The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-14
from Yesterday. J

aIYha and .alat Is the glorious straa-
ger r" she asked.
a very pretty girl down and across the
table from me. Miss Anne Elliott's at
tractive voice had previously enabled
me to recognize her as the young wo-
man who had threatened to serenade
Les Trois Pigeons.
81 beg your pardon" I said, address
ing her
Il hear you're at Les Trois Pigeons"
said Miss Elliott.
"Yes?"
Would you mind telling Us some
thing Of the mysterious Narcissus|
If you'll be more definite" | return
ed in the tone of question.
II mean a recklessly charming vision
with white tie and white hair and
white f8aaHeis," she said. =
"oh,' said /. The 3 not mysterious.
But be Is" she returned. Il insist
on his being mysterious. rarely. grand
iy. strangely mysterious. You will
let me think so?' This young lady
had whimsical manner of emphasiz.
ing words Unexpectedly. with breath.
less intensity that approached violence
a habit dangerously contagious among
nervous persons. so that l answered
slowly out of fear that might echo
1t.
Hes young American, very at
tractiye. very simple"
a INT OH
"Oh. no. said hastily.
"But he is. A person told me SO In
garden this very afternoon she
went on eagerly-"a person with
rake and ever so many moles on bis
chin. This person told me all about
him. His name Is Oliver Saffren. and
he's In the charge OF very large doc.
tor and quite. quite mad"
"Jean Ferret. the gardener" ! said
deliberately and with venom. lis fns,
acquiring notoriety In these parts as
an idiot of purest ray. and he had his
information from another whose CON
tinuance unhanged Is every hour more
miraculous"
How ruthless OF you, cried Miss
Elliott. with exaggerated reproach
when I have had such thrilling
happiness all day In believing thai
riotousIy beautiful creature mad! II
he isn't. why does he have IN enor
| nous doctor with him?'
"This is romance" | retorted. 1.-The
doctor Is Professor Keredec. illustri
ously known In this country. but no,
as q physician. and they are following
some form OF scientific research to
gether."
The windows had been thrown open
allowing passage to veranda. Miss
Elizabeth led the way outdoors with
the prince. caught final glimpse OF
Mrs. Hartman. which revealed that she
was looking at me with tensity, but
| with the movement of intervening
groups lost her. Miss Elliott point
edly waited for me until came round
the table. ist.u attached me definitely
ny taking my arm, accompanying beE
action with u dazzling smile.
Tables and coffee were waiting on
the broad terrace below, with Z biz
moon rising in the sky. descended
the steps IN charge Of this pretty cav
alter. allowed her to seat me at the
most remote OF the tables and accepted
without unwillingness other gailantriel
| Of hers In the matter Of coffee and Gig.
arettes. And now" she said-'now
that I've done so much for your dear,
est hopes and comfort, look up at the
milky moon and tell me all"
She leaned an elbow on the marble
railing that protected the terrace and,
shielding her eyes from the moonlight
with her hand. affected to gaze at me
dramatically ~Who md what II the
glorious stranaerrs she asked.
Resisting an impulse to chime In
With her numor. ! gave her % dry
and c0mmUuptHcB nm account or my
young frtend - tho INN that J preaent,