The Lamar register., 1919-09-17

out from their roots and sweeping up
ward In great curves. One involunta-
rlly looked for man-eatlng tiger ut
any moment, standing striped and
splendid in one of the openings.
Then suddenly to the right, there
came flash Of level green, suggesting
lawns. and the outlines of house,
partly covered with brilliant purple
howers-a marvellous splash of color.
"Bougainvillea BOugainvillea spec
tabilis-of course. you know 1t. Was
there ever such purplef Not Solo
mon in all his glory. ct .cetera. And
here we are at the house OF King
Alcinous-a humble version of 1t In
deed"
1t was large rambling stucco
house, somewhat decayed looking,
and evidently built on the ruins of an
older building. We came upon It at
oroad Italian-looking lOggia, supported
by stone pillars bowed in with vines
slabs for its floor, here and there
tropical ferns set out In tubs. some
wicker chairs standing about, and
table at one side on which two little
barelegged negro girls were busy set
ting out yellow fruit, and other ap-
purtenances of luncheon. on dazzling
white cloth.
Has your mistress returned yet,
my children?" asked the master.
'No. sar." said the older girl, with
giggle. twisting and grimacing with
embarrassment.
MY daughter" explained my host,
has gone to the town on an errand
She will be back at any moment
Meanwhile. I shall Introduce you to
cooling drink Of my own manufacture,
with basis OF that cocOnut milk
which need not ask you whether you
appreciate. recalling the pleasant
circumstance Of our first acqunint-
ance."
Motloning me to seat. ana pushing
toward me box Of cigarettes. he went
indoors. leaving me to take In the
stretch OF beautiful garden in front Of
me. the trees of which seemed literal
ly to be hung with gold--fOr they were
mainly OF orange and grapefruit
ranged round spacious beautifully
kept lawn with the regularity of
sumptuous decoration. In the middle
of the lawn. a little rocky fountain
threw up jet OF silver. falling with
u tinkling murmur into "A broad cir
culnr basin from which emerged the
broad leaves and splendid pink bios
SONS OF an Egyptian lotus. Certainly
It was no far-fetched allusion OF my
classical friend TO speak OF the gar
den OF Alcinous; particularly connect
ed as II was In my mind with the white
beach of desert isle. and that marble
statue I'm the moonlight.
As sat dreaming. bathed in the
golden green light OF the orange trees.
and lulled by the tinkling Of the foun-
tain. my host returned with our drinks
his learned disqulsition on which
will spare the reader. highly interest
ing and characteristic though 1t was.
Suffice II that IL was u drink. what
ever It's lngredients-and there was
certainly somewhere a powerful
stick" In It-that seemed TO have
been drawn from some cool grotto Of
the virgin eurtn. 50 tnfllliusly cOlu
and invigorating 1t was.
While we were slowly slipping II. and
smoking our cigarettes. In nm unwout-
ed pause of my friends fanciful ver-
bosity. | almost jumped in my chnir at
the sound OF voice indoors. IL was
instantly followed by a light and rapid
tread, and the sound of n woman's
dress. Then tall. beautiful young
woman emerged on the loggia.
"Ah there you arel" cried my host.
as we both rose: and then turning to
me. "this IL my daughter-Calypso
Her real name | assure you-none OF
my nonsense-doesn't she look 1T Al
low me, my dear, to lntroduce-Mr.
Ulysses l'-for we had not yet ex-
changed each others names.
am wretched actor. and / am
bound TO say that she proved herself
no better. For she gave a decided
start as she turned those glowing eyes
on me. and the lovely olive Of her
cheeks glowed as with submerged rose
color. Our embarrassment did not es-
cape the father.
"why, you know each other al
readyl" he exclaimed. with natural
surprise.
"Not exactly''-I was grateful for
the sudden nerve with which I was
able to hasten TO the relief Of her love