The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-14

| was the portrait OF q woman. but
| the eyes were the eyes Of the alb
sent architect. This portrait. In
its oval frame. had hung In octa-
Was chamber until Auntie George
came to live at the castle.
Meanwhile, about q dozen tour
lists. guided by Bayliss. an old
servant of the castle, had entered
the Hall.
Octavia looked absently through
the screen. down upon the tour
lists. She discovered, gradually,
that her eyes were following the
movements of one of the visitors.
When Bayliss. followed by his
audience, moved away from this
end of the hall, the lady in dark
blue remained behind. And when
all backs were turned she quietly
pressed the hidden bolt and open
ed the panel through which Octa-
via herself had entered the gal
lery. Octavia, in amazement,
held her breath.
Looking through the screen
she saw the woman walk rapidly
across the hall to the statue OF
Pandora. And Octavia's eyes open
ed yet wider in establishment as
/ she saw the woman reach up and
insert a hand in the marble cas-
| ket. For an instant the fingers
CROPPED about as If in search of
something. Then they drew forth
a folded piece of paper.
The lady walked rapidly to the
great window, opened with quiv-
ering fingers this bit of paper and
bent eagerly over it, then Octavia
made a swift decision. She ran
down the stairs, pushed open the
panel and advanced toward this
enigmatic being. The woman
looked up in surprise, and took a
backward step.
do you wish to speak with
me?" asked the lady.
1t was an unusual voice.
smooth, low and most agreeable
to the ear.
But even then Octavia did not
answer. The more she studied
this strangers face, the more
puzzling her memories, until, at
last, she exclaimed in suppressed
excitement:
"Ah, how stupid! l know you
now! | know who you are!
think you were my grandfather's
second wife-the Countess OF
Drumworth.
And now" said Octavia. "have
you read the note you just took
from Pandora's box, and was II
the one you expected"
81 am not asking what is in the
note-merely il 1t is what you
expected. For l, too, took note
from that box some months ago
and | can't help thinking there
has been a mistake-of some
kind
| "You took a note from Pan
dora's box?"
l Ootavia nodded, and drew forth
the fateful verse. The ex-count
ess bent eagerly forward. lookinl
quickly from the paper in Octa
Was fingers to the one in hel
own, then back again.
i May / read it," she whispered
i Octavia smiled. How imperti
nent We both are!"
81 beg your pardon. Here" Sht
unfolded her paper and gave 1
up.
Octavia, in exchange. delivered
her own.
Il The two women, both turning
slightly away, their backs to eaci
other, read their respective notes
: The one now in Octavia's posses
sion was written In pencil. Wha
she read was this:
To a Supercilious Angel, Sitting
in a Window.
DEAR SAINT:
Il See the mountains kiss higl
i heaven,
u And the waves clasp one an
other;
flNo sister flower would be forgive,
If it disdained it's brother;
J And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss tn
sea.
, What are all these kissings WORT
, IL thou kiss not me?
. Yours truly.
| BASEBORN.
: When Octayia had read thi
: letter-this preposterous use o
her beloved Shelley-she laughed
The laugh was hysterical, half
suppressed, but of joy at tn
: knowledge of Ethan Lovejoy'
escape from the charge agains
} him. The laugh quickly ended
however, by a Tightening of tn
throat as she recalled his punish
J ment.