The Washington herald., 1914-10-25

not to awaken his neighbor, Ten Eyck
and turned the little wheels markec
Shower" and needle" and "cold," zlnc
received the responding rains There
was no question that they were cold.
But the reaction was a jubilee II
every artery, and he dressed with
eagerness for whatever the day might
bring. He opened his door softly anc
went down the twilight Of the stairway
Like an escaping thief. The servantless
tenants had neglected to bolt and chain
the outside door. He swung it back
and stepped out.
He glanced with admiring awe al
the dew-pebbled lawn, the colonnades
and the cloisters, but hastened to the
eastern side to watch the day breaking
over the skylines of Westchester.
One imperial group of lilac trees
seemed to hold torches up for the sun
to kindle. They blazed with purple
fame.
Forbes thought: "Those are the
lilacs Enslee loves and owns This is
Enslee's heaven. That is Enslee's sun
And she is Enslee's, too" Then, with
all the bravery and optimism the dawn
could lavish, he felt: well, she be-
longs here; l don't. She needs these
things. l can't get 'em for her. Sc
it's good-bY Persis, and no harm
done"
He was sure that EnsIee would never
know of the kiss he had stolen from
Enslee's property. And he was sure
that Enslee would never miss a certain
1slar e1V,cNar xrrhNea and rnIaf
especially caught Forbes fancy. He
plucked it. Just as it snapped in his
hand and flung fragrant dew upon
his face he heard another slight sound
above. He glanced up.
At an upper window, a few PAGES
from where Forbes stood, Persis lean
ed out like another blessed damosel
looking downward at the sun. She did
not see Forbes as her drowsy gaze
swept the hills. She was not there,
however, to adore the dawn. Il had
troubled her sleep, and she wanted to
shut it out. Her hands were tugging
drowsily at one of the blinds, but il
was held by a catch in the wall. She
must lean far out to release It.
The very homeliness of her motive
and the act made her the more appeal
ing to Forbes. A creamy nightcap of
lace and bow-knots was all askew on
her tousled hair, and a long loop of II
slid down into her bosom as she bent
far forward. She had not paused even
to throw on a shawl, and her night
gown was so vaporous a drapery that
it hardly mattered where it clung or
lapsed.
Forbes blushed for her, but gazed
entranced while she fumbled at the
lock till it yielded. Then she reached
out for the other shutter and>stsred
forth into the sun, stared between her
white arms, outstretched like the wings
of an angel at a window in the sky.
Now Forbes knew that he loved her
irretrievably. He would storm the
clouds to win her. He could afford a
home with a pair of shutters, and she
could close them against the sun and be
as snug as cuckoo in a clock.
He was so resolved upon winning
her that he counted her already his,
and, with a gesture like throwing up
his cap, flung the ilacs he held straight
at her. They missed her, but they
caught her eye, and she followed them
down to where he darted to catch them
for another cast.
When he looked up again the blinds
were shut. He was alone in the world,
his lilacs and his heart barred out and
rejected. She had retreated to Ems
lees stronghold and shuttered herself
in.
Forbes turned away to exile in a
world of gloom. He heard a little
sound above, and whirled quickly. The
shutters were opening again. He saw
her eyes. She was frowning fiercely;
but that was because of the sharp sun,
for her lips were smiling and she was
something.
He could not understand her, and
she could not hear his whisper. They
were afraid to waken the house with
louder talk. So he beckoned to her
to come down. She shook her head.
He insisted with ardent gesticulation
at the beauty of the scene. She shook
her head so violently that her cap fell
of. She clutched at it, and her hair
fell all about her. He caught the cap
Is it drifted down like a tired butterfly.
She brushed her hair back and pleaded
Tor the cap. He shook his head and
tossed her the lilacs. She refused to
take them. and put out her hands for
the cap. He beckoned her again to
come down, and she frowned fero-
ciously. Then, at length, she smiled
and no6ded and turned away.
He waited, afraid to walk because
he gravel crunched slarmingly. He
oould see the gardeners cottage down
he hill, and he was glad that no one
vas stirring there; not a thread OF
smoke spun from the chimney.
After he had waited for tiny eter-
lity he heard her snap her fingers, and
ooked up to find her fully dressed, all
lempt and shiny-faced and precise
She held out beseeching palms for her
:ap, but he pocketed it and commanded
Ter to descend. She left the window
With a look of angry amusement, and
lie knew that she was yielding to his
,rders.
1t was his first command, and she
lad obeyed it =
For convincing the human heart
here is no argument like a parable or
Inalogy, and there is no more worthless
roof to the mind. So long as Persis |
,ould be called bird of paradise, too
ich for canary cage, or sea-gull, too
Wild; or a planet unattainable, Forbes
Omitted that his hopes of winning her
nd keeping her were foolish. He gave
Ter up. So much for the metaphors.
3ut when he saw her at the window
n the daylight, and saw, not a sea-
,ull nor a plznet, but just a pretty,
Irowsy girl with runpled hair, he |
ossed aside all the arguments by para