Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-04

here he was. looking on spectrally and un-
suspected. With the common human inn
pulse TO secret approach, Theodore walked
on, concealed between the Spanish bayonets
and a somber line Of red cedATs, climbed
the end of the veranda, seuttled into the
broad hall and up to his room; into which
he stepped quickly; breathing a little hard.
He opened the closet for a change OF
clothes, and started back in wondsrment
quite as paralyzing as horror; for his
clothes were gone Instead, there sat a
huge trunk with its lid back. It's open tray
full of silken hosiery. eoFsets laces, gloves,
handkerchief, and open-work things Of
mystery and terror. On the hooks were
many, many others quite as awful; frilled
and tucked and ruffled and plated gar
ments; silks. dimities. cashmeres, linens,
cottons and soft light woolens, filling his
closet; and spread against the wall for oc-
cult reasons connected with keeping them
In shape, and protruding from the trunk
were more clothes, while in corners of the
bedroom were more trunks.
To make sure that he was in his own
house, and not a profaner Of the shrine
OF some divinity Of lace and open-work he
looked from the window. Yes, this was
Carsons Landing. The gourds hanging
from tall poles; the martins ohattertng
from them the china tree full Of blossoms
like lilac blooms, humming with bees and
visited necessarily by crimson bee-birds-
all these he knew. But this, this corset;
with it's laclngs unrove 1t lay there like
a mold awaiting the casting OF Phidian
Psyche The name entering his mind made
his tremble- He picked UP the fragment
garment with the pink ribbons sdging It,
and looked at it with something OF the
terror Of Charmides in the shrine OF Ar
tennis. He had forgotten the marvel OF their
presence in that Of the things themselves
for he was paradisiaoally innocent, an en-
sineering hermit.
A light step sounded without, and no
froze with the corset In his hand TO q
statue OF panic and trance and paralysis.
Some one entered, his heart bounded. and
then stood still for it WAS Psyche Of the
dunes Shayne's niece, Virginia, entering
jauntly, maddeningly, like real woman
taking possession OF his bedroom as her
own! She had little subjectively derived
smile on her lips, held In her hands a spray
of huckleberry blooms, which she put TO
her nostrils and then stuck IN vase by
the old mirror She took off the memorable
red hat, and pulled UP her skirt with afr
Fighting recklessneas, examined her dainty
stockings for dust or burs, and dropped the
skirt with little flirt, like a wren shaking
a raindTop from her tail. She did dozen
things to make one fear the fate Of Tom
Of Coventry. Every tinls sha looked hia
way, Theodore ,quaksd. even more than at
her alarming actions In ignorance Of his
presence. II she would only go outl Why
was she hers7 Was she here2 II he could
only slip out What was she going to do
now?
She had opened the window as II disoom-
forted by the heat. Sitting down with her
profile to him and her side to the window,
she famed herself with the fan he used to
dry his face after shaving. She smiled up
at college banner his only chattel, save
the fan, exempted from her writ OF dispos-
session. She famed herslf quite vigorously
and then, as IL still oppressed by the heat
she stepped TO the mirror, unpinned the
breach at her throat-and began reaching
back for the buttons OF her dress, ProVi-
dental instinct, and memory OF his own
days Of rundabouts and shirtwaists. ad-
monished Theodore that It was time for
action.
"Psyche!" he stammered
With little scream she darted toward
the door; recognized him as he emerged
from the closet; noted his palenessi turned
back, her hand on her breast, and a quick
palpitatioh Of the "V'' OF her gown. like
the heart Of a shared robin, Yet she was
the least excited OF the twain. Her alarm
ceased with her recognition of HIM for this
boy had shown himself one 10 be trusted.
The sense Of escape and secrecy which she
had associated with him from their first
curious meeting at the robbers cabin in the
dunes returned
My robber,' said she in a half whisper
20, I'm so glad"
Psyche" said she, when you say you
are glad"
lie pulled up short with lump in his
throat unable TO pass the rubieon between
strangers.
''Oh. I'm so glad you aren't dashed TO
pieees!" she cried. i've seen you falling,
falling, falling. In my dreams, and never