Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-05-14
CHAPTER III-Continued

CHAP Elk lll-COntInued
3
He found her sitting at a table be-
side window overlooking Bond street,
where the fog was like gray stew
and passersby hurrying home were like
solids stirred up to the surface from
the bottom Of some kettle. She greeted
him with quiet smile and pointed to
the empty chair.
Peter, conscious of his shrewdness,
said exactly what she had said-noth-
ing He sat down across from her, and
for the benefit of the waitress whom
he could see out of the corner of his
eye as black dress and white apron
he pointed to Brena's steaming choc-
late and nodded. He did not take his
gaze from his companions large dark
eyes which had in them the same look
he had seen once before and which had
made him think Of eyes which knew no
death but had been looking out upon
the world for centuries and centuries
A friend of his had once advanced the
idea, at dinner party in New York,
that men and women'S souls were new
or old, that some of those present had
been aged through countless residence
in human form back through eras of
history, that others had been created
only few hundred years ago and that
still others were new souls just out of
the wrapping. Peter recognized as he
looked into this young woman's eyes
that If he, in worldly terms, were a
half a dozen years older than she, in
fact, she had outlived him in rounds
and rounds Of ages
Her eyes were SO compelling that 1t
was difficult to give attention to the
fact that her countenance had In 1t a
battling riddle. Her face was long with
straight and perfect nose below
forehead which might be considered by
classicist lacking a good fraction of
an inch in height She had a full
rounded chin below lips so flexible and
of SO warm and rich a moist color that
their th;nness was scarcely noticeable
But there was combined In her fea-
lures, which taken together were by no
means perfect, 'still beauty which
represented the Greek In her, with
some undercurrent Of shimmering
chameleon elusiveness.
You are shocked at my behavior .
she said at last, arranging the white
ruffling at her throat as If she pre-
ferred to treat Peters state Of mind
casually. Perhaps you are pleased? n
''The two go together" he said
quickly.
s'You did not ask me who was. Yet,
you had never heard my voice before. 2
THAT struck you forcibly after you
left the telephone" Peter told her with
authority. 1T was not surprising. 1
had never heard your voice. But had
seen you. 1t was only necessary to
look at each other
Yes, that was memorable" she said
solemnly, and looked far away. "But
unfortunately the tempo of this meet
Ing does not warrant that little laugh
of yours" she went on in reproval
II came to London to see you. but /
came because of Muriel Benham."
Peter looked up in dismay. He said
''You don't mean that she told you-?"
No one told me- said Brena Sell
coSs. "You were there | heard scraps
of conversation. Once heard my own
name. 1t was no fault of mine. Nor
is it fault Of mine that with Mrs.
Benhanl's word or two about MurieTs
desire to go away, after your sudden
departure for London, that can see
what has happened. / have come down
from the country to beg you to go
back"
Peter shook his head from side to
side.
In some way-some mysterious way
just such thing as this involves me
always. have been, unwittingly, the
cause Of"
"Oh, no, you haven't" said he with
yigor.
Apparently she did not hear: she
leaned forward and said, with great
earnestness. ut touched me deeply
not because Muriel was once great
friend to me-but because / cannot
Bear"
He interrupted her again by saying,
''The whole thing is nonsense, Miss Sell
coss. am sorry that the only way /
can put an end to 1t is to be ungallant.
The plain truth is that I do not have
the slightest emotion of any kind about
Miss Benham. No doubt she is very
admirable English girl-she is healthy,
lovely and correct. No doubt there was
an unfortunate misunderstanding. but
1t was not because of any inclination
Of mine, and nothing need be said
about it. 1 left Beconshire Heath be-
cause of it,
Brena sat back in her chair with a
sigh which appeared to Peter to state,
sincerely, relief from a great anxiety.
She folded her expressive hands, inter-
cooking her fingers, free of all rings,
and allowed her eyelids to almost
close.
Il would have liked to stay longer"
he said.
"Why?"
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