Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-12
A SINGULAR S|TDAT|0l.
I.!":.!...::.; .s...:!"...:.ss...:.....:..:.:....

r osT. by thunder" exclaimed
JlA Godfrey Barrett.
And as though in confederation
of his dismayed remark, there resound-
ed from the lowering heavens a crack
ling, long rumbling. crisp as the can
nonade from Il battery OF artillery. The
man Stood still on the country road
and looked around him, trying to de.
eide in what direction lay the town
from which he had started out that
morning on Il trip Of exploration.
mighty tropical scene for Illinois"
he muttereu. "One can't see house
for vegetation. Halo! Those are red
gables showing through the trees" Tie
turned off brisl,ly in the direction of
the house. He would ask shelter until
the coming storm was over. and then
make his way back to the village.
The day had been hot. Even now
sultriness hung like a palpable thing
over the land. TO the south and east
the sky was deeply purple. Through
its serrated cloud banks tridents of fire
Iitchforkcd their Slittering way.
The cottonwOodS at either side of the
path up which the stranger walked
were moving restlessly The pale. in
ner lining of their green leaves made
an uncertain simmer in the premature
dusk that was settling down upon all
things. Now and then bird chirped
"A tiny, fiuting note of president ng-
tation.
The house upon which Barrett came
was not large, but it was built in colo
NAL style, and conveyed the impression
Of comfort. The door, standing wide
open. revealed Il square hall. with rugs
on the polished floor and dwarf book
cases let in under the stairway.
"O!' cried soft excited voice, sit
is you. You have come---at last" Cod
frey Barretts hand dropped from the
bell. a lady appeared ut the end of
the hall. She seemed shy, but rejoiced.
And, as she came out of the semi
gloom in the light from the doorway,
her appearance gave Godfrey some
thing of a shock. There was something
uncanny about her. And yet, she was
unusually handsome
"Why did you not write me to ex-
pect you?" she asked. A spasm as Of
pain contorted her features. and she
laid her hand cutchingly 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 IL ghOstly look. And
yet the face was youthful, despite its
cOrOnet Of white, soft hair. But there
was something in the eyes that he
had never seen before. 1t was an ex.
preston, vague, wistful. longing, that
at once attracted and repealed him.
Most of all, 1t aroused In him an mex
plicable sense of compassion.
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
smlled-a slow, sweet smile inexpress-
IDLY sad. Now that you have come
at last you must stay until it's time
to go away on your next voyage.
"But, perhaps" looking at him with
hazel 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 loss for a reply. She
took him for someone else--someone
dearly loved at that. And she looked
so fragile. If 1t were suddenly to un-
deceive her as to his indemnity would
the shock seriously affect her? He had
noticed the instantaneous agony the
sight of him had caused her.
II think-maybe-" he began to
stammer. Under the prctense of put
ting away his hat he released himself.
He had jerked it under his arm when
lie went forward to take her hands
Now as he turned toward the hall rack
he saw in its mirror that another wom-
an was coming swiftly across the draw
ing room behind him--a younger wo-
man.
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, in turn,