Psyche's Wanderings, Chapters VI-IX [pp. 617-630]

Psyche's Wanderings.
PSYCHE'S WANDERINGS.
VI.
MOONSTRUCK.
IT WAS nearly night when I reached
the outer edge of the grove. The moon
had risen and was causing long shadows
to creep up the dusky avenue of maples
and poplars. Beyond the dark grove,
the meadow gleamed like a silvery sea.
As I neared the end of the lane, I
saw a woman standing by the gate. Her
face and form were concealed by a thick
veil and a long heavy cloak. My heart
beat fast as I approached her. Was it
-could it be -
She advanced to meet me. "Quincy,"
she said in a low voice.
"Psyche?" I queried.
She gave me her hand, gloved, as
when I first saw her.
"I am glad to meet you, Psyche," I
said, "Will you not explain a little of
all this mystery?"
"Not now; in a few days-perhaps."
"Why must I be kept groping in the
dark?"
'It is for a good reason,-I wish that
I might tell you all."
"Are you one of the three sisters?"
"Yes; I believe I can safely say that
much."
"Which one?"
"0, that is for you to find out."
"Permit me to remove your veil, and
I'll find out very quickly."
"Oh, no, no! you shall not; I will not
let you."
"Why not?"
"Because-because I must not let
you see my face now,- I have no right
to."
"No right to!
"No-yes, oh, I can't explain. Be
patient a day or two; and-I must leave
you."
VOL. xxii-5-I.
She snatched away the hand which I
had been holding, and passed by me in
haste.
"Psyche!" I exclaimed.
"Goodnight, Quincy."
And she hurried off up the lane.
But I had made a discovery. As the
lady passed me, a portion of her hair
which the veil failed to cover came under my gaze; and the clear moonlight
gleaming upon it showed it to be red.
Both Camiola and Elsie had very dark,
almost black hair. Could it be possible
that Psyche was Bet? And yet-why
not? The powers displayed by Psyche
were of a transcendental-I might almost say of a superhuman-character.
One might just as reasonably look for
such powers or gifts in a young person
as in an older one. Then, as I recalled
it, minor evidence came up. Psyche's
voice, though always low and guarded,
had a childish tone more like Bet's than
either of her sisters'; and again, Psyche's
petulance, her quick transient flashes of
resentment, her glib utterances, were
all more in accord with Bet's character
than with the slower, statelier natures
of Elsie and Camiola.
Well, Bet was a nice little thing,pretty, bright, and intelligent; and it
was not displeasing to think that when
I next visited the Bell sisters it would
be especially to see the youngest and -
though I was n't sure of that - the fairest.
I called upon the ladies in a few days,
and received a friendly welcome from
all three. Miss Elsie condescended to
give me a civil greeting, and to ask after
my health; Miss Camiola sang and
played with spirit; Miss Bet argued
with me on the tariff. Ere the evening
was over I obtained what I wished for,
-an opportunity to talk with Bot alone.
1893.]
617