The morning call., 1894-07-29

almost started, his brow contracted, his
teeth pressed into his lower lip.
Mark. dearest, what is it-are you IN
pain ?'' she asked.
''N0thing-a twinge. Nonsense, Edith.
Pm quite WELL" he replied with some
sharpness as of agitation in his tone. For
a moment be clasped her closer, then his
arm dropped from her waist as his sister
entered.
"E1ith, DEAR" said Mrs. Brentham, 1--WE
inst heard from Janet Craig. She is COM
lug IN time for ea."
Mark Ruiford drew himself up with a
deep breath, as if shaking off some burden,
as the TWO women began to talk, and soon
he went out OF the room and left them 10
themselves. Janet Craig had been an old
schoOl-fellOw of Edth'S, but they had not
met in many yearS-nOt, indeed, since
their schOOdays.
81 wonder if we shall know each other
L suppose we are both very much
changed" observed Edith.
Janet IS good deal altered since
| have known her." said Mrs Brentham.
''She has grown very pale and hin and
delicate looking. You know she has gone
! in for clalrvOyance and psychometry and
all tnat sort OF thing She is what they
call natural seer-indeed, Mss Janet is
regarded as rather remarkable person.
| don't know what TO make Of it myself.
strange things, but think all that kind of
! business is very bad for her health"
! Edith was interested in this new deyel-
! Opment of her old schoolfellow, especially
! wheG Mrs. Brentham went on TO relate
| some curious instances of Miss Craig s
power of reading the past and future, and
| when a little later Miss Craig arrived,
| Edith, who was impressionabe and sensi-
tive, did not find it difficult to believe that,
| as Mrs. Bren than had said, Janet was
not quite like other people"
Janet Craig was indeed, changed Edith
remembered plump, pink checked
! schoolgirl. She saw a pale, plain, frai
little woman, whose large. bue-gray eyes.
which seemed too large for her thin face
had strange, clear. far-away look. They
were rather dreamy than piercing, but
! something IN those translucent eyes gave
Edith that impression that they might, In.
deed, see what others did not.
Miss Craig did not confine her interests
| to the occult and transcendental side OF
things; she talked pleasantly and brightly
! on whatever subjects came ur, and both
Mark and Edith were pleased with the
new member of the house party. After
| dinner Edith was al the piano, Mrs Bren-
! than and Miss Craig sitting near The fire
Mark naturally took up his post beside hi:
betrothed, not that she required him to
| turn over for her, az she was playing partly
! ITOD iDcmOly anu pdTtIy eXLompOre, WedV-
| ing snatches of favorite airs together The
room was not lit by gas, but sh AIDED lamps
on the tables gave pleasant, subdueO
/ light. The piano candles were lit, but eA-
cept for their pale rays that corner OF the
room was partly in shadow.
"What beautiful touch Edith has: she
| seems 10 breathe soul into the KEYS" OBJ
served Miss Craig. The last word had
hardly left her lips when her eyes. fixed
on the group at the piano, dilated with q
strange. startled. doubtful look. Her host.
ess, seated opposite to her, with her bach
to the piano, turned round 10 see what hsl
visitor was looking At.
"Wnat is it, Janet?" she asked, turning
her head back again easily. Miss Crag
! leant forward and pnt her hand on Mrs
! Breniham's arm. Don't you-see any
thing?" size asked. almost in whisper.
''See anything? Good gracious. no
What is there to be seen, except the happy
! pair?" But uncOnsciously she followed
Miss Craig's example in lowering hel
voice.
Don't let them hear" the latter SAID
ut is nothing dare say. often see such
shadows"
How very creepy ana uncanny you
are, JanetF Mrs. Brentham tried tC
laugh, but Miss Craig's manner made ar
uncomfortable impression on her, anC
| Miss Craig herself was very silent anC
subdued for the rest of the evening, anC
! looked often at the ''happy pair"-t0 one
| OF whom, however, the epithet was mo-
appropriate, for Mark seemed moody anC
| i'll at ease.
The next day passed pleasantly and So
| ciaby; visitors came to lunch; but when
| the 'parti carre" were left 10 themselve:
! again, in the winter twilight. something