The Washington bee., 1911-08-05
THE SIREN
By CORA EATHORN 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 a
man or woman going to live with
family Of which they were not part.
e The Browns were humdrum couple,
tontent with each other and their
home. When it was decided to have a
gOverneSs for their children Miss Give
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 MIS-. 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 a pudgy, baldheaded
man Of forty-two; Mrs. Brown was
tell, angular woman but a year his
junior. Neither supposed that the
other could attract any one else even
IL 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
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
VainIy endeavOring for an hour or
more to do so ne got up, put on dress
| ing gown and went downstairs TO get
q biscuit and 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
! ily 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 II, was
about 10 return to his room when be
felt his hand clasped by softer one.
Nj. Brown knew Mrs. Browns hand
very well. It was not soft; it was not
even round. On the contrary, it was
hard and bony. A current shot quick
IL up his arm and entered-his heart
no, his self esteem, exciting that nat
uraI qualification a man who has pass
ed middle life feels in attracting 6
young woman. The conviction tha
the governess had fallen in love Will
him popped into Mr.. Browns heaC
and created there a disturbance a
once delightful and terrifying. On tn
one hand was his home, his wife, hi
children; on the other, che siren. 1
he listened to the one the wreck o
the others was sure to follow. Blu
had he the power to resist? MI
Brown felt in his bones that he hat
not.
All this flashed through Mr.. Brown
i. mind in the two or three seconds tina
he held the hand in his. Then it wa
! |
wei the owner passed. With Wild,
beating heart he stood, listened, hopet
for further manifestation, feared b
would receive It, groped for it wit
outstretched hands, was disappointed
comforted, troubled, pleased ant
thrilled all at the same time. At last
being convinced that the owner of tn
hand had gone, he returned to hi
, room.
Mr.. Brown lay awake till daylight
prey to different emotions, then wen
to sleep and dreamed that he and tn
> goyerness were floating down rive
> whose banks were covered with luxJ
rant foliage and Overhung with foW
ers. She was the same woman, bu
rans1gured to one Of transcenden
beauty. He bent over the side of th
boat and saw his own face refiecte
In the water. To his surprise, his hal
: had come back on his head with u
gray streaks in it, and his eye had tt
gained the fire Of youth.
l Then he took her hand in his-th
same hand he had held before. Tier
was the same pIeasurable thrill will
l out the dread of consequences. Th
wife of his bosom, so far as his dreaI
/, was concerned, had no existence; b
3 children were not yet born He drif
ed in paradise.
> He was awakened by shake an
3 the words: Elisha, are you going
I sleep aH day? Get Up"
It was Mrs. Brown, in dishab bile an
3 forming a dreadful contrast with th
3 companion Of his dream. Mr.. Brow
4 lay few moments trying TO get use
T to the returned reality, then slowf
got out Of bed, forced himself into hi
= clothes and went down into the dir
{ ing room. The family were at breal
? fast. His oldest daughter, aged foul
3 teen. looked at him mischieVoUsly.
: "How did you like the ghost papa
], she asked, her eyes dancing with run.
: What ghOst?"
3 But he knew before she told hiI
that she had got up in the night for
glass Of water, heard him leave b
9 room, followed him and, with bette
eyes than his, clasped his hand.
q 7 sny dear," said Mr.. Brown TO hi
wife after breakfast and before goin
e downtown, "T've been thinking tha