The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-02-06

thdt tue tUioT III ler DIuCk iSiieu eyes
just matched the brown velvet of he,
costume
81 am afraid | cannot stand" she
faltered. leaning against him. IL be
lieve I've sprained my ankle. If you
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
vinaigrette 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 1t.
Presently she opened her eyes and
smiled deprecatingly at him.
THANK you very much" she said.
If you will summon taxicab and
assist me to the entrance ! shall be
very grateful. l am sorry to trouble
you. but
my own car is at the door," sug-
gested Malcolm. IF you will let me
drive you home 1t will save delay"
L
live just around the corner In Eighty
fourth street. ALI" She WINGED with
pain as she endeavored to walk.
After that she took Malcolm'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 happened?' 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 gypsy's prophecy and the coinci-
dence of meeting this beautiful stran-
ger actually i'm 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
licitOus butler.
After that things fell very fat for
Dale. He dined at his club after a
run out to the gypsy camp. only to find
that it 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:
Il see the moonlight falling on the
wise countenance oof 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" "... nr,3s's.
Overland over again the words sang
themselves through his brain until
when he went to bed he fell asleep to
dream Of standing in the shadow of
the sphinx on the Gizeh plain and be-
side him 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
he'd.
I'll make that dream come truev he
said grimIy, and so. turning over. he
sank into Il 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
ed 1t. Well. IL he wouldn't take sound
advice 1t meant a sanitarium and the
rest cure for him.
To all of which Dale listened re-
specially 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 deadly
hatred. and the first person he saw
was Vera Lane talking to her hostess.
The girl moved away as he approached.
Mrs. Fletcher smiled wickedly at
him.
IL simply asked you SO that you
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 girl she hard
ly knows. But 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 his incident with
the gypsy fortune teller.
Mrs. Fletchep 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 group Of women. and
a little later Dale was listening to her