Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30
ACROSS THE BORDER.
Old Shoes That Were Blessing.
By Isabel Mason.

BY Isabel Mason.
had been invited to Julia Buffers
wedding. did not approve of it
coming off so soon after her aunts
death. There was indecent haste,
thought, in these marriage festivities,
ten days after the funeral
Come and see the presents" said
Alice, Julia's young sister, who was
dancing around in a gleeful way.
They are just lovely"
Not in here, surely" I said, drawing
back at the door.
felt cold SILVER creeping over me
as glanced at the bed in the center OF
the room, which was bespread with
presents. 1t was no wonder l shivered.
The room had grewsome associations
1t was the room in which RhOda
Crump had suffered agony for an in
durable disease for a year or more; and
from that decked out bed she had been
carried to her grave only ten days be-
fore.
Somehow l felt too heartsick to ex-
anime the things. That which held my
eye, however, was a large crayon pic
| ture of the bride in heavy gilt frame,
which had evidently been enlarged from
a photograph. The picture rested
| against the table, which held a clock
and beside it, on the carpet stood pair
of old shoes with the toes worn open.
l knew the shoes. They were relics
of Rhoda l had been with her a good
deal during her sickness. and had often
rallied her upon her affection for her
old shoes.
They fit every crease and joint She
would say in apology.
It seemed as if the shoes diffused a
sardonic grin upon the fine company
around them. l heard Julia called the
image of her aunt Rhoda as she was at
twenty-five. Now, as l looked, RhOda's
eyes. as / knew them, sharp, keen. yet
pathetic with suffering, seemed to be
looking through those Of the picture
into mine.
was awakened from my dream by a
question over my shoulder from tall
young woman who had been looking at
the picture when | entered
every true likeness of Julia she
commented, don't you think so? 1
feel all in a crawl" she bent to whisper.
Il must get out of this, it is so disagree
able here"
"Rhoda Crump died in this room," I
said briefly.
20, did she?" queried the young wo-
man. Il believe she is here yet
There's somebody or something uncan-
ny in the room. DO look behind that
curtain. Some one may be lurking
there for the silver" she added with a
forced laugh.
Nonsense" 1 said as | swept the
PORTER aside, and opened the closet
dor which 1t concealed, see for your
sell"
She hurried out, but l was detained
by some strange fascination. l stood
by the bed staring into vacancy.
All at once | remembered what she
had said to me a week before her death.
If I do not make things uncomfort-
able for that girl meaning Julia
after l have got out of the body 1t WIFI
he because l am not able to exert an in
6uence. There is retribution in store
for her especially, and l believe l am
10 be an instrument. l shall find help
In the shadow land to carry il out.
I Law a long time thinking that night,
while James slept quietly | could not
get Rhoda out of my mind. She had
lost her husband and her child
wears before and wass called rather
queer" by her relatives. she mad
strange. abrupt ways and was not
general favorite. But l had always
liked her. ,..,
She wan Just to the last jot and little,
bur she did not know the meaning oil
the word generosity, either IN
thought or act. She was unforgiving
and unyielding.
Rhoda had held her own opinions
about the other world. She believed
there was no cessation Of action after
tbe breath left the body. She had new
or taken any interest in so-called mod
ern Sniritualism. yet her views had
strong flavor of that belief.
she certainly hasn't left that room
vet I said aloud, conviction growing
strong in the darkness.
"Tbat she hasn't" said a voice near
me- I started up. Was it the voice Of
Did you speak to me?" James ask
ed in a sleepy tone.
on it was you" said, half asham-
Cd of nv credulity. Let us go to
I Bpt James was already snoring
again. - :, Cbioogo
Her husband held a good position and
her outlook was prosperous.
Ar first she wrote Of the pleasant
ho,na She had in the lake city. Pres
only there was a disconnected note IN