The Washington bee., 1911-08-12
THE SIREN
By CORA HATHORN SYKES


Innocent children made to suffer and
sometimes murder done because of a
man or a woman going to live with a
family Of which they were not part.
The Browns were a humdrum couple,
eOntent with each other and their
home. When it was decided to have
EOYerness for their children Miss Olive
Markham was selected for the purpose.
Miss Markham was pretty, and Mrs.
Brown should have heSitated 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 a thought so
far as danger was concerned. Neither
had ever known a pang of jealousy.
Mr.. Brown was pudgy, baldheaded
man Of fOrty-tWo; Mrs. Brown was a
tall, angular woman but year his
junior. Neither supposed that the
other could attract any one else even
If so inclined. The goverDess 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.
Mr.. Brown had his own sleeping
room, where he might get a quiet
nights rest without being disturbed
by the rest of the family. One night
he 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 a dress
ing gown and went downstairs to get
a biscuit and a glass Of wine, hoping
that by thus drawing the blood to his
stomach he might return to slumber,
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 CT It, was
about to return to his room when he
felt his hand clasped by a 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-hts hearth
no, his self esteem, exciting that nat
ural qualification a man who has pass
ed middle life feels in attr; citing a
young woman The conviction that
the gOyerness 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. If
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 Nr. 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 d 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 oYerhung with flow
ers. She was the same woman, but
/ uansfigured 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
was the same pleasurable thrill with
cut the dread Of consequences. The
/ 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 ali day? Get upP'
1t was Mrs. Brown, in dishabiIle 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
'sHow did you like the ghost, papaT
she asked, her eyes dancing with fun.
What ghOstF'
But he knew before she told him
that she had got up in the night for g
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, 1--WE been thinking that
the children viii get on better going to
school than taught by a governess."
Perhaps you're right, pa. Anyway,