The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-11-09

fate or a curse hanging about oul
family that 1 dare not tempt. 1t i:
said that when the house was frs
built, the master Of Rothelan brought
| a proud and beautiful woman there
who was neither servant nor mistress
but followed and waited on her en-
SLAYER with the fondest devotion Al
length he went off suddenly. She
watched for his coming as only womer
who love can watch, and after weary
weeks, received letter that darhened
her face as well as her life. The mas
ter had welded fair young wife, and
was shortly to bring her home. The
servants were hidden to have every
thing in readiness. The woman whose
only task in that house had been to
love, folded her mantle about her, and
walked through the hall with an un-
flinching step. Down the wide path
bordered with cedars, down through
the thick trees, until she was lost to
sight.
The master Of Rothelsn was happy
in his wife. doubly happy when his
little son was born. But one day he
found a tall, gaunt woman beside the
bed Of his sleeping child. Her beauty
had faded, but her eyes filled him
with terror. and he went down on his
knees TO pray for his sons life and
safety.
L should scorn to touch him. she
said, with z gesture of disdain. L do
not take my revenge that way.
will put curse upon him. and you.
and all your descendants. Father
and child shall war with each other
continually. and they shall know what
il is to be homeless, vagabond wan
derers of the earth
THE next day the tide washed her
up on the beach. dead and stiff. They
gave her a decent burial, but it is said
her unquiet ghost still walks.
Whether, from brooding continually
over it, the prediction brought its
own fulfilment to every one, or
whether it was in reality a curse.
cannot tell. My father and I are the
last Of the name. 1t has been true of
every generation"
But you cannot. will not place such
implicit reliance on this foolish story"
] cried, we'll knowing what her deci-
sion must be. ''I do not ask you to
leave your fathers home, only to wait
until I can win his consent"
1T is best for US to forget the past"
she said. II think now l can never
love or marry another person, and
doubtless you believe the same Yet
such things have happened. l want
you to feel entirely free. Only, let us
promise each other one thing. If we
should ever decide on that step, let us
write and tell each other frankly"
The nCxt day 1 went back to the
city. Mr.. Fatton wanted me in his
office, and 1 was glad of anything
that came to me without trouble. L
performed my duties well, but there
was no heart in them. / made rapid
strides in my profession, thanks to
my kind patron, and by degrees over
lived that brief episode. I did not fall
in love or marry, although ] felt GER
tain much of the time that Edna
Rothelan would.
Mr.. Dawson died; the farm was sold;
Mrs. easier took her mother with her
% California. SO 1 had no means of
hearing from them. Judge of my
surprise when Mr.. Rothelan's letter
,ame.
His daughter had refused several
good offers: she had grown pale and
hin; he knew 1t was worrying for
me. and If I still cared anything
about her. L might come and marry
ler. All L had to do was to drop him
L line, and he would meet me at the
station.
This was so different from his cold.
elegant. patronizing manner. True,
lie might be different in letters had
10 need to ask myself if / still loved
umultous bound. The idea Of her
'ining for me was positive pleasure.
packed up a few necessary articles,
ook leave Of Mr.. Hatton, and started |
It once
l stepped from the cars on the plat |
orm. No familiar face was in sight. |
gentleman with rather feeble |
walk and a stoop in his shoulders |
anne unsteadily toward me, and said. |
omewhat hesitatingly,-
Mr.. Woodbury., 1 believer"
1 ran my eye over him. The voice.
he face-could it be Gir. Rothelan? /!
lie looked fifteen years older, and had /
curious expression, as if he was con- /
inually on the alert for somebody.
he courtly, patronizing air had de- |
into something that savored .
f servility, yet he was not unpieas- /
ntly obsequious.
Have you been ill?' asked. after /
everal Intellectual attempts at con.
ersation, fearing TO speak Of the sub
ect that lay nearest my heart.
Moves. Well, I've been compIain-
ng these two years or so; nothing
pecial. only people will grow old and |
)se their strength, you know" and
e gave : weak laugh.
We came in sight Of the house be-
ore he spoke again. Then it was with
short, nervous laugh.
81 expect you'll find US changed a
ood deal. Edna IS graver than she
sed to be. / think she worries about
ne. but il 1 could see her married to
man who would make her happy.
should be more comfortable myself
used to think very highly Of wealth
nd all that, you know, but l don't |
hind II now. The old house is too
heerless aI-i gloomy for her; She
-ants some young society" Then !
urning confidentialIy to me. he added
, lower key: 81 want you to coax
er out OF II: persuade her to be mar
led as soon as ycu like. I'll do ttt
air thing by her. Don's let her S'v
. though; It's Killing n-r TO stay
ere
We drove up under the cedars. No
roud womanly figure on the porch
US No fond words OF well
,me as 1 trod the massive stone
cps. Did she still love me-
entered the hall. and saw her COM
g toward me, but not with the glad
3und of former days. Her voice had
dreary cadence in It. and even in
lat dim light I could see the outline