The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-08-17

son s house, he Slackened his some |
what nervous pace, and halted with an |
aii OF indecision. But Mrs. Lawson |
had caught sight OF him from the |
porch where she sat, with huge hand |
bell on her knee, waiting for her |
boariers TO come home for supper.
There was shade of embarrass-
ment on his handsome face.
Mrs. lawson" said Sinclair, with !
visible effort, II came by to see If you
would take Katharine and myself to
board"
"In the name OF the blessed lamb"
calculated Mrs. Lawson, staring at
him over the gate pickcts, whatever
has happened? What do you want to
go anywhere and board for? Amt the
Catalpas-"
at Is n wrench to me to leave the
old place. Sinclair interrupted, land
my father will be very lonely now that
my mother Is dead. But Katharine
has set her heart on 1t, and If you Will
take US"
81 haven't a sign OF a room left,
Alick," Mrs. Lawson broke In, except
the room on the roof" she added
obviously.
We'll. what is the matter with the
COON on the roof" demanded Sinclair,
uhimsically.
He threw back his head as he spoke,
aud screwed his eyes up at the box
like structure planted on the roof OF
che low cottage
Nothing" returned Mrs. Lawson,
hastily, nothing at all, except that 1t
Is SO small. Besides, the stair is like
ladder. Katharine would never"
IAN right; I'll take 1t at your own
price, Mrs. Lawson"
She was very beautiful, the golden
aired girl whom Alick Sinclair had
brought, bride, to his fathers house
css than two years before. The mys-
lerious malady which developed short
~ after her marriage, and which con-
tinued TO battle her physician. had
robbed her cheeks of their color and
bloom. But It added an understandable
charm to her delicate face and fragile
figure An unearthly expression
dawned into her large blue eyes-a
president gaze, az II ner vision, like
her sense of hearing, had become alb
normally acute. Something almost
akin to axe filed 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-
WILSON'S at any unexpected appear
ance: she paled at 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
sesseG her. She breathed with diff
Guilty within its lofty walls; she was
oppressed by the atmosphere of its
shadovy 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 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 rookory with his wlfe's ample
dressin5-Toom at the Catalpas. But
he felt an unwonted lightness of spir-
1t. lie 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 n 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 It's lost
luster.
She was right" he thought; 1.-THE
change has already helped her"
He watched with delight the rhyth-
Meanwhile he chatted gayly of his
boyhood days. and the recollections
aroused by Mrs. Lawsons motherly
gossip. Katharine listened, turning
from time to time with nod or 0
smile.
lie stopped abruptly. staring con.
fusedly into space. He passed L.:
hand across his forehead and contin.
ued his story. But the words were ut.
tered mechanically. Was there-ht
was asking himself-was there some.
thing moving between Katharine ant
himself? Something faint and shad
Owy?-cloudlike? misty? Yes! No
He shut his eyelids tightly and opened
them again. Yes! He could see Il
plainly aow, the gray-clad figure of
woman with head dropped to hel
breast and arms hanging at her side
My God!" he groaned, inwardly
snow Katharine will turn around
She will see It! The shock will xii
her! She will die! She will droJ
dead before my eyes!"
''Katharine!' the words burst invol
unfairly from his lips. He sprang for
ward with outstretched arms.
Did you speak, Alick?" asked hi
wife, looking over her shoulder.
"Yes-no-that is, -" he STAN
mered, cold sweat beading his fore
head.
The visitor had resumed her ghostl,
walk.
Dear Alick." said Katharine "a