertheless,
L - "a e
may indeed be that I shall put you.
some time. TO the test. and give you the
chance Of proving IT, Until that time
comes you'll have 10 stay on the island,
/ Mr., Castle, I'm afraid"
! saw by these words that she must
/ have forgotten her revelations OF the
night before. It didn't seem quite fair
not 20 let her know. So. risking. her dis
/ pleasure l came out with II.
May I venture to remind you of what
you said last night?'
| She looked hard at me. What did
/ say? What do you mean? About what?
/ We talked of so many things. you know
/ She was embarrassed, on the defensive.
watching eagerly my first word OF en-
/ lightenment.
/ about your memory" I prompted
my memory? I don't quite recall
/ little as she waited
"aDout your having amnesia, you
/ know"
| Her hand went 10 her heart.
| 81 only mention H." ! said. because
don't want 10 take advantage OF any ig-
norance you may have concerning my
I position-and what I do know. II you
/ have forgotten possibly, I think ] ought
| to tell you, for I cant pretend 10 be on
the island when / am not. IL seems to
me that quite in spite of myself I've got
/ off ii. What you said about DIR. CO.
| pin
She caught me up now a little wildly,
discarding further attempt az evasion.
| Her face had suddenly grown white
What did say?" she asked.
oh only that ne was treating YOU for
/ the amnesia,'' I replied. I couldn't pos
sibly repeat the rest OF it.
She put her hands 20 her face for a
moment, hiding its expression. Then Shit.
withdrew them. compressed her lips. and
| tipping her head hack a little. shook Il
with the old gesture. as II TO regain con-
troll Of herself Then she came up 10 me
and put both her hands on my shoulders
1T isn't your fault. I know Mr. Castle
But you are off the island. and I'm afraid
that it's m over now"
I Isn't It really all begun, rather?' 1
replied
Her hands dropped 10 her sides and she
walked away 20 the window. "Oh, I
1 don't know, don't know" she moaned
You have made me think terrible things
I But never mind. l didn't want you 10
/ know about me; I hoped We could be
| friends without / couldn't risk Il;
can't risk il now. You mustn't try TO
find orrr 4ro7f rgafretr,rf avon xVoudar
I be a little sorry for me-and wait"
/ She sat down in the broad window-seat
and laid her head back for a moment
among the silk pillows with a wearied
settling of her body, closing her eyes.
| didn't know what 10 say or do. so / did
nothing, and was silent She sat up
again. took the crystal prism that still
! lay there. and gaZed into IL abstractedly
as if she We're seeing visions Then. still
holding il. she looked up al me with a
/ faT-away smile. IL was new expression
/ saw on her face: II had the pathetic
! look OF some elf lost in strange. terri
| Die land At last she said. Come over
here and sit down beside me. please
| I did so; and. still fondling the prism,
which shot prismatic colors into the
room, she said. as with great effort:
did you ever in your childhood read
; TIE Stpl9 ti tne NEiiie lat II , u tdlfY
tale, you know"
The name had struck me as familiar
fNwhen she used il before. but I could not
recall the story
1T was one of those tales Of the three
quests. wasn't it?" / said
Yes; there are many variations Of the
same theme. 1t is the story of a king
and his three sons. The father decided
| first TO leave his throne 10 the one who
would find the smallest dog In the world:
then he gave them another quest-to find
piece OF cloth that would go through
the eve Of a needle. OF course the young
est son won each time, but the king
wasn't contented, and for the final test
commanded them 10 find the most beau
tiful lady IN the world"
And the youngest son won. OF course.
He always does, but he never plays fair.
He's always helped by fairy godmother
or something
"Of course. Such are the ethics of
Fairyland. This prince was helped by a
white cat. While he was on his travels
he found her castle in a deep forest, and
he was carried in by invisible hands"
Just like me-" ! remarked
She looked at me for a moment with an
amusing expression of surprise. and a
tlmid smile crept TO her face That's
so. isn't 1t? How queer! Why. I'll have
10 give you my little Hiawatha, TO carry
Il out, won't I? Will you take him?"
ooh, if you would" I said. I'D love
to have him. II will be delightful TO
have something that has belonged to
you"
Hes not the smallest dog In the
world but he's yours
And the third quest?" reminded her.
''The third quest was the hardest of all
He came to White Cats castle again and
AaONIIAIH OTIInHn