The Colfax chronicle., 1903-11-14

vet at the throat and some touch OF
cardinal in the front of her gown.
"E-r easement was partly open, and
the wind swaying the lace draperies Of
her window, hid her from my view. but
only momentarily. Soon she reap
peared. smiling still with mysterious,
beguiling, haunting smile that so en-
tnralled and yet appalled, me.
my heart thumped audibly; mayhap
my vanity was flattered, cannot say,
but certainly my gaze was drawn to
hers by some potent, magnetic force
that held me captive. A force untella-
BILE that froze me while 1t thrilled me,
that created within me extreme con-
sternation and supreme desire.
Il was as a man drunk, fascinated,
hypnotized. / was as man in dream!
Presently realizing these feelings, en-
deavored to rouse myself, to shake loose
from the crowd of emotions that seemed
about to smother me. In vain-I could
not even simulate an interest in my
book. My eyes travelled again and
again to that strangely sad, sweet
face, whose glances spoke of mysteries
revealed; of dreams come true; OF hell
suffered, then left behind; of Heaven
lost, and then regained.
"At times she seemed to lean against
the easement, pallid and motionless;
again her face seemed alight with the
most exulting and radiant of all
smiles.
This weird variety of Irritation was
kept up for perhaps half an hour; at
times she would retire behind the cur
tains, but oftenest her glance sought
mine direct and unabashed, while ever
about her beautiful mouth there came
and went that strange. mystical, seduc-
tive smile.
CAS- dusk crept on I felt that even
myself was but vague, unreal being
perhaps / slept. Then l rubbed my
eyes briskly and called my wife to come
to the window.
For minute or two she stood silent
ly behind my chair, and watched the
young woman opposite; then she shud-
dered involuntarily! What a weird
smile!' she exclaimed. What an
eerie, ghostly effect. feel chilled to the
heart. Come away from the window.
Your neighbor gives me the creeps!'
81 laughed, or tried to, and continued
my look out.
after a few minutes a morgue var
drew up in front of the door below, two
or three men took out the grewsome pine
box and carried it into the house op-
posite. But my young woman still stood
there. smiling, always smiling!
Il grew cold and shook with the In
tensity of nervous chill, but my neigh
Dor still sat, smiling. Then the flame
from gas jets, flaring up suddenly In the
room behind her, showed me even more
clearly the exquisite outline Of her
face, and the dash of scarlet velvet
around her throat.
'The morgue men had entered the
room. l could see them put down their
box, and coming to the window they
lifted my young and beautiful neighbor.
"As they did so her head dropped
abruptly back, and across her throat ]
saw a gaping scarlet wound, while the
cardinal rosette of her white robe was
stain of blood. Swiftly, silently they de-
posted her within the pine box.
"She was dead!
Il had witnessed the finale Of one Of .
great city's numerous and appalling
My soul sickened and became
giddy-it was horrible, horrible!
"Someway the distance between us,
the reflection of light, the shifting
shadow of the curtains combined with
some poise of her dead body, that had
been left untouched upon discovery
all conduced to convey that very real
impression of life and motion that had
50 thoroughly deceived me.
And yet, in some strange, inexpli-
cable fashion my subconscious brain
seemed aware of the tragedy, even be-
fore I saw the woman's form at tbs
Window had felt the awe and pre-
science of death.
Had she taken her own life, or had
some one killed her? l never knew;
would not look up the case in the pa
pers; l wished to know nothing, or,
rather, knew enough. Her heart that
had been emptied Of much while living
had found. beyond, solution Of all
problems, and this solution she had
.ried to impart in her serene though
mysterious glance, and In her slow
tender, yet infinitely plying smile
Overland Monthly.