Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-08

was before you were born. I've never
seen her myself. I never dreamed
that she was walking yet. Lord, what
have done? didn't want to put you
there. Poor Katharine
Don't worry, Mrs. Lawson he
said, kindly. Katharine has seen
nothing as yet; but l have" He
smiled grimly, yet with certain
sense of relief. AT least" he thought,
ut is not quite madness What does
it mean" he asked aloud. who was
it-she?'
They say" returned Mrs. Lawson,
still speaking in whisper, that old
Squire Lawson, my husbands grand
father, had that room built asa sort
of Jail for his young wire, who went
out Of her mind, poor thing, and no
old man! He took her baby from her
and shut her up in that room and kept
her there by herself until she pinned
and died. That was before you were
born" Mrs. Lawson was sobbing and
wringing her hands. you must take
Katharine Sinclair away before she
sees her. 1t would kill her. But don't
say anything about it outside, Alick.
My boarders would all leave me. l
would be ruined
Sinclair soothed the excited old
woman into quiet. Then he remount-
ed the stair. Katharine, in her white
dressing gown, met him en- the land
| ing.
Il missed you when l awoke, Alick,
DEAR" she said. Where were your"
"Katharine," he began with studied
carelessness, II find this room very
small; don't you? And Mrs Lawson
is well-meaning, but she is tiresome,
good soul! I think l will look up
more comfortable quarters during the
day. Can you be ready to leave here
this afternoon?"
She PLACED her hands upon his
shoulders and held him at arms
length for a moment without speak
ing Her eyes were Drumming with
mischief; smile danced about her
red lips.
"Alick," she said, Il know why you
wish to go away. You are afraid of
the woman who walked here last
night. Did you think I had not seen
herr"
Sinclair's jaw dropped. He stared
| at her with an amaZement which was
| almost ludicrous. But before he had
recovered himself sufficiently to speak
Mrs. Lawson came painting up the
stair and thrust pallid face in at the
door.
| The house was on fire! In an in
credibly short time the old wooden
building was laid in ashes.
| Sinclair and his wife returned to the
Catalpas. 1t was Katharine who in
sisted, with sort of gay perverseness.
upon this. But even as they passed
under the arched gateway the mystic
rious gloom fell back upon her. Sin
clair, now almost as morbid as herself.
could have sworn that he saw its
descent in visible form. Her hair on
the instant became dull and lifeless:
her cheeks fell hollow;s the red on her
lips changed to gray pallor.
A moth futtered against her bosom.
She fed, palpitating with terror.
across the old garden.
Sinclair stood, hardly month later,
looking down on his wife's upturned
face. Once more she slept profoundly.
A mocking-bird whistled in a eatalpas
tree by an open window. The stricken
man frowned and lifted instinctively
a warning hand, but dropped it, re-
membering.
What did it all mean?" he ques-
toned, STOPPING to the face on it,
coffin-pillow.
The dead lips smiled, but withheld
the response.
Copyright, 1905 by Joseph B. Bowles)
A Denver dispatch tells Of the death
of the Original Deadwood Dick" an6
certainly no one is going to question
the intrepid Richards originality.