The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-08-11

1T is a wrench to me to leave the
old place" Sinclair interrupted, and
my father will be very lonely now that
my mother is dead. But Katharine
has set her heart on it, and il you will
take US"
Il haven't q sign Of a rooll left,
Alick," Mrs. Lawson broke In, except
the room on the roof" she added
obviously
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 his eyes up at the box
like structure planted on the roof OF
the low cottage.
Nothing" returned Mrs. Lawson,
hastily, nothing at all, except that 1t
is 80 small Besides. the stair is like
q ladder Katharine would never"
"All right III 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-
ferrous malady which developed short
ly after her marriage, and which con-
tinued to battle her physician, had
robbed her cheeks Of their color and
bloom. But it added an indescribable
charm to her delicate face and fragile
figure. An unearthly expression
dawned into her large blue eyes-a
8
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 inexplicable suffer
ings. She had, apparently, no bodily
ailmcnt. But the slightest irregular
sound thrilled her with nervous alarm;
her attenuated frame shook with con
vulsions at any unexpected appear
hnce, she paled at a Whit or 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
sesScd her She breathed with diff
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. 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 Catapas But
he felt an unwonted lightness of spir-
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 look OF content on her white
brow; he even faucied a touch OF color
in her lips; her golden hair seemed 10
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 recolleetions
aroused by Mrs. Lawsons motherlv
gossip katharine listened. turning
from time to time with a nod or a
smile.
He stonped abruptly. staring con
fuscdly into space. He passed H.;
hand across his forehead and contin
ued his story But the words were Ut.
tered mechanically. Was there-he
was asking himself-waS there some
thing moving between Katharine and
HIMSELF Something faint and shad-
| owy@-Cloudltke? misty? Yes, No
| He shut his eyelids tightly and opened
| them again. Yes, He could see II
! plainly now. the gray-clad figure of a
woman with head dropped To her
breast and arms hanging at her side
My Cod" he groaued. iuwardly
snow Katharine will turn around,
She will see It! The shock will XIII
her. She Will die, She will dror
dead before my eyes"
"Natharine' the words burst invol.
UNFAIRLY from his lips He spraug for
ward with outstretched arms.
Did you speak. Alick?" a.Ged hi.
Wife, looking over her shoulder.
Yes -no-that is, -" he STAN.
mered, cold sweat beading his fore.
head
The visitor had resumed her shostI,
walk
Dear Alex" said Katharine. ca
ressinely | know YOU must be tired
! will be ready for bed in one mo
ment
she sees nothing, She hears moth
ing. Oh, thank God," thought sin
clair, turning his hot eyes fro II m,
white-robcd figure kpeeling In praye,
by the bedside 70 the eray-clad shadow
moving up and down the room.
Kath.rine nestled like tired ,ht,,
among the pillows ana fell Instant,
asleep Her husband hung over her II
: an agony OF emazement ana mcvedn(
# Could il really be that She wa
sleeping" Was she not rather dead
: Her regular breathing. the smile OF
her slightly parted lips. the sof, aoan
doumen' ~ her limbs. reaSSured him