The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-09


boarders 70 come home for supper.
There was 4 shade Of em5arrass-
ment On his handsome face
Mrs. lawson" said Sinclair. with
visible effort, 4 came b. 70 see II you
would take Katharine and myself to
board"
IN the name Of the blessed Lamb. "
calculated airs. lawson. staring Al
him over the gate pickets. ~whatever
has happened? What DO you want 10
90 anywhere and board fort Amt the
Catalpas-"
1T Is a wrench TO me TO leave the
old place" Sinclair interrupted. and
my father will be very lonely nov thar
my mother is dead. But Kathsrine
has set her heart on II. and il you VIII
take us"
Il haven't a sign Of a room left.
Alick." Mrs. Lawson broke IN. except
the room on the roof" she added
cubiousiy.
We'll. what Is the matter with the
room on the roof7" demanded Sinclair.
whimsically.
He threw hack his head as be spoke.
and screwed his eyes up at the box
like structure planted on the roof Of
the low cottLge.
Nothing" returned Mrs LAWSON.
hastily. nothing at all. except that It
Is 50 small. Besides. the stair Is like
ladder Katharine would never"
"All right; I'll take It at your own
price, Mrs. lawson"
She was very beautiful, the golden
haired girl whom Alick Sinclair had
brought a bride. TO his fathers house
less than two years before. The mys-
terious malady which developed short
ly after her marriage, and which con-
tinued to baffie her physician, had
robbed her cheeks Of their color and
bloom. But II ADDED an indescribable
charm y her delicate face and fragile
figure. An unearthly expression
dawned into her large blue eyes-a
prescient gaze, as II aer vision, like
her sense OF hearing. had become abb
normally acute. Something almost
akin to awe filled those around this
exquisite young creature at sight OF
her strange and inexplicable suffer-
ings She had. apparently, no bodily
ailment. But the slightest irregular
sound thrilled her with nervous alarm;
her attenuated frame shook with con-
vulsions at any unexpected appear
ance; she paled at a Whit OF unaccus-
toned perfume. She ate but lutte,
and seemed 10 have host the faculty OF
sleep. Latterly, a morbid distaste for
the old Sinclair homestead had pos
sessed her. She breathed with difH-
Guilty within It's lofty walls; she was
oppressed by the atmosphere Of its
shadowy garden.
The same night saw them installed
In Mrs. Lawson's room on the roof.
The room was small. A four-posted,
mahogany bedstead, with bgIduchin
and side steps, occupied at least one
quarter Of the floor space.
sinclair. seated on the side OF the
bed. smiled as he compared this
cramped rookery with his wlfe's ample
dresslng-room at the Catalpas. But
he felt an unwonted lightness of splr-
It. He could see the reflection of
Katharine's face In the mirror oppo-
site. She stood with her back to him,
brushing out her long hair. There
was a look OF content on her white
brow; he even fancied a touch OF color
in her lips; her golden hal yeemed TO
have regained somewhat OF It's lost
luster.
"she was right" he thought: "the
change has already helped her."
He watched with delight the rhyth-
mic motion OF her slender arms.
Meanwhile he chatted gayly of his
boyhood days. and the recollections
aroused by Mrs. Lawson's motherlv
gossip. Katharine listened, turning
from time to time with a nod or a
smile.
He stopped abruptly, staring con-
fusedly into space. He passed
hand across his forehead and contin-
ued his story. But the words were Mt
tered mechanically. Was there-he
was asking himself-was there some |
thing moving between Katharine and
himself? Something faint and shad- |
owy?-cloudlike? misty? Yes, No.
He shut his eyelids tightly and opened
them again. Yesl He could see n
plainly now, the gray-clad figure OF n |
woman with head dropped to her |
breast and arms hanging at her side
My Cod" he groaned, inwardlv
now Katharine will turn aroundi |
She will see IT. The shock will kin |
herl She will die She will dron
dead before my eyesi"
'Katharine." the words burst invoi-
UNFAIRLY from his lips. He sprang for-
ward with outstretched arms.
did you speak. Alick?" asked his
wife, looking over her shoulder.
"Yes-no-that is, -" he stam-
mered, a cold sweat beading his fore
head.
The visitor had resumed her ghoStly
walk
Dea- Aiick." said Katharine. ca
rsssingly. 4 know you must be tired
! will be ready for bed in one mo-
ment."
"she sees nothingl She hears moth