The Washington times., 1921-02-20

Come back here anu nanaso '"e
plantation-with you"
win you like thatf"
I'm like It very much. And
Dara"-
"YesY"
-Dara, mean 10 try 20 make
you very happy and keep you from
all sorrow" Luke's voice was very
low; l could hardly catch what he
said.
-Thank YOU" answered with the
politeness that Lorraine had care
fully instilled into me.
Miss Dara!" came a voice from
the house. I'm waiting to give you
your clean dress"
go. Dara," said Luke. There
was something little disappointed
In his tone; I did not understand II.
ran toward the house and left
him, a strange, graceful figure OF
boyhood, the wind. that had risen
with the dawn, stirring his dark
hair, his blue eyes fixec upon the
ship that lay far out at sea.
1 found Dinah laying out on the
bed my solitary white dress, a plain
smock OF linen, and the white can
vas shoes and white cotton stock
ings that were kept for special oc-
casions. had always been in the
habit Of dressing myself, but to-day
that was not permitted. Dinah slip
ped on and fastened my frock.
laced my shoes and tied my hair
with a new. white ribbon, softly
shedding tears as she did so and
calling me q lamb"
She made me feel, ! do not know
why, as II / we're corpse and she
were preparing me for burial. The
feeling was not in any way less
ened, rather the reverse, when she
produced bridal wreath, which
Dinah had manufactured herself,
with a hand too reminiscent OF an
other kind of work. II was a large,
fat circle of heavily scented white
flowers, woven closely together
round a ring of cane, and 1t looked
as II the only thing 1t wanted were
a ribbon with "R. I. p" on 1t.
This ornament she set upon my
hair, deeply moved as she did SO,
and wiping her eyes.
Nov, Miss Dara, you're done and
you make lovely sight" she said,
go and sit down In the dining.
room till Mr.. Ivory comes. and
don't go playing about; i wouldn't
like to see you standing up there
all decomposed."
I had not long to wait. They had
already carried my fathers chair
into the Hall of Persephone; Mr..
Ivory was there. looking up places
in books; Lorraine and Luke came
in together Immediately after
Dinah delayed little while in the
kitchen and this gave Lorraine
time to undo some of her work.
"In heavens name, child" she
said, snatching at my. hair none too
gently, who put that graveyard
thing on your headT'
She was unfastening 1t as she
spoke, and in another moment had
thrown 1t out of the window.
Lorraine said nothing more. She
sighed little and glided away
from my fathers chair. Dinah now
appeared from the kitchen, wearing
a pious expression and an immense
fat hat of prehistoric style.
Old Ivory found his place and
closed his book, leaving one finger
In.
.Now. Luke and Dara. I an
ready" he said, and we moved for
ward, with an odd, unpleasant
feeling of having lessons to repeal
and not knowing word Of them.
We stood In the light OF the win
dow embrasure, where the early
sun was burning bright on the
crystal pillars, and striking, In the
old, wonderful way, prismatit
lights OF violet, red and green from
the hanging candelabra. / looked
at Luke. He was amazingly pale
but very self-possessed. His new
white suit, thought, became hin
we'll.
There was q moments pause
tho saa outside the window struc]