The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-17
SHADOWS on THE WALL.
"Come in"

She gives the PERMISSION 10 entefs IN
a low, hurried voice, looking up from
her open writings desk upon the table,
across which her arm il laid. There is
& newspaper laid there, too-the folded
page blistered as with tears. /" Died, at
Summerfield -" But those tears
dried, and there are none now in the
weary eyes that lift themselves from
that blotted line, and turn wistfully
upon the opening door.
.. You have letter for me, Nancyr
please. Miss Gray, it's some one"
But the slip-shod little maid-of-all-
work is cut short in her speech by that
some one from behind putting her
gently aside from the door and shutting
It upon her. as he entered. Some one
a man. who has removed his hat in COM
ing forward, and on whose face the
lamplight falls, as he stands on the
health-rug opposite Miss Gray.
His face is full of eager life, but she
is looking up at him as if she saw a
ghost. Her hand shakes so, resting on
the paper. that the rustling draws his
eyes to it. He comes step nearer and
puts his hand down firmly on hers, as
he chances Of the lines just above.
s:.Died at Summerfield -Bessy, do
you take me for ghost?"
She cannot speak. The color is steal
ing back into her lips, and they tremble
apart. but no words come. He says,
trying to speak lightly, for her face
alarms him: 4If srst
"You did not know that there were
two of the name. Myfather's house at
Summerfield seemed to fix it on me. It
was my cousin, John Hesketh. Poor
fellow, death was such happy release
to him from his wearisome illness, that
he would not grudge its having brought
/ me some good. 1t was your letter OF
coincidence to Mrs. Hesketh, Bessy,
which showed me where to find you,
after all these weary years"
The color has died ont of her face as
suddenly as it flashed into it. The flut-
tering hand under his is drawn away,
and folds itself with the other, tightly,
on the edge of the desk.
You left Mrs. Hesketh very well,
q "Well, that is hardly to be expected
of young widow, Bessy." ASIA
Ill do not understand--"
g That you were as mistaken in the
marriage as in the death. How could
you be, Bessya'
She is quivering from head to foot
flushing and quivering. as she says
brokenly:' 80
III "How. should mot beP Some one
sent me . paper long ago. with thu
marriage at Summerfield marked in It
How could knowP And when ! rea(
the name in the paper again, las
week. ~
You wrote your little letter to tina
imaginary wife Of mine, telling her tina
you had known me years ago, and that
seeing the name, you were SO grievet
for her, and. could not refrain. though ,
stranger t., her, from telling her SO. l
was q sweet little letter; she, poor littl
widow, showed it to me, and was no
quite pleased with me that / took
away from her. have it here. Bessy
if read between the lines
She catches her breath. ss
II wrote nothing she might not hav
read if she had been your wife,"
"BetsDeep the lines, ] said, Bessy
From them she would never hav
guessed what the old friendship meant
but | remember it was no friendship;
was love-" f5-t tis.tt
He says the word with his touch upo
her hands again. But she shakes IL of
she has risen to her feet, her gras
upon the back Of her chair, steadyin
her.
IF it were." she says, hurriedly
'.you never said it SO plainly then, this
you need repeat it now" ~
lyon cannot doubt mean it. 70
knew was coming back. And in th
meantime. your father and you bot
suddenly removed leaving no trace
Bessy." with quick light breakin
upon him. sit was in that same sun
mer that my cousin John Hesketh ma
ried; could that have had anything
do with"
..My hiding myselfPn she supple
quietly. Nothing"
Hesketh's face changes, as he lool
searchingly at her. But he ca
See hers no longer. She has sun
down again in her chair, her elbow
on the table. her head bent in hi
hands. He waits . moment for her
speak, to move; when the does not,
draws back little. and resting his ar
on the mantel. glances round him.
It il . poor place enough; the lod,
ing-house exterior, and the slip-sh(
maid fall work on the stairs. had n,
led him to expect much. But yet I
hsd not looked for such bare pover'
q fkis-tho unexpected floor. the sms