The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-14

needlework and walked out on the
terrace. My two great auntH who
we're sitting In the room With her
saw my grandfather pass thru the
hall. moment afterwards, ms II
following her she never returned
She was never seen again by ans
OF the family. nor by anybody We
know.
Whom my grandfather returned.
two or three hours later. he seemed
different man. lie had lost all
power OF speech. Aud during the
30 years and more that have fol
lowed no has never been seen TO
smile"
"She was your grantmothcrf"
"oh, mol She Was grandfathers
second wifs-and much younger
than himself"
was she pretty. this runaway
lady"
"Oh. remarkably pretty Her
portrait. for years. hung over the
mantel In my chamber. II was a
gentle. lovahle face"
oc,ayia rose as II 10 30,
Please tarry-lust a little,
have something OF great Importance
to say 20 you. have a strange pre-
sentiment. an unaccountable. over
mastering conviction. that Pandora
over there has precious eommuni'
cation for you. and she ls waiting
for you TO take H.
Octavia. reaching M a hand. in.
serted her fingers cautiously In the
marble box. Encountcring a piece
OF folded note paper she brought II
forth. Her smile departed as. IN
silence. she read these lines:
TO Ny own
Nothing. dearest. Us shall sever.
Heart 20 heart. ani parting never. /
or all earthly hopes and bllascs.
or all dreams the sweetest this Is. /
Just our kosyie Benche with |
moonlight
And a garden breathing kisses.
From her False Poet. but
''Trcw ioyir."
T. l..
With burning cheeks she rose
from her seat. The paper dropped I
from her fingers Instead OF reach
Ing the floor II finttercd into the I
garden basket on the bench beside
Ter. She stood for an instant. erect. I.
uncertain All pride OF reserved
and sensitive spirit VAS in high re
volt. In low voice. with a slight /
trrmor. shs asked, ntill hoping
there was som. mistake.
did you write IT."
Does not the signature tell who |
wrote it.'
In silence Octavia took up her
basket. Her sorrow-her disap- |
pointmont In this rnan--waa even |
deeper than her anger. She suf.
teret-keenly snffered-undcr the
sudden realization that. after all.
he was no, a gentleman. that he
knew no better. and that shc her.
s~s was To blame In permitting
such advances. without further
words she walked away.
Fastening TO her chamber she
dropped into the nearest chair /
Then. with an elbow on tho table. /
her chin in a hand. she thought
and thought.
The more she thought. tho more |
shs wavered Then. Ike an imp OF
evil. came dancing thru her head. |
breathing kisses"
Octavia made serious efforts dur !
Ing the day to think no more OF
this deprecated American, this
hero OF common clay.
In tho afternoon. she walked 10 |
the village 10 attend n little meet /
ing OF tho library committee. and /
as she walked she despised herself /
for allowing tho memory OF this I
tactisss foreigner TO absorb her
thoughts.
From these self reproaches she /
vas suddenly awakened, on the /
the main street OF tho village. by 4
the unexpected appearance OF the /
invader himself. Both he and DC.
tayla, in their surprise. stopped |
short. and only n few feet apart.
For an instant they confronted 4
each other in silence. Then the /
lady. with her perfrncinry smile /
and a polite but formal word Of
greeting. started forward. He took I
a backward step. still standing In /
her way. Octavia. raising her eye /
brovs as II In mild surprise, looked /
calmly into his face-such a look |
as the queen OF Sheba might bestow
upon a puddle In the street. or any |
other obstacle OF similar Import
ance. But the tactless American
stood undIsmayed. lie looked as
calmly into her own eyes as she /
into hls-and spoke:
1T surely is not impairment,
Lady Octavla, TO ask what ] have
done to offend YOU
II think you know"
ION my honor. | do mott"
Then you never will know"
And stepping off the narrow lit /
tie sidewalk into the street, she |
Tassed around him and walked |
rapidly away.
Tho following morning, how
ever. she opened the little gate
or door-passed along the cloister.
cd archway and stepped out into
the neglected garden.
Now, she must be severe and |
distant-eyen cruel pcrhaps--to |
maintain a decent dignity. This
architect was to understand clear.
~ that tho present visit was pure
ly architectural merely to in.
spect the drawings of the castle.
Thus braced with firm resolve,
she passed beneath the ancient
portal. AS she placed a foot upon
the lowest OF the five steps that
led up TO the door OF tho Old Hall.
she stopped, in surprise. The
door was closed. Was this a hint7
Had he the impertinenco to be
H..