Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-22

might have been a Spaniard.
Tiny square tables Of black lacquer wera
disposed along three sides Of the room. one
for each guest. They were but four inches
high and ON the floor behind each lay a
thin, flat zabuton or cushion Of hroCade
The boWiug geisha in wonderful rainbow
yimouo who awaited them might have
stepped from the temple stage az Muko-
jima. These pointed to the tables with in
viting smiles
"Plec shee down" they said In unison.
The meal began merriy. Barbara sat on
Daunts left with one VI the attaches next
Ter. Baroness Strolou was on Daunts
other hand. Barbara remembered Il after
ward as meal Of elfish daintincss-ot
warm pungout, wine-uke liquor in blue
porcelain bottles, OF food OF strange look
and Cloying taste highly colored and sea-
soned, in hundred tiny red and black
lacquer dishes that carried her back to her
doll days, with covers patterned in gold,
served by prostraung geisha whose klmono
were woven with violet Fujis, winged
dragons and marvellous exotic blossoms.
Across the soft shoo-shoo OF spotiess
tabi-clad feet, the fitting OF bright hued
kimono, the gay badnRge that flew about
the low tables, Daunt felt her beauty thrill
HIM from head to foot like garment OF
mist and fire. As she dropped her hand
to the cushion It had touched his, and Tor
an instant their pulses had seemed to thTob
into one. The tiny, lacauered cup she took
up trembled in her fingers.
She started when the young army officer
nearest her said: Speaking OF sailing
give me steam yacht like the one that
berthed yesterday at Yokohama. She be-
longs to a man named ware-Austen Ware
"a New Yorker, l understand. Perhaps
you know him, Miss Fairfax"
Il Lave met him." she answered
The young army officer looked up quickly
he was an enthusiastic yachtsman. "A
beautiful vessel" he said. Il noticed her
today, but she was too far away to make
out her name"
1t is the Barbara" said Voynich.
why" exclaimed Patricia. that's"
She bit her tongue. caught by something in
Barbara's face. Good gracious" she
ended. "My-my foot's asleep!"
Barbara had felt her flush fading to
paleness. She felt a quick relief that none
there. save Patricia and Daunt knew her
first name In the diversion caused by
Patricla's helpless efforts to stand up, she
stole glance at Daunt.
A shadow had fallen on his face. He
did not look at her, but i'm his brain the
yachts name was ringing like a knel. She
knew pills brother! Austen Wares yacht
had arrived in Yokohama on the same day
as her ship. And It was named the Bar
barA. Yet tonight he had dreamed-what
had he been dreaming? These thoughts
mixed themselves werdly with the galety
and nonsense that he forced himself to
render
Barbara felt this with an aching sense Of
resentment. What was he thinking of her?
And why should she care SO fiercely? The
courses passed, but the lightness and blith-
ness OF the scene were somehow chilled.
The decorative food; the numberless tiny
cups and trays; the taper pink-tinted fin
gers that poured the warm drink; the XII
mono, the music and lights-an palled.
She was glad when the baroness decreed
the dinner over by repeating Patricias
experiment Of painful unfolding and calling
for her wraps.