Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-28

AAN<AANs MAlSC1lfAXLAx INV
the air was black The room seemed
to swim before her eyes and Tho
ground came swaying dizzily up t.
meet her, and receive her spent con.
seriousness.
Water had been brought; she woke
to find herself upon the couch, the
old woman woodenly sopping her head
and hands. She smiled weakly into
that strange dark face; it was as un
changed as II 1t had been carved
from bronze. The business OF reviv-
ing finished, the old woman left het
handkerchief damp with keen
scent and went about the work of
unpacking a hamper that she brought
in.
Duly, Arlee saw the preparations
for meal advancing. She shook her
head at 1t: a cup OF tea was all that
she could touch. 4 lethargy had
was gone. She closed her eyes Lam
gnidly. grateful when the old woman
went away, grateful when the dark
ness deepencd. When IL was quite
night. she thought she would break
open the wooden screen and fling
herself thru the wood into the sands.
She lay there passlvely waiting: her
heavy eyes closed, and she slept
CHAPTER XVII.
Voices sounded below; footsteps
hurried: a door slammed. Then feet
upon the stairs. and hand at the
door. Arlee struggled 10 her feet IN
sudden terror: the candle was out
and the room was An darkness. Out
side gale was blowing The door
opened. but the figure which h,ir-
ricd in was not the one her fright
anticipated,
1t was the old woman again. bust /.
ling with haste. She brought more
candles for the table, and then a
tray with bottle and glasses and
dishes covered with napkins. Ten
she bestowed her attention to Arlee.
bringing her mirror and comb
from the hamper she had left upon
the floor, and cloth thick with
powder Then Arlee was sure.
She stood rigid a moment, listening
to that low buzz OF voices from be-
low, then desperately she shook out
her tangled hair and combed It back
from her hot face. It was still damp
from the water that had been dashed
upon her, and as she knotted II swift-
~, soft strands OF It broke away and
hung In wet, childish tendrils. She
brushed some powder on her face;
she bit her bloodless lips. and stared
into the glass. to see q wan and big
eyed girl staring back affrighted.
Then the door opened. and desper-
ately calling on her courage, Arlee
heard the captain speaking her name
and saw his smiling face advancing
thru the shadows.
"A thousand greetings, Afademois-
ellie. All. am glad to see you" A
strained emotion quivered thru the
false assurance OF his tone.
She stood very straight and tense
before him, childishiy small figure
there in the dusk. the blowing can
dies making strange play OF light and
shadows over her. Steadily she an
swered, And am very glad to see
you, Captain Kerissen."
And am glad that you are glad"
But his ear had caught the. hardness
OF her voice, for answering irony was
in his. Some devil OF delay and dis
appointment seemed to enter into
him, for his face, as she saw ii now
IN his advancing, struck fright into
her. The four fingers OF his right
hard were wrapped in bandage and
he extended his left to her, murmur-
Ing an apology. "A slight accident
you see.''
There is so much l do not see
that do rot feel like shaking
hands" gave back Arlee Captain
kerissen, this is too strange a situa-
ton to be maintained. You must
end it."
TT Is a very delightful situation"
lie returned blandly. looking about
with dancing eyes. ITO be again your
host, even in so poor place as this
old house OF the Shetland the place
has it's possibilities, Mademoiselle. It
is romantic. Your window overlooks
that desert you were so anxious to
see. The sunsets"
Captain Kerissen, must say that
you use very strange way to keep
me your gnest!"
II might respond that any way was
iustifiable so that it kept you guest.
4 -. But you wrong mes Did not
bring you safely out from that quar-.
antine, as you besought me-" His
smile was mockery itself.
But you did not bring me to my
friends l do not like your sending
me here, without explanation" she
returned. trying to be very wise and
speak quietly and not rouse his an
ger. 1--WE passed a city where the
American flags were flying over a
house, and 1 could have gone there"
81 am sorry You do not care for my
hospitality. I did not know that I
was displeasing to you"
ut is those ways that are displeas-
Ing to me. T."
"Then you shall change them" he
laughed THAT will give me pleas
tire. But did not come in the
dead OF this night half sick and ia :
tisued, to- find such welcome Come.
you must smile little and sit down
at the table with, me. Here are del
icacies; 4 sent from Cairo"
Smilingly he seated himself atthe
divan by the table and lifted the. COW
ers from the plates, nodded satisfac-
ton at the food, and began to help
himself, while she stood there, mo-
tionless.
Without looking up, will you not
help me to the Apollinaris, Made
nioiselle?" he suggested. My right
hand, you see. is not as it should be.
There is bottle opener on the tray"
Feeling a fool bit unwilling to