Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1914-10-27

just matched the brown velvet of he
costume.
Il am afraid / cannot stand" shs
faltered. leaning against him. Il be
lieve I've sprained my ankle. IL yor
will assist ME to a seat
Dale almost carried his lovely burden
to one of the settees.
She leaned her head against the back
of the seat. and, taking small gold
yinaigrette from her hand bag. she
held it to her dainty nose. When her
hand languidly dropped Dale quietly
took the golden toy from her hand and
applied ii.
Presently she opened her eyes and
smiled deprecatingly at him.
'Thank you very much" she said.
IF you will summon a taxicab and
assist me to the entrance | shall be
very grateful. | am sorry TO trouble
you, but
'My own car is at the door, sug
gested Malcolm. III yoH will let me
drive you home it will save delay
THANK you. You are very kind. |
live just around the corner in Eighty
fourth street. Abr She WINGED with
pain as she endeavored to walk.
After that she took Maicolm's prof
fered arm. and just as they turned
away the young man looked backward
Through the window he saw the new
moon, and his glance also took In the
picture OF the sphinx and the girl be.
side him.
His heart leaped suddenly so that he
started violently.
"What has happenedf" asked the
girl quickly.
Nothing that matters now" he said
as he assisted her in her slow progress
through the rooms.
In spite of his calm demeanor Dale
Malcolm's everyday self assurance
was staggered by the recollection OF
the gypsys prophecy and the coinci-
dence of meeting this beautiful stran-
ger actually in the shadow of the pic
tured face Of the silent one. the sphinx.
In ten minutes Dale was assisting
Vera Lane up the front steps of the
handsome house where she lived and
giving her into the care of a very So
licitous butler
After that things fell very fat fol
Dale. He dined at his club after a
run out to the gypsy camp. only to find
that 1t had vanished from the grove
Of chestnut trees He went to thea.
ter in the evening, but the play had no
meaning for him. Always he saw the
lovely face of Vera Lane. and con
stantly he heard the prophetic voice Of
the gypsy fortune teller:
II see the moonlight falling on the
wise countenance of the silent one.
In the shadow of the mysterious face
she will come. You will go to strange
lands together and be happy. Remem-
Der the mysterious face"
Over and over again the words sang
themselves through his brain until
when he went to bed be fell asleep to
dream of standing in the shadow of
the sphinx on the Gizeh plain and be-
side bin was Vera Lane. Now she
was his bride, and they were on their
honeymoon. visiting strange lands
even as the gypsy had foretold
Dale awoke suddenly and sat up in
bed
'I'll make that dream come truep' he
said grimy, and so, turning over, he
sank into dreamless sleep.
The next day he called to inquire
concerning Miss Lanes injury. and,
receiving word that she was much bet.
ter, he was obliged to content himself
with that There was nothing more
he could do now save to find some mu-
tual acquaintance who would effect
the introduction that would, he now
believed. open the gates of paradise to
him.
He dreamed of Vera Lane by day
and night. and his business friends
clapped him on the shoulder and told
him to take a rest. He certainly need
ed it. Well. if he wouldn't take sound
advice it meant sanitarium and the
rest cure for him!
TO all of which Dale listened re.
spectfully and then went on dream
ing.
His women friends confessed them.
selves bored to extinction when Dale
made what he considered cleverly non.
committal inquiries concerning Vera
Lane. At last he dropped In at tea,
for which functions he had a deadly
hatred. and the first person he saw
was Vera Lame talking to her hostess.
The girl moved away as he approached.
Mrs. Fletcher smiled wickedly at
him
Il simply asked you so that yob
could meet Miss Lane" she whispered.
I've heard all about it from Agatha.
She says you've bothered her to death
for an introduction to "A girl she hard
~ knows I;ut now. young man. |
hope you're satisfied"
Because of your goodness I'll tell
you the reason why" said Dale CRATE.
fully. and he related bis incident with
the gypsy fortune teller.
Mrs. Fletcher was delighted with the
tinge of romance In Dale's story. SO
presently she led him TO the corner
where Vera Lane was drinking tea and
chatting with a group Of women. and
a little later Dale was listening to her
sweet voice as she thanked him for
his assistance on that October evening
when she had sprained her ankle
1t is a fact that when spring came
Dale Malcolm turned over the execu-
tive department Of the business to his
partner and set forth on a journey
around the world He did not 20