The Secret Power

e at me? You hav

ut beneath the tiny frill of her thin garment, looked at the broad-shouldered handsome girl Manella who had just

at head-lamps flaring out of that motor

own skin flu

!" she answered-"You are so small a

laughed

n! Oh dear! What

er than ever in the effo

wings-all white,-and it was resting on a scarlet flower. We all went out to look at it, because it was unlike a

na sm

t fly

so after it had flown, the scarlet f

"Is that breakfast? Yes? Stay with me while I ha

rugged her

I do everything I am ask

ture! And are

swered, indifferently. "But th

pleasure i

girl murmured as if she were speaking to herself, "Th

er eyes had the grey-blue of lightning. Th

commented-"Di

and went on ta

your own maid I should have asked HER to make it. Women of your class like

na la

hat do you know about it? What

e bright coloured kerchief she wore knotte

uffeur says it is the most perfect one ever made! And all these riches make you think you ought to have everything just as you fancy it. I suppose you ought-I'm not sure! I don't believe you have muc

ing out a second cup of coffee, a

she echoed-"You

ou don't. For all I know, you may be like the man who is living in the cons

r little breakfast

hut on the hill!" she repeated, slowly

s chosen to live in the 'house of the dying,' as it is sometimes called-where people from the Plaza go when there's no more hope for them. He likes to be quite alone-he thinks

h the "fey" light in them that often be

man? You are in love

Manella's natural impulse to

answered coldly-"I

white hand, adorned with its sparkling rings,

scribbling what he perhaps thinks are the most wonderful things ever put on paper, when they are very likely nothing but rubbish, and it enters into your head that he

w a quick s

love!-to possess the one we love, body and soul!-and t

organa's lips, and her expres

guns and steel-traps! You poor girl! I should like you to come with

nel

lla-w

I am Spanish by both parents,-they a

egan to h

e walls o

e bugles b

rth to

Galbr

e off,-t

not seen

greedy for dollars, fond of smoke and cinema women,-I do not care for them. Some h

her small figure. With a dexterous movement she loosened the knot into which she had twisted her hair for the

eavy-ugly!-no good. And he,-that man who lives in the hut on the hill-says there is not

rugged her

me nut-brown. But does it matter at all what men think or care for? To me it is perfe

is in its silken sheath, her small body's outline showing dimly thr

erent! In love I would rather hang than not give myself to the man I love-give myself in all I am, and all

laugh sweet and cold as

ures! The bull does not 'love' the cow-he gives her a calf. When the calf is born and old enough to get along by itself, it forgets its mother just as its mother forgets IT, while the sire is blissfully indifferent to both! It's really the same thing with hu

nd tripped lightly t

hauffeur and tell him to get everything ready to start. I've

a gave a little cry of pain-"I

d disdain. "You quaint creature! Why sho

ng to stay for, w

of a subconscious suggestion in Manella's mi

seemed

whims and fancies, and I like to humour myself in my various w

e more of it?" p

ily bored! This Plaza hotel would bore me to death! What do

ess-"No! I would not like you to see him

ning flash glittere

r fortune on the stage, with that voice and that look! And yet you stay here as 'help'

, "I hate it! But what am I to do? I have no ho

e?" said Morgana-"I'll tak

onderment,-her big dusky eyes grew brill

h a lingering sweetness, "It is very good of you! But I should not please you.

and mysterious, crept

You want to feed your big bear regularly with bread and milk-yes, you poor deluded child! Courage! You

either side. Manella gazed and gazed at the glittering splendour till she cou

elicate lace camisole, and when she reached the finishing point in her admirably cut summer serge gown and becoming close-fitting hat, she studied herself from head to foot in the mirror with fastidious care to be sure that every deta

d women in oil-skins, smelling of petrol! No goblin ever see

erything." This she quickly packed and locked, ready for her journey. Then she stepp

they'll run about the hill like savages themselves, and yell and dance and be greedy and dirty-and you'll presently wonder whether you are a civilised man or a species of unthinking baboon! You will be living the baboon life,-and your brain will grow thicker and harder as you grow older,-and your great scientific discovery will be buried in the thickness and hardness and never see the light

of the Plaza with a friendly nod and smile to the book-keeper in the office where she paid her bill. Her

day, Madame?"

y and as far as possible. Just fetch m

curiosity to some of the hotel inmates who were in the lounge-men and women both. Her grey-blue eyes flashed over

-"Take a look at my car and see

her lips and

ured-"It's no use looking

na la

are quite beautiful! Don't forget that! Tell the man on

while Manella craned her neck forward to see the last of her. Her valise was quickly strapped in place, and in another minute to the sound of a high silvery bugle note (which was the only sort of "hooter

e hotel clerk for the benefit of anyone who might

ced man, reclining in an invalid

awned ex

erself might be something to look at and "quite beautiful," she was nothing else. She had never heard the word "fey." The mystic glamour of the Western Highlands was shut