Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-08-22


Dell on her knee, waiting for her
boarjers to come home for supper.
There was a shade OF embarrass-
nent on his handsome face.
Mrs Lawson" said Sinclair. with
visible effort, Il came by to see IL you
would take Katharine and myself to
board"
I'm the name OF the blessed Lamb"
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 wrench to me to leave the
bid place" Sinclair interrupted, land
my father will be very lonely now that
my mother is dead. But Katharine
has set her heart on il. and IL you will
take us"
Il haven't a sign OF room 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 it
is SO small. Besides, the stair is like
q ladder Katharine would never"
All right: I'll take ii 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-
unued to battle her physician. had
robbed her cheeks Of their color and
bloom. But IL added an indescribable
charm TO her delicate face and fragile
figure. An unearthly expression
dawned into her large blue eyes-a
president gaze. as if ner vision, like
her sense OF bearing had become alb
normally acute. Something almost
akin TO awe filed those around this
exquisite young creature at sight OF
her strange and inexplicable suffer
ings. She had, apparently, no bodily
aiiment. 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 Whit of unaccus-
toned perfume. She ate but little.
and seemed to have lost the faculty OF
sleep. Latterly, morbid distaste for
the old Sinclair homestead had DOS
sessed her. She breathed with diff
Guilty within its 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 balduchin
and side steps, occupied at least one
quarter OF the floor space.
Sinclair. seated on the side OF the
ped, smiled as he compared this
cramped rookery with his wifes ample
dressing-rocm at the Catalpas. But
he felt an unwonted lightness of spir-
1t. He could see the reflection 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 recollections
Mru I
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 thepe-be
was asking himself--vas there some
thing moving between Katharine and
himself? Something faint and sbad-
owy?-cloudlike? misty? Yes, Nh
He shut his eyelids tightly and openod
them again. Yes! He could see a.
plainly now, the gray-clad figure OF q
woman with head dropped TO her
breast and arms hanging at her side
my Cod" he groaned. inwardIv
now Katharine will turn around'
She viii see iti The shock will Kin
her! She will die She will drop
dead before my eyesi"
Katharine! the words burst invoI-
UNFAIRLY from his lips. lie sprang for
ward with outstretched arms.
Did You speak. Alick?" asked his
vile. looking over her shoulder.
"Yes-no-that is. -" he STAN
mered, a cold sweat beading his fore
head.
The visitor had resumed her ghostly
walk
Dear Alick." said Katharine. ca
ressinely / know you must be tired.
] will be ready for bed in one mo-
nent."
"She sees nothing, She hears MOTH
Ing! On. thank Godi" thought sin