IEMEMMS
By EDITH OGDEN HARRISON
ft t
I
T SEEMED to Bar
rington that be had
made a great effort
to obey and that
when he opened bis
eyes he was In a
strange room, evi
dently a library, for
he saw bookcases
and a writing table.
Through the open
windows he could
see the blue waves of the ocean and the
scent of heliotrope with the perfume of
many other flowers came to him. , Tbe voice
which had bidden him open his eyes ad
dressed liiin quietly again. It was a rich,
musical voice and belonged to a woman.
"Io not struggle to see anyone but me,"
it said. "It is not necessary that you should
see anyone else yet. But pleaae look at me.
I an waiting."
lie turned in the direction of the voice and
saw e young woman. She was tall, with
dark glowing eyes and golden hair. Save
for the fact, however, that the color of her
was unusual she was of the strictly
Spanish type.
Me gazed upon her without speaking, start
led by her beauty, it Is true, but even more
startled by the troubled look in her eyes.
In them was a piteous appeal which fouched
him profoundly. Her voice, though low, was
very distinct and she was speaking directly
to hini.
"1 am very unhappy," she said. "Will you
help me?"
"I will do all that I can," he replied im
pulsively, surprised at his own earnestness.
"But if you really mean to help me you
roust fight."
" am not a coward, senorita. Believe me,
I will fight for you with all my soul."
It.seemed to him a little strange that they
should be speaking Spanish, although it was
a language with which he was perfectly
familiar.
She smiled, showing milk white teeth, but
as he leaned forward to take her hand she
moved back a step.
"Not yet," she said. "There is plenty of
time to meet me In the flesh. I wanted only
to be sure that yon would help me and so
I came in spirit."
She kept moving farther and farther away
as she spoke. Fearing lest she should leave
the room, he said eagerly:
"But tell me, how can I help you? I do
not know what trouble you are in. I do
not even know your name!"
"Alas!" she said sadly, her hand on the
f'.oor, "that you must find out for yourself.
I have no power to say more. Good by."
He sprang forward, but in an instant the
woman disappeared and he found himself
sitting up in his chair holding tightly to a
spray of heliotrope which he had pulled from
a vase standing on the table by his side.
It was still a long time till dawn. He was
healthy, young and tired. So darkening the
loom he went to bed and was soon asleep
r. stain.
CHAPTER VI.
THE next afternoon, when Lieutenant
Barrington met Fadre Galvez at the
appointed bout, the priest greeted him
warmly. .
"The Senora CasteUanos has consented to
entertain the fleet when it arrives in Santa
Barbara," he said. "Manuel Sanchez has
just brought me the message. He, is her
cousin and the manager of her estate. His
influence is great with her.
"With -the senora's consent I am1 satisfied
the welcome of the few Spanish people here
will be no small part of the great prepara
tions." "I am glad," responded Barrington, "be
cause although the Spaniards are few in
number the President especially desired
them to be prominent in the festivities."
"1 am glad, too, my son, glad also that
many weeks must yet elapse before the ar
rival of the fleet. It will give me time to
ne'me acquainted with you after all these
years of separation from your parents. But
I must not be selfish. Your letters to our
leading people here must not be forgotten.
While you present the one to Mr. Grigsby
Helton this afternoon I will make arrangoj
ments to call with you another day upon
Senora CasteUanos."
"Padre," said the young man, "tell me
something of the ranch life. What is Its
atti action for people of culture?"
"That Is easily seen, my son. Take these
beautiful homes, almost in the mountains
anc- yet in sight of the Pacific, fill them with
people of wealth and refinement and ther
you have the basis of California ranch life."
"Whose is the white palace on the summit
of the hill?"
"It is occupied by a beautiful woman In
the English Court set. But it is no more popu
lar than the small one hidden a few miles
distant, the home of the widow of a famed
wiiter."
"Intellectuality should govern wherever It
resls, of course, but how seldom it does,"
mi'd Barrington, musingly.
"My son, do not judge all the representa
tives of prosperity by the disgusting vul
garity of some."
"I assure you, padre, that I have no de
sire to disparage them," the officer answered,
"but you must admit that our wealthiest
Americans are not always those of whom
we are most proud."
"Ah," eagerly interposed the priest, "ad
mitting this, there are still many whose
power has been given by money whose lives
are simple and wholesome-many who,
though not blind to the advantages of
wealth, take them like sane, healthy mortals.
For auch as these surely our country has
only a feeling of pride."
And later Barrington thought the Grigsby
Heltons should be included In the best type
of Santa Barbarans. Mr. Helton was presi
dent of one of the greatest railroads In the
West, a mighty artery connecting the two
oceans. He was only 40, but already his
splendid executive ability had tended con
siderably toward his road's success. It was
in this railroad magnate's beautiful Santa
Barbara home that Barrington made his
entree to California society. Mrs. Helton
was -'8. in the flush of youth and very popu
lar. It was natural, therefore, that their
house should be a social center. ;
CHAPTER VII.
TWO days later at 4 in the afternoon
Lieutenant Barrington in response to
an invitation called upon Mrs. Helton.
He found her a charming woman, an when
they bad spent a few minutes in eonversa
tiou she arose saying:
'I must not be utterly selfish, Lieutenant
Barrington. I have other guests who desire
to meet you. We will go to the library,
where tea will be served."
Tbey crossed a spacious hall filled with
wonderful potted plants and entered the
library.
it was well that Mrs. Helton was leading,
else she might have been surprised at the
youug officer's face. When they entered the
room he paled visibly. It took all his self
control to prevent his exclaiming aloud.
The room he had entered teas the room of
his dream!
He pulled himself together only by a pow
erful effort. He felt that he must control
his facial expression, that he must not be
tray his emotions. He was as certain,
though, that he would see the girl of his
dream as he was that he was following Mrs.
Helton and the thought actually made him
afraid to lift his eyes.
And then he saw her.
Hv never quite forgot the thrill of that mo
ment. Indeed, it seemed to him that he
never afterward forgot the slightest thing in
connection with her.
She was standing in a group of young peo
ple and was easily distinguishable from the
rest. It may have been the peculiar com
bination of dark eyes and light hair. It
may have been the unusual haughtiness of
her carriage. It may hae been her beauti
ful tace. But whatever it was he knew
from the first glance that the Spanish girl
had come Into his life now and forever.
Following bis glance his hostess said
warmly:
"That is Clemencla CasteUanos, my best
frienn. I shall take great pleasure in pre
senting you. But let me warn you in ad
vance. She ig a veritable enchantress and
you nust not succumb to her charms."
He laughed pleasantly, but did not reply.
His hostess lowered her voice and whis
pered :
"Really, I am In earnest, Lieutenant Bar
tington. It would be hopeless, you know,
for he is already promised."
At a loss as to what to say in reply to this
strange confidence Barrington answered
hsrhtly: v
"She is young. She cannot have been
promised very long."
"She was promised in childhood."
"Forbidden fruit," he jested, "is always
the choicest. Then, too, I nave beard of
brokn. promises."
"True. But your arts would be useless
here. Her smiles would never be for you.
She is bound as securely as though a chain
of our glittering Sierras held her hidden in
their midst."
"Are the Spaniards so tenacious of their
promises?"
"This one would die before she would
break hers."
"But, madame," he protested, "you are
making me curious about your beautiful
Spanish siren. In fact, I am so interested
that I cannot promise not to enter the lists
as a suitor for her smiles."
"Then your fate be on your bead," abe
laupbed.
Suddenly, however, her face grew grave
and she added:
"If I thought you were serious I would
not present you. The girl is beautiful as an
angel, but she is really promised. Her word
will never be retracted. Never. Never."
For a moment he felt quite thrilled by the
solemnity of her words, but recovering his
poise he murmured under his breath:
"Lucky the man who baa won such de
votion." Then aloud: "Lead on, I am
ready to face your enchantress!"
CHAPTER Till.
AND so Arslan Barrington stood before
the beautiful girl of hia dream, finding
her even more entrancing in life. Her
lips and skin were luminous. Her figure
was superb. She bore herself with an in
describable stateliness which was charming
in one so young.
Mrs. Helton left them alone after she bad
presented the young officer and for a mo
ment neither spoke. Then Barrington, bow
ing ceremoniously, said:
"Senorita, may I have the pleasure of
drinking tea with you?"
"Certainly, Lieutenant Barrington. Are
you not the guest of honor?"
He smiled down on ber. She had
promptly dealt his vanity a blow. But he
answered lightly:
"Would you imply, then, that politeness
alone impels you to accept my invitation V
"Would you have me acknowledge more
on a moment's acquaintance?" came the
quick retort.
"Senorita, I throw myself upon your
mercy. I refuse to enter into a combat of
words with one so eminently skilled in their
use."
"lou seem quite able to defend yourself,"
she laughed.
"But why should you assure me that you
are not free to refuse my request?" he jested.
"Why should I flatter you by saying any
thing else?"
"Senorita CasteUanos, again I sue for
mercy. Should we fight now I feel sure that
I would go down in defeat. Therefore I
shall bring your tea at once."
She laughed heartily. "An officer!" she
mocked, "and so lacking In courage!"
"I shall hope to regain mine over tbe tea
cups," he said.
All tbe time tbey had been talking, al
though they bad both spoken lightly, there
bad been a subtle something in the girl's
manner which savored of embarrassment.
But at his last words she laughed again
and seemed to lose the indefinable some
thing. Thereafter she appeared more nat
ural. She motioned to a corner of the room,
sayii.g:
"I shall wait for you there. Lemon and
one lump of sugar, please."
"Miss CasteUanos," he said, approaching
and handing her the cup, "I am to call at
your home tomorrow and meet your grand
mother. I consider it a great honor that
she has consented to receive me."
To bis astonishment a most peculiar ex
pression crossed her face one which he
could not analyze. Had be said something
to displease her? And if so, what was it?
'Yes," she replied. "I was surprised to
learn that she had consented to entertain
the Fleet at your request."
"You do me too much honor, Senorita.
The request comes from the President of the
United States. I am only the humble bearer
of it. May I venture to hope, however, that
your grandmother's consent is not unpleas
ant to you?"
"And if it were," she broke in hastily, "It
would make no difference. Senor Sanches
controls my grandmother in all worldly mat
ters." Barrington was decidedly taken aback.
The conversation had suddenly become awk
ward. If he were to make headway at all
with Miss CasteUanos he must change the
subject.
"Senorita," he said abruptly, "I Ut a can
dle In the Mission today and made a wish
for the greatest desire of my heart."
She was looking at blm with amiable curi
osity.
"The greatest desire of your heart?" she
echoed. "You must want it very much."
"I do," he replied. "Do you think I shall
get It?"
In some way his earnestness seemed to
impress ber. She flushed a bit under bis
look.
"Did you ask something impossible?" she
Queried.
"I asked for a miracle,"
"A miracle! In these days T she scoffed.
tSrn iff
Mr Hii fifimi ObI, flagy
prfiKtl.. irm
tin 1P t! rwl
JHsTOs M
f I
He Gazed Upon Her Without Speaking, Startled by Her Beauty, but Even More Startled by the Troubled
Look in Her Eyes. In Them Was a Piteous Appeal Which Touched Him Profoundly.
"Why not?" he asked coolly.
"And you think you will get It?" she par
ried, Ignoring his question.
"When I lit tbe candle I confess I did not
I was very skeptical. But that hour has
passf d now."
"Why?"
"Because part of tbe miracle has already
come true." he said in a low voice.
Again his manner stirred ber. She moved
uneasily under his gaze.
"Already come true?' What can you pos
sibly mean?"
He bent his head lower, compelling ber
to return his powerful gaze.
"Yes. This afternoon a part of the miracle
has come true. Do you believe in mental
telepathy?" he asked suddenly.
Before she could lower ber eyes he saw
a Hash of terror creep into them. She shiv
ered r little. Then she replied:
"How tragic. Lieutenant Barrington. For
a moment your question startled me. But
no, 1 do not believe in mental telepathy at
all."
"Remember. I told you that a part of the
miracle had already come true."
She handed him ber empty cup and arose,
saying in the coolest of voices:
"How Interesting! Perhaps some time
you will tell me more of tbe miracle.- Just
now I feel that I must not keep you longer.
Resides. I must be going.'
He saw ber perturbation and was tri
umphant "She Is afraid," be said to him
self, "and she understands; just bow much
I am not sure, but she understands.
Aloud be continued: "May I hope to see
you tomorrow, Senorita, when I call?"
Her natural poise had returned. She
nodded pleasantly.
"If you really care to, Lieutenant Barring
ton, most likely you mays But if you stay
long in Santa Barbara you will And that In an
interview between my grandmother and
Padre Galves I am of small importance."
CHAPTER IX.
THE next afternoon Padre Galvez guid
ed Lieutenant Barrington to the borne
of Senora CasteUanos. Most of tbe es
tate lay along a rolling upland, above Santa
Barbara. Back of it were the mountains and
stretching between them lay the valley filled
with trees. Gliding ever tbe broad acres
was a silver stream. Tbe house itself stood
on a little knoll. Its thick walls, its small
windows and Its long porches were charac
teristic of Spanish-American architecture.
As the young officer entered the house be
was impressed by the elegance and beauty
of the Interior. lie and the priest were ush
ered into a room eighty feet long and nearly
forty feet wide.
After a few minutes- had passed a tall,
dignlfled woman of perhaps entered. Her
white hair was parted in tbe middle and
drawn back from her face. Her -blue eyes
were unusually bright and penetrating and
her handsome, though rather stern counten
ance evidenced remarkable strength of char
acter. The Senora CasteUanos was accounted
tbe richest woman in California.
She greeted ber guest, however, as cor
dially as her cold, stern nature would per
mit. "I am glad to welcome you," she said, "al
though I am sorry to tell you that Senor
Ranches was called away this morning and
cannot be with us. In fact, bis business Is
likely to detain him several weeks In San
Francisco."
"When I read the papers this morning I
rear d he would not be able to join us," tbe
padre responded. ... .
The senora inclined ber head gravely. "He
left at once," she murmured; then turning
interests throughout the state are sufficiently
largo to cause us great uneasiness over the
tremendous conspiracies being uncovered In
some of our large cities."
' Barrington was aware, of course, that a
big city in California was in the throes' Of
reform. The gigantic swindle In which some
of ber able and most distinguished men were ,
Involved was being exposed. 7
One of the resells traced to it was a bad
railroad strike which affected properties In
which the i rj CasteUanos was vitally in
terested. It was eventually proved that the
strike was Instigated by leaders of the great
steal. But, though members of the gang
were arrested and tried, tbe "man higher
up" always evaded justice. . , -
At this particular time tbe leaders of a
disastrous strike that tled up railroad con
irroruou worn in tne rooinuis or tne sierras
were being tried for a crime they bad not
committed, namely, throwing chains across
live trolley wires. In this short-circuiting
of the wires a great deal of damage was
caused to tbe power-houses, and many of the
engineers and electricians would have been
killed but for timely warnings from some
mysterious source. The- men themselves
were always cautioned about the danger In
time to escape.
It was to these events that the senora re
ferred and when mhn hail tiIcmI hr rom-
that Sanchez could not Join them Barrington
aid: - - C ':. ' ,
"ft was doubly kind of yon to receive
me, Senora CasteUanos, I believe you usu
ally empower Senor Sanchez to complete all
business arrangements." ,
To be continued next week. ,s
(Copyright, 1915, by Edith Oyden Uarrisonj,