The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-17

u0dlleia 10 come nome lot supper.
There YVES shade Of, embarrass-
ment On his handsome face
Mrs lawson said Sinclair. with
visible effort, 4 came BY to see II you
would take Katharine and myself TO
board"
"ln the name OF the blessed LambiT
calculated AIRS. lawson. staring at
him over the gate pickets. whatever
has happened? What do you want to
go anywhere and board for? Amt the
Catalpas-"
1T Is a wrench to me 20 leave the
old place. Sinclair interrupted. "and
my father will be very lonely now that
zny mother IS dead But Katharine
has set her heart on It, and If you will
take U.S."
Il haven't sign OF a room left.
Aiiek' Mrs. Lawson broke in, except
the room on the roof she added
dubiously.
We'll, what Is the matter with the
room on the roof?" demanded Sinclair,
whimsically
He threw back his head as he spoke.
and screwed iis eyes up al the box
like structure planted on the roof of
the low cottage
Nothing" returned Mrs. Lawson,
hastily nothing at an. except that It
Is so small. Besides, the stair is like
ladder. Katharine would never"
'All Fight: IN take it at your own
price Mrs. lawson.
She was very beautiful the golden
haired girl whom Alick Sinclair had
brought 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 bame her physician. had
robbed her checks cf their color and
bloom But it added an indescribahle
charm to her delicate face and Eagile
figure. An unearthly expression
dawned into her large blue eyes-a
president gaze. as il Aer vision, like
her sense OF hearing. had become alb
normally acute Something almost
akin to awe filled those around this
exquisite young creature at sight Of
her strange and inexpiicable 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 little,
and seemed to have lost the faculty Of
sleep. Latterly. a morbid distaste for
the old Sinclair homestead had pos
racooa bor Che i,ro,tboa ,tffh -faa
Guilty within it's lofty walls; she was
oppressed by the atmosphere of its
shadowy garden.
The same night saw them installed
in Mrs. Lawsons room on the roof.
The room was small. A four-posted,
mahogany bedstead, with balduchin
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 wife's ample
dressing-room at the Catalpas. But
he felt an unwonted lightness of spir-
It, He could see the reelection OF
Katharines face in the mirror oppo-
site She STOOD with her back to him,
brushing out her long hair There
was look OF content on her white
brow; he even fancied a touch of color
In her lips; her golden hair seemed to
have regained somewhat Of its 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 recollection
aroused by Mrs. Lawson's motherly
gossip. Katharine listened, turning
from time to time with a nod or a
smile.
He stopped abruptly staring con-
fusedly into space. He passed IA
hand across his forehead and contin.
ued his story. But the words were ut
tered mechanically Was there-he
was asking himseIf-was there some
thing moving between Katharine and
himself? Something faint and shad.
owy ?-cloudlike2 misty? Yesi No
He shut his eyelids tightly and opened
them again. Yesl He could see Il
plainly now, the gray-clad figure Of a
woman with head dropped 10 hel
breast and arms hanging at her side
MY Godi" he groaned, inwardly
now Katharine will turn aroundl
She viii see III The shock viii XIII
her! She will diei She will dror
dead before my eyesl"
"Katharinel the words burst invol.
unfairly from his lips He sprang for,
ward with outstrotched arms.
Did you speak. Alick?n asked hli
wife, looking over her shoulder.
'Yes-no-th Is, r." he stam
mered, a cold sweat beading his fore
head.
The visitor had resumed her ghosu,
walk
Dear Aliok." said Katharine. On
ressingly know YOU must be tired
! viii be ready for bed in one mo
ment"
"She sees nothingi She hears moth
ingl Oh thank God" thought Sin
clair. turning his hot eyes from th
Shlte-robed figure kneeling in praye
BY the bedside TO the gray-clad shadow
moving up and down the room.
Katharine nestled Ike tired chill
among the pillows and fell instantr
asleep. Her husband hnng over her il
an agony OF amazement and incredul
ity. Could Il really be that she wa