The Witness

in which Gila Dare awaited

black wood from some foreign land sprawled in the center of the room and held a great bronze lamp of curious pattern, bearing a ruby light. Ornate bronzes lurked on pedestals in shadows, unexpectedly, and caught the eye alarmingly, li

as curiously arranged, and stabbed just above her ears with two dagger-like combs flashing with jewels. A single jewel burned at her throat on an invisible chain, and jewels flashed from the little pointed c

dark eyes as they looked into the fire; so soft the shadows that played in the dark hair! And yet, as she turned to listen for a step in the hall, there was something gleaming,

young athlete and intellectual star of the university had been stung by the relig

llege dances and the games. He was not exactly flattered, but decidedly pleased that

he ruby light of hearth and lamp would set her vivid dress on fire and light the jewels at her throat and hair. She knew her clear skin, dark hair, and eyes would bear the startling contrast, a

came forward to greet him, and looked back as if to rid himself of some obligation. Then she put her bits of conf

dazzling beauty; and felt the luxury of t

confiding, its cadences like soothing music. She motioned him to a chair. "You see, I wanted to have

the firelight played upon the jeweled combs and gleamed at her throat. The little pointed slippers cozily crossed looked innocent e

ively into the fire on the hearth. "I wouldn't let them talk to m

pit like the one into which the martyr Steve had fallen; and there before him on the couch sat the girl! What was there so familiar about her? Ah! now he knew. The Scarlet Woman! Her gown was an exact reproduction of th

ip of the university, with now and then a telling personality, and a sweep of long las

e at his refusal. He was drinking in the wine of her presence. She suggested that he smoke, and would not have hesitated to jo

nd red. They had ceased to talk of games and dances. They were talking of each other, thos

er baby cheek and tempting neck showing against the background of the shadows behind her. He was aware of a distinct longing to take her in his arms and crush her to him, as he would pluck a red berry from a ba

gnized power he was for the moment playing with a force that was new and interesting, with which he had felt altogether strong enough to contend for an evening or he would not have come. That it should thrill along all

eglected wine sparkling dimly in the costly glasses seemed a part of it. He felt an impulse to reach out, seize a glass, and drain it. What if he should?

drawing power of things he had always despised; reveling in the wine-red color of the room, in the pit-like glow of the fire; watching the play of smiles and wistfulness on the lovely face of the girl. He had often wondered what others saw so attractive in her beyond a pretty face.

onscience before he consciously began t

sonally, with large eyes lifted inquiringly. Her breath was on his face; her touch h

hell tinted finger. Like cool delicious fire it spread from nerve to nerve and set aside his re

au

t. He had seized her hands with sudden fervor, and now, almost in the same moment, flung them from him and stood up, a man in full possession of his senses.

Master Harry's got his father's razor,

have rejoiced if the house had been on fire, or a cyclone had struck the place-anything so he could fling himself into service. He drew in long, deep brea

rist, and stopped the spurt of blood. The frighten

he stairs. She looked garish and out of place with her red velvet and jewels in the brilliant light of the white-tiled bathroom. She sto

her way across the blood-stains. It struck him that they were the color of her frock. The stain of the crushed ber

ump up and fling her hands from him with that sudden "Hark!" in the moment when he had almost yielded. She did not know that an inner voice

und up the cut, and talked to him cheerfully. The child

" Then his eyes fell on his sister in her scarlet frock. "Gil

ly against his coat. It was one of Courtland's strong points, this love of little children. He grew fine and gentle in their presence. It often drew attention on the athletic field when some little fellow strayed his way and Courtland would turn to talk to the child. P

ing, not merely for the caprice of the moment. There was something in his face and attitude now that commanded her respect and admiration; something

new things in him, while Courtland sat petting the child an

man. The eternal feminine in her that was almost choked with selfishness was crying out for a man like this one to comfort and pet her the way he was comforting and petting her little brother. That he had not yielded too easily to her charms made him all the more desirable.

her jealous, spoiled, little heart she hated the little brother for lying there in his arms so, interrupting their evening just when she had him where she had wa

all her brilliant velvet and jewels gleaming in the brightness of the room, her regal little head up, her chin lifted half haughtily, her innocent mouth pursed softly with det

wering challenge. He did not know it, of course, but he wore the look that he always had when about to meet a f

grievedly, and her eyes took on a wide, child-like look of distress that gave an impression of innocence. He went away wondering if, after all, he had not misjudged her. Perhaps she was only an adorable child who had no idea of the effect her artlessness had upon men. She

night and the quiet of the starlight had calmed him. He thought he had been a fool not