The Irish standard., 1912-11-23


was the delectable country. He
hadn't thought to ask her when she
was to leave, nor whittier she was to
60. The abruptness with which she
had left him the night before puzzled
rather than disturbed him. Oh, we'll;
this old planet was neither 80 deep
nor SO round as it had once been.
What with steamships and railroads,
the so.called four ends were drawn
closely together. He would ask her
casually, as If it did not particularly
matter. In Naples 1t would be an easy
matter to change his booking to New
York. From Naples to Mentone was
only question Of few hours.
II doesn't seem possible, George,
old boy, does it? But it's true; and
there's no use trying to fool yourself
that it isn't. Fortune Chedsoye; 1t
will be shame to add Jones to it;
but I'm going to try"
He pressed down the last book, the
last collar, the last pair of shoes, and
sat upon the lid Of the trunk. He
growled little. The lock was always
bothering him. It was wonderful how
many things q chap could take out of
trunk and how plagued few he could
put back. It did not seem to relieve
the pressure II he added q steamer.
trunk here or a suitcase there; there
was always just 80 much there wasn't
any room for. Truly. 1t needed q wom-
ans hand to pack trunk. However
his mother in the old school.days had
got all his belongings into one trunk
was still an unsolved mystery.
Stubborn as the lock was, persever.
ance overcame 1t. George then, as q
slight diversion. spread the ancient
Yhiordes over the trunk and stared at
1t In pleasurable contemplation. What
beauty 1t was! What exquisite blue.
what soft red, what minute patternsi
And this treasure was his. He leaned
down upon it with his two hands. A
color stole into his cheeks. It had it's
source In an old confusion; school.
boys jeering mate seen walking
home from school with girl. It was
all rot, he perfectly knew, this wish
! Ing business; and yet he flung into the
sun-warmed, sun-gilded space an ar
dent wish. sent 1t speeding round the
world from east to west. Fast as heat,
fast as light 1t travelled, for no sooner
had 1t sprung from his mind than it
entered the window Of a room across
the corridor. Whether the window was
open or shut was Of no importance
whatever. Such wishes penetrated and
went through all obstacles. And this
one touched Fortunes eyes, her hair,
her lips; 1t caressed her in thousand
happy ways. But, alas! such wishes
are without temporal power.
Fortune never knew. She sat in a
chair, her fingers locked tensely, her
eyes large and set in gaze, her lips
compressed, her whole attitude one of
lmpotent despair.
George did not see her at lunch, and
consequently did not enjoy the hour.
Was she Ill? Had she gone away?
Would she return before he started?
He greeted the Major as one greets a
long-lost friend; and by gradations
George considered clever indeed,
brought the conversation down to For
tune. No, the Major did not know
where she was. She had gone early
to the bazaars. Doubtless she was
lunching> alone somewhere. She had
the trick Of losing herself at times.
Mrs. Chedsoye was visiting friends at
Shepherds. When did Mr.. Jones
leave for America? What! on the NOR
row? The Major shook his head re-
gretfully. There was no place like
Cairo for Christmas.
George called q carriage, drove
about the principal streets and shop
ping districts, and used his eyes dill
gently; but 1t was loves labor lost
Not even when he returned at tea-time
did he see her. Why hadn't he known
and got up? He could have shown her
the bazaars; and there wasn't drago-
man In Cairo more familiar with them
than he. A wasted day, totally wasted
He hung about the lounging-room till
1t was time to 60 up and dress for
dinner. Tonight (as If the gods had
turned Georges future affairs over to
the care of Momus) he dressed as if
ne were going to the opera; swallow.
/
tall. white vest, high collar and white
lawn cravat. opera-Fedora. and thin
soled pumps; all those habiliments
and demi-habiliments supposed to
make the man. When he reached what
he thought to be the glass of fashion
and the mold Of form, he turned for
the first time toward his trunk. He
did not rub his eyes; it wasn't at all
necessary; the thing he saw, or rath-
er did not see, was established beyond
doubt as .plainly definite as two and
! two are four. The ancient Yhiordes
had taken upon itself one of the po-
tentialities of its fabulous prototype,
that Of invisibility; it was gone.
CHAPTER xl.
Episode.
Fortune had Immediately returned
from the bazaars. And a kind Of tor
por blanketed her mind, usually so