Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-07-03
cen. 1t was TO Marion as II sne nao

seen. IL was 70 Marion as II sne mao
built a gallows for her brother upon
which he must die the sooner because
Of the work of her hands.
She concealed this feeling from Stan.
ley, but 10 me she was explicit IL was
at this time that she ana began TO re-
alize the nature OF the tie that was
binding us more closely to each other
We had misnamed IL friendship for
moro .hsr Q va9r
This monstrous notion, that the room
and her own affectionate efforts TO
make It more comfortable for her
brother had somehow accelerated the
approach of his doom. would not leave
her mind. Her brother dwelt in the
apartment with a certain placid impa-
thence, but Marion viewed his contin-
ued use Of II with an ever present ter
ror which seemed to me utterly unrea-
sonable.
The situation was the worse because
no one dared try to mend IT, To per
/ suade Stanley TO give up the room for
ever or 10 consent 10 change OF its
furnishings was the same as asking
him To set Il date for his own exit from
the world since he believed that he
was To die in that scene as IL then
stood. Absurd as this belief must seem
TO Il normal mind, IL had surely taken
possession OF the brother and sister,
and the effect was disastrous upon
each. though in a different way. To
Stanley il meant an increasing concen-
tration of his thought upon n morbid
theme. to Marion a constant. tortur-
ing apprehension. dread Of night and
morning.
lt speedily became necessary to take
decisive action. | took advice of Stan
ley's physician. a man more intolerant
OF III morbid and mystic nonsense than
any one else whom | ever knew. and
consulted certain members of the Win
throp household. The result was a de-
termination 10 overthrow this super
stition by direct proof of its falsity.
1t seemed likely that In this attempt
might lose Stanley's friendship. but
had reached pitch Of desperat ton
where | was willing TO risk anything
and. moreover. the doctor, who was
blum old fellow agreed TO assume
all responsibility and to make all the
arrangements.
One evening at the Winthrops dinner
hour Or. Evans and | gained access TO
Stanley's room from the veranda. We
were accompanied by some or the serv-
ants. and we had the means of effect
ing a very considerable change in the
appearance Of that apartment.
1t was an evening prematurely dark.
The western sky almost to the zenith
was dead black, so that the earth
seemed to be rolling into the mouth OF
n pit. | was the first TO enter the
room, and | gropcd my way at once to
table upon which knew that there
was lamp. \ match cracked under
my fingers and went out. | was find
lng another when heard a low. hoarse
CRY. Immediately there was noise at
the door. Some one ou~de turned the
knob and then knocked with hurried
and unsteady hand.
STANLEY" called Marion from with.
out. STANLEY unlock the door"
/ ran to let her in, but hand in the
darkness clutched my shoulder, and
the Doctors voice whispered:
ut isn't locked. | have my foot
against IT, She must not come in"
"Why not?' demanded.
He put his lips close TO my ear.
Because her brother is dead here on
this couch by the window"
That Is the whole story as know K.
Stanley had died of heart failure. He
lay there upon the cushions with his
right hand across his breast and little
picture OF his wife clasped tightly In
tho etinanad fiuOora