The Yale expositor., 1921-03-10
The Commonplace
BY MURIEL LEE
&c. 1870. Western Newspaper Uniou.)

the white radiance Of q full moon. 1t
was the more picturesque and roman
tic because, like some spirit Of the
woodland, 1.-the, lissome and lovely, a
young girl crossed an open stretch
and gave life and interest to the
scene.
Gladys Raymond hummed Quiet,
soothing tune as she entered a half
circular grouping of bushes and vines
forming a sort Of bower. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY favorite spot with her in the
daytime, for ii had reclining chairs and
a rustic table. 1t was night now, the
mansion was several hundred yards
distant, yet Gladys tripped along as
fearlessly as though it was broad day
light.
There was never fear or dread In
her courageous nature because the
shadows were sOmber in places. Her
mind was too full Of pretty, fanciful
thoughts TO allow morbid or imaginary
terrOrs to suggest themselves. Yet
she was in frame OF mind fringing
upon the adge Of actual superstition,
or rather the airy, captivating influ-
ence OF the oriental and occult.
From a protracted visit TO the Far
East her Uncle Godfrey had returned
on Monday of the present week, and
In Gladys had found a willing and in
terested auditor to his strange, thrill.
Ing stories of a year Of scientific study
of the So-called mystics of central In.
Ola. He told some remarkable things
OF their necrOmantic experiences. but
plainly showing that a good deal of
the same was along the line of the
studied tricks Of the average magician.
When, however, he got to reciting I'm.
cldents where love charms, romance
and the like played a part, where sun
shine and sentiment were all inter-
woven with the dream life and devo-
ton far removed from the practical.
every day mortal, the vivid magma
ton Of Gladys rioted in n delightful
mental phantasmagoria. The amulets
or one Of these mystics became real
and potent. The charmed scarf of q
fair maiden had been q spell to win
prince, the lover, dazzling, handsome.
There was the glamour Of rare Jewels,
of chlvalric deeds, Of airy palaces
a dreamland in which young souls rev.
eled and knew no waking to the So
Der realities of ordinary life.
Now, here is a hammock which 1
secured as a souvenir" recited Uncle
Godfrey, charmed by three potent
magicians who aver that dreams
within ii come true and fate works
out from slumberous suggestions the
beauties and joys of n perfect exist
ence. Hut In far India the youth or
maiden seek some sequestcred spot
where the gentle cooling tones of the
nightingale lull To dreamland and the
moonlight SlverS all about, and the fit
ting Is radiantly harmonious. Fancy
will wreathe some fond visions amid
such an ideal environment"
So Gladys sought the fascinating
spell and augured vision in which
some princely mortal would hover in
her dreams. She could imagine the
lifting garb, the manly grace, but the
august dignity and exclusiveneSs Of her
slpmberous visions were only common
place. No dream lover visited her
thoughts She awoke feeling chilly. for
the air had grown cooler. There was
the moonlit garden and the turrete,l
house in the distance, stiffness com
plete until sharp and sudden pistol
shot rent the air,
Il fu,nn f,,ht ihn t1irnyi;n NJ Tim
mansion. and Gladys filed with fore
holdings and terror Sprabg 10 her feet,
She tremhled and hent her car and
strained her gaze. or a sudden from
the road 1.-THE, active form crossed
her range or vision. The moonlight
revealed a young man classic as to-
feature, hohenianlikc srggestiveness
In garb and manner the ideal Of an
artist Il poet a dreamer. There were
no princcly labliments, however, no
cleaning jewels, naught Of the ori-
entail or occult.
The stranger was under some in
tense strain Of watchfnlness and sus-
picion. With lightnnglikc rapidity
he Sprang alert as from the direction
Of the house there dashed n second
form, that Of a squat, coarsely mold
ed person, dusky and with evil eyes
that glowed viclously even at dis
lance. He carried in one hand re-
volver, in the other lacquered box
that Gladys at once recognized as con
tanning the treasures OF her uncle.
There was II meeting of the two
men, Of him who had looted the house
and had shot and wounded servant,
and Thearlc Desmond, city artist, seek
Ing nature sketches along the road and
attracted TO the garden by the shot.
The latter bore the thief TO the ground
and held him there, shouting for help.
1t came readily, and once the midnight
marauder was secured the man who
had hindered him stared at Gladys as
at some being the creature OF moon
light dream.
So out of all the sentiment and
GREATNESS of this temperamental vi
sion scope Of Gladys came only an
everyday incident. And he was ne
| prince. hut an artist; but the spell OF