The Silver Butterfly

ustified, for a February gale was in full progress and was forcing every citizen whether comfortably housed or un

turn to New York, he had been going out so steadily, accepting so many invitations, meeting so many people, pursuing the social game so ardently, that the thought of a

sen to its height now, and filled the air with the steady roar of artillery. Great dashes of rain spattered sharply against the window panes, and Hayden would lift his head to listen and then sink back more luxuriously than ever into the depths of his easy chair. It was the sort of night to throw, occasionally, another log on the fire and watc

ustr

ore homely comforts, and while the logs sink to a bed of glowing ashes, dr

m and his book presently dropped from his fingers and lay unheeded on the rug while he dreamed dreams and saw visions. Gradually, his thoughts wandered from the future and its hopes to the past, and for the first time since his return the old wanderlust stole over him, the wanderlust temporarily lulled and quiescent, but always there, that passion for change which was so integral a part of his nature. But he

e world's

ky and the

e from our fe

t of the c

similar. Ah well, whatever her tastes might be he could gratify them,--providing, of course, that she chose to look kindly upon him, and if thin

ed a little dolefully, that he would probably be a very poor business man, that is, if business depended on caution and a lack of confidence in his fellow-beings. But, bent on cheering himself, even if Horace should break faith with him and prattle to the limit--and Horace's limit was a long one, the blue canopy of heaven, when it came to gossip--what possible harm could it do?

odd thing that had been for Penfield to say, that about hearing of the Veiled Mariposa, and how remarkably it had been confirmed. From a source, too, that he would least

den set his jaw that way, you might look for things to happen. He might be over-impulsive and lacking in caution, but he had plenty of initiative, pluck and determination. Then, his face relaxed and softened. He threw his cigarette int

seemed to be dying down a bit, but at a sharp ring fro

on earth is calling me such a night as this?" He walked

hich made him start. It was low, full, deliciousl

ice, ransacked his memory in the effort to do so, but quite in vain. He was, however, in spite of such swift, momentary precautions, absolutely convinced that he was listen

sist upon maintaining my incognit

once at a disadvantag

r voice was irresistible now. "

ere is something awfully uncanny about a situation like this. On so wild a nig

n who still is sitting, never flitting, on the pa

it was crude and commonplace compared to yours. He came tapping and rapping in the most old-fashioned way; but you reach me with a wonderf

glish, "can reconstruct all kinds of extinct animals and b

asserted, "if I had as much to g

your powers,

"you are dark, dark and lovely and young, and you are sweet as chocolate and stimulating as coffee. And you wear a rose in your hair and silken skirts like poppy-petals, and the tiniest of black slippers over white silk stockings; and you flutter

t me, if I can, do even half so well. You, senor, are rather tall and quite slender, no superfluous flesh, all muscle, and your eyes are a dark gray and your hair is brown,

sing in his tanned cheek, "with all that rot about my grin. But," speaking louder in the effort to drown those trills and ripples of melodi

roned the menacing

t a disadvantage, and I am going to drop all courtesy and any pretense of good

n hour or two ago, the gale caught me up in Spain and swept me over the seas. Regard m

isconcerted. "You have mistaken your man. I can lay no c

in her tones. "I have made a mistake, oh, a great mistake

uses and then he spoke in his accustomed tone, a little cooler a

ne. But the fact is known to few. Perhaps you will

ve mentioned the subject to me yourself

do. You can not throw me off the track that

her voice questioned incredulously, doubted, took on a little

ays anywhere else, ever met a woman with a voice like yours, I should never have for

nmistakable temper

yden, alarmed lest she should ring him off

uty, than for any more particular reason. And what in all the world, senor, is so beautiful as the butterflies of the tropics? Do you remember how they come floating out into the sunl

e her words aroused in him. "I quite agree with you," he said politely. "The

naturalists know, and that is that it is not confined absolutely to the tropics. Doubt the assertion if you will, but I make it calmly: I, senor, with

earth could this mean? Was it a possibility that it might be Marcia,--Marcia Oldham herself, thus cleverly disguising her voice? No, no, a thousand times, no. He

m wondering if you have been able to secure a specimen of a very rare butterfly indeed,

this from the first. For a moment or two, he could not control his exciteme

he said at last, and objurgated h

express a pout, "I understood

oo much to report and rum

n your collection

t of this hypothetical collection, and the grandiloquent tone in which he

to be capricious, and capricious when one would naturally expect her to be reasonable. "True," she repeated thoughtfully, "I only wanted to say, senor,

ly, taking a high tone. "But should I care to consider your proposition, how am I to comm

fear, you will hear from me again, and soon

would ever have considered New York the haunt and home of mystery?" he murmured. "Every day connects me with a new one, and the charming ladies who seem involved in them apparently