The Falls City tribune., 1904-11-04

something uncanny ABOUT ner. And
yet, she was unusually handsome.
why did you not write me to ex-
pect your" she asked. A spasm as of
pain contorted her features, and she
laid her hand clutchingly upon her
bosom. "Come-you are welcome
'dear!" She held out her arms in ex-
pectant greeting.
1t was the fact that her face, hair,
attire, all were white, Barrett decided,
that gave her such a ghostly look.
And yet the face was youthful, de-
spite its coronet of thick, soft hair.
But there was something in the eyes
that he had never seen before. 1t
was an expression, vague, wistful.
longing, that at once attracted and
repealed him. Most of all. it aroused
in him an inexplicable sense of com
passion.
He went forward and took her
hands. He had an idea that this was
the proper thing to do, though he
could not have told why.
IF you will be good enough to let
me stay here until the storm is over"
he began. and a rushing torrent Of
rain confirmed his request.
"Ah, longer than that" she said.
She smiled-a slow, sweet smile, in
expressibly sad. Nov that you have
| come at last you must stay until it's
time to go away on your next roy
age.
But, perhaps" looking at him with
nazel eyes grown suddenly brilliant
with hope, perhaps you will not have
to go on another voyage. Perhaps you
can remain at home-now!"
Barrett was at a loss for a reply.
She took him for someone else-some
one dearly loved at that. And she
looked so fragile. II he were sud-
denly to undeceive her as to his iden-
tity would the shock seriously affect
her? He had noticed the instanta-
neous agony the sight of him had
caused her.
81 think-maybe-" he began to
stammer. Under the pretense of put
ting away his hat he released him
self. He had jerked it under his
arm when he went forward to take
her hands. Now as he turned toward
the hall rack he saw in it's mirror that
another was coming swiftly
across the drawing room behind him
"a younger m
He flung around quickly. II beg
your pardon for this intrusion" he
said.
She looked apprehensively at the
woman in white, then up at the
straight, athletic young stranger,
with the fine broad-based brow and
frank, fascinating. blue eyes,. And
he, il turn, was conscious of profound
relief at meeting her gaze. There was
nothing bordering On the supernatural
in this fair girl. Her house dress Of
ping lawn was daintily coquettish.
And her eyes, the clear, unembar-
raised eyes of a sunny-souled maiden,
gave assurance of sanity and COM
posure.
You were overtaken by the storm,
I presume. Will you not come into
the library and wait until 1t is over?"
She closed the door, for the rain was
beating in at the threshold. then in
dicated the oom at the left. Aunt
Alice" she said coaxingly to the wom-
an in white, will you not come to
your own room and rest? You look
very tired. Come, darling!"
She spoke as she might have
spoken to a little child-entreating-
ly and with affection. But the other
pushed her away with a sudden, nerv-
Gus gesture.
II don't know what you can be
thinking of, Bertha" she said impa-
tiently. why should / go away
now? Don't you see that Henry has
come back?"
She moved closer to Barrett and
mt har thin hand nm his arm Wit, an