Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-11

himself that the absurdity or other
wise of a lover writing sonnets to
| his MISTRESS eyebrow depended
after all on the quality of the eye
brow. Her nose was Of the straight
and fine sort, exquisitely escaping
the perdition Of too much length.
Her hat lay pinned to the grass be-
side her, and the lively breeze play
ed with her thick dark hair, blowing
backward the two broad bandeaux
that should have covered much of
her forehead, and agitating a hun
bred tiny curls from the mass gath
cred at the nape.
Everything about the lady in
black, from her shoes of suede to
the hat that she had discarded; lus-
tcrless black covered her to her
bare throat. All she wore was fine
ard we'll put on. Dreamy and
delicate Of spirit as her looks de-
clared her, it was very plain that
she was long practised as only a
woman grown can be in dressing
we'll, the Oldest of the arts, and had
her touch of primal joy in the ex-
cellence of the body that was so ad-
mirably curved now in the attitude
of embraced knees. With the sug-
| gcstion of French taste in her
| clothes. she made very modern fg-
| urc seated there, until one looked at
her face and saw the glow and tsi-
umph of all vigorous beings that
ever faced sun and wind and sea
together in the prime of the year.
One saw, too. womanhood unmix-
| ed and vigorous, unconsciously sure
of itself.
Trent, who had halted only for
moment in the surprise of seeing the
woman in black, had passed by on
the cliff above her, perceiving and
feeling as he went the things set
| down. At all times his keen vision
and active brain took in and tasted
details with an easy swiftness that
was marvellous to men of slower
chemistry; the need to stare, he
held, was evidence of blindness.
Now the, feeling of beauty was
awakened and exultant, and doubled
the power of his sense. In these in
stants a picture was printed on his
memory that would never pass
away. so. ..
AS he went by unheard on the
turf the woman, still alone with her
thoughts, suddenly moved. She I'M
clasped her long hands from about
her knees, stretched her limbs and
body with feline grace, then slowly
raised her head and extended her,
arms with open, curving fingers, as
if to gather to her all the glory and
overwhelming sanity of the morn
ing. This was a gesture not to be
mistaken; it was a gesture OF free
dom, the movement of souls reso-
luton to be, to possess. to 60 for
ward, perhaps to enjoy.
SO he saw her for an instant as
he passed, and he did not turn. He
knew suddenly who the woman
must be, and it was as if curtain
of gloom were drawn between him
and the splendor of the day.
"You were planning to go to
White Gables before the inquest l
think" remarked Trent to Mr.. Cup
pies as they finished their break
fast. "You ought to be off, if you
are to get back to the court in time.
/ have something to attend to there
myself, so we might walk up to-
gether. I will just 60 and get my
camera"
"By all MEANS" Mr.. Cupples an
swered; and they set off at once in
the ever-growing warmth of the
morning. The roof of White
Gables, a surly patch of dull red
against the dark trees, seemed to
harmonic with Trent's mood: he
felt heavy. sinister and troubled. If
blow must fall. that might strike
down that creature radiant of beauty
and life whom he had seen that
morning, he did not wish it to come
from his hand. An exaggerated
chivalry had lived in him since the
first teachings of his mother; but at
this moment the horror of bruising
anything so lovely was almost as
much the artists revulsion as the
gentleman's. On the other hand,
was the hunt to end in nothing?
The quality of the fair was such
that the thought Of forbearance was
an agony. There never was such
a case; and he alone, he was con-
fdent, held the truth of it under his
hand. At least he determined, that
day should show whether what he
believed was a delusion. He would
trample his conjunction underfoot
until he was quite sure that there
was any call for it. That same
morning he would know.
As they entered at the gate of the
drive they saw Marlowe and the
American standing in talk before the
front door. In the shadow of the
porch. was the lady in black.
She saw them, and came gravely
forward over the lawn, moving as
Trent had known that she would
move, erect and balanced, stepping
lightly. When she welcomed him
on Mr.. Cupples' presentation, her
eyes of golden-fecked brown OBJ
served him kindly. In her pale COM
posure, worn as the mask of dis
tress, there was no trace of the
ClhOliOu tiioI lloo SCCAiCd Aoio
about her head on the ledge of the
cliff. She spoke the appropriate
commonplace in a low and even
voice. After few words to Mr.
Cupples she turned her eyes on
Trent again.
II hope you will succeed" she
said earnestly. do, you think you
will succeed" i
He made his mind up as the
words left her lips. He said: 81
believe / shall do SO, Mrs. Mander-
son. When I have the case suffi-
GENTLY complete shall ask you to
let me see you and tell you about
it. 1t may be necessary to consult
You before the facts are published"
She looked puzzled, and distress
showed for an instant in her eyes.
III it is necessary, of course you
shall do So" she said.