The Washington bee., 1911-07-29
THE SIREN
By CORA HATHORN SYKES

the family whose home it is. Many a
wife and husband have been separated,
innocent children made to suffer and
sometimes murder done because of q
man or woman going to live with a
family of which they were not part.
The Browns were a humdruIn couple,
content with each other and their
home. When it was decided TO have a
governess for their children Miss Olive
Markham was selected for the purpose.
Miss Markham was pretty, and Mrs.
Brown should have besitated before
taking her into the sheepfold. Not
that the wolf was likely to harm her
lambs, but there was a sheep in the
family who, though not very tender,
was liable to fall a prey to the new
conner. Neither Mrs. Brown nor her
husband gave the entrance of Miss
Markham into the family 2 thought so
far as danger was concerned. Neither
had ever known a pang Of jealousy.
Mr.. Brown was a pUdgy, baIdheaded
man Of fOrty-two; Mrs. Brown was
/ tall, angular woman but a year his
junior. Neither supposed that the
other could attract any one else even
/ if so inclined. The goyerness was but
twenty and replied to Mr.. Browns re-
marks with "Yes, sir" and NO, SIR
as a person Of an entirely different
generation. And yet there was danger
In her presence at the Browns.
IL ~.
room, where he might get a quiet
nights rest without being disturbed
by the rest of the family. One night
be wakened from a bad dream and
could not go to sleep again. After
vainly endeavoring for an hour or
more to do so he got up, put on dress
! ing gown and went downstairs 10 get
a biscuit and a glass Of wine, hoping
/ that by thus drawing the blood to his
| stomach he might return TO stumber.
He took great care TO move softly that
| he might not awaken any Of the fam
| lily and on reaching the dining room
/ refrained even from striking a light.
He found what he wanted in the side
board and, having partaken Of it, was
about to return to his room when he
felt his hand cJasped by q softer one.
Mr.. Brown knew Mrs. Browns hand
very well. 1t was not soft; it was not
even round. On the contrary, it was
hard and bony. A current shot quick
/ ly up his arm and entered-his heart?
no, his self esteem, exciting that nat
ural qualification a man who has pass
ed middle life feels in attracting a
young woman. The conviction that
the gOverness had fallen in love with
him popped into Mr.. Browns head
and created there a disturbance at
once delightful and terrifying. On the
one hand was his home, his wife, his
children; on the other, the siren. IL
he listened to the one the wreck of
the others was sure to follow. But
had he the power to resist? Mr..
Brown felt in his bones that he had
not.
All this flashed through Mr.. Browns
mind in the two or three seconds that
he held the hand in his. Then it was
withdrawn, and without sound or fare
well the owner passed. With a wildly
beating heart he stood, listened, hoped
for further manifestation, feared he
would receive it, groped for it with
Outstretched hands, was disappointed,
comforted, troubled, pleased and
thrilled all at the same time. At last,
being convinced that the owner of the
hand had gone, he returned to his
room.
Mr.. Brown lay awake till daylight,
a prey to different emotions, then went
to sleep and dreamed that he and the
governess were floating down a river
whose banks were covered with luxu-
RANT foliage and overhUng with flow
ers. She was the same woman, but
transfgUred to one Of transcendent
beauty. He bent over the side of the
/ boat and saw his own face reflected
in the water To his surprise, his hair
had come back on his head with no
gray streaks In it, and his eye had re-
gained the fire OF youth
Then he took her hand in his-the
same hand he had held before. There
vas the same pleasurable thrill with
I out tue tIcdu VI COuScl ucIICeS- IuC
wife of his bosom, so far as his dream
was concerned, had no existence; his
children were not yet born. He drift
ed in paradise.
He was awakened by a shake and
the words: Elisha, are you going to
sleep all day? Get upr'
1t was Mrs. Brown, in dishab bile and
forming a dreadful contrast with the
companion of his dream. Mr.. Brown
lay a few moments trying to get used
to the returned reality, then slowly
got out Of bed, forced himself into his
clothes and went down into the din
ing room. The family were at break
fast. His oldest daughter, aged four
teen, looked at him mischievously.
'How did you like the ghost. papa"
she asked, her eyes dancing with fun.
''W-h-a-t ghost?'
But he knew before she told him
that she had got up in the night for
glass Of water, heard him leave his
room, followed him and, with better
eyes than his, clasped his hand.
{ My dear" said Mr.. Brown to his
! wife after breakfast and before going
downtown. "T've been thinking that