The Washington times., 1913-06-15

, : NIX below HIM almost 10 the sioIuu
and moved herself to little wiring
| table.
There is just one message l must
send" she said. Ito a stupid mouse
| where l am half expected 10 uine. IL
| will not take me half a minute.
He sat still. listening mechanically
to the sound of her pen scratching
jumped into his lap with little snort
of content and curled up to sleep. he
let his hand wander over IT'S sieek
satin coat-the touch OF anytnlhS Nv
| ing seemed to inspire him with a more
| complete confidence as to the perma-
nent and material nature of his sur
roundings.
Meanwhile. Emily de Reuss wrote her
excuses to a duchess-a dinner party
of three weeks standins-knowing all
| the while that she was guilty OF an un-
: pardonahle social offense. She sealed
her letter and touched bell by her
side Then she came over to him.
Now 1 am free. she announced. for
shall we do? l am ordering dinner
at g. Would you like to look at my
books, or play billiards. or sit here
and talk? The garden l am going to
leave till afterward l want you to
see II at its best
Il should like to see your books" he
replied.
Il am not certain she said. 'wheth-
er you will care for my library. You
I there will be books that that you will
like, / am sure of that"
Douglas had never seen or dreamed
OF anything like 1t. The room was
ecclesiastical in shape and architecture.
fluted pillars supported an oak-beamed
small organ. But it was its color
scheme which was so wonderful. The
great cases which came out in wings
into the room were white. Everything
was white-the rugs, the raised frescoes
on the walls, the chairs and hangings.
She watched his face, and assuming
! an apoloeetic attitude, said. 1T is un-
| usual-and untraditional, I know, but /
wanted something different. and mine
| is essentially modern library. In this
| one and ones surroundings, after all,
count for much. That is M poetry
| recess; You seem to have found your
way there by instinct"
Only at first it takes your breath
away. But what beautiful editions!''
He hesitated with his hand upon a
volume. She laughed at him and took
IT down herself. Perhaps she knew
that her arm was shapely. At least she
let II remain for moment stretched
volume.
II always buy editions de luxe when
they are to be had" she said. "A beau
ing and paper covers. and fancy LIE
Gallienne in an 1s-penny series!'
You have PaterI" he exclaimed; land
isn't that a volume of De Maupas-
sant's?'
His fingers shook with eagerness.
She put a tiny volume into his hands.
He shook back tire hair from mis- head
and forgot that he had ever been i'll.
that he had ever suffered. that he had
ever despaired. For the love Of books
was in his blood and his tongue was
loosened. For the first time in mis-
life he knew the full delight of SYM
pathetic listener They entered. upon
a new relationship in those few minutes.
The summons for dinner found them
still there. Douglas with a faint flush
in his cheeks and brilliant eyes; she.
too. imbued with a little Of MS literary
excitement She handed him over to
a man servant. who offered him dress
clothes and waited upon him with the
calm. dextrous skill of well-trained
valet
He laughed soflly to himself as he
, passed down the broad stairs. Surely
be had wandered through dreamland
into some corner of the Arabian
Nights''-else he had passed from one
cxtT cme of life to the ether with 4
strange, almost magical, celerity
Dinner surprised him 10y being so
pleasantly homely. A single trim maid
servant waited upon them, man at
the sideboard opened the wine. carved.
aid vanished early in the repast. Over
great bowl of clustering roses he
could see her within few feet of him.
plainly dressed in black lace with a
band of velvet around her white neck.
her eyes resting often upon him full
of gentle sympathy.
They talked of the books they had
been looking at. a conversation all the
while with its background and of fore
ground. Only- once she lifted her glass.
which has lust been filled. and looked
across to him.
softly. May the dsy soon come when
you shall write of it-and forget"
He drank the toast fervently But of
think. The transition 10 this from his
days of misery had been too sudden
AS yet his sense OF proportion had not
had time to adjust itself. Behind him
were namelees horrors-thal he had a
future at all WAS a fact which he had
only recognized during the last few
hours.
Afterward they sat in low chairs on n
terrace. with coffee on small round
liable between them, a fountain playing
beneath, beyond, the trees of the park.
the countless lights Of the streets and
the cleaning fires of innumerabIe han
SONS. 1t was the London of broad
streets. opulent, dignified. afire for
pleasure.
Women were whirled by, bright-eyed
be-jeweled, softly clad In white featb-
ers and opera cloaks: men hatIess, i'm