The Lamar register., 1919-09-17

wayi Had sne a prOrner. I wondered.
Yet my mind was too dazzled and con-
fused with her nearness to pursue the
speculation.
AS we sat down to luncheon, waited
upon by the little barlegged black chill
dren-walted on, too. surprisingly
well. despite the contortions OF their
primitive embarrassment-my host
once more resumed his character OF
the classic king welcoming the storm
tossed stranger to his board.
Far wanderer." he said, raising his
glass to me. "eat Of what our board
affords, welcome without question Of
name and nation. But If. when the
food and wine have done their genial
office. and the wearlness OF youf jour
neying has fallen from you, you should
feel stirred to tell us somewhat of
yourself and your wanderings. what
manner of men call you kinsman, In
what fair land is your home and the
place Of your loved ones, be sure that
we shall count the tale good hearing.
and. for our part. make exchange In
like fashion OF ourselves and the pass
age OF our days In this lonely Isle"
We all laughed as he ended-hlmself
with whinny OF laughter. For. odd
AS such discourse muy sound In the
reading. It was uttered so whlmsIcaily.
and In so spirited and humorous
style that assure you It was very
captivating.
"You should have been an actor, my
lord Alcinous." said. laughing.
seemed already curiOusly ut home.
seated there at that table with this
fantastic stranger and that being out
Of falryland toward whom dared only
turn my eyes now and again by
stealth. The strange fellow had such
a way with him. and his talk made you
feel that he had known you all your
life.
''Ahi have had my dreams. hnve
had my dreamsv" he answered. his
eyes gazing with momentary wistful-
ness across the orange trees.
Then we talked at random. as friend
ly strangers talk over luncheon. though
we were glad enough that he should
do all the talklng-wonderful. lrides-
cent. nadcap talk. such rs man here
and there Ia ten thousand, gifted with
perhaps the most attractive Of all hu-
man gifts, hns ut his commyud.
And. every now and again. my eyes.
failing ON the parg,loxical squalor OF
his clothing. would remind me Of the
enll1nn of this courtly vagnbond;
though-need / say lt?-my eyes and
my heart had other business than with
him. throughout that wonderful meal,
cnfolded Ms felt myself once more In
that golden cloud Of magnetic vitality.
which had ut first swept over me. as
with breath OF perfumcd fire. among
the salt pork and the tinware OF
Sweeney's store.
Luncheon over. Lady Calypso, with
q stately inclination Of her lovely
head. left us TO our wine and our
.ignrS.
The time had como for the far-tray-
,.led guest to declare himself. and
saw In my hosts eye IA courteous invi-
intIun to begin. had been ponderlng
hat account to give of myself, and
hnd decided. for various rensons-of
hlch the Lady Calypso was, Of course,
first. hut the open-hearted charm OF
her father close second-to tell him
he whole of my story. Whatever
his and her particular secret was, 1t
was evident 10 me that ii was an In
noccnt and honorable one; and. be-
sides. | may have had notion that
before long was TO have family
interest In II. So began--starting In
with little prelude in the manner OF
my host. just to enter into the spirit
nf the 2ams: