The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-10-09

was before you were born. I've never
seen her myself. l never dreamed
that she was walking yet. Lord, what
have done? l didn't want to put you
there. Poor Katharine"
Don't worry, Mrs. Lawson" he
said, kindly Katharine has seen
nothing as yet; but have" He
smiled grimly, yet with certain
sense of relief. "At least" he thought,
sit is not quite madness. What does
1t mean. !" he asked aloud. who was
it-she?"
They say" returned Mrs. Lawson,
still speaking in a whisper, that old
Squire Lawson, my husbands grand
father, had that room built as a sort
of Jail for his young wiIe, who went
out of her mind, poor thing, and no
wonder, for lue squire was terrible
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.
would De ruined"
Sinclair soothed the excited old
woman into quiet. Then he remount-
ed the stair. Katharine, in her white
dressing gown, met him on the land
ing.
Il missed you when awoke, Alick,
DEAR" she said. Where were your"
Katharine" he began with studied
carelessness, 81 find this room very
small; don't you? And Mrs. Lawson
is well-meaning, but she is tiresome,
good soul! | think l will look up
more comfortable quarters during the
day. Can you be ready to leave here
this afternoon"
She place her hands upon his
shoulders and held him at arms
length for a moment without speak
ing. Her eyes were trimming with
mischief; smile danced about her
I'd lips.
''Alick," she said, 81 know why you
wish to go away You are afraid of
the woman who walked here last
night. Did you think l had not seen
her"
Sinclair's jaw dropped. He stared
at her with an amazement which was
almost ludicrous. But before he had
recovered himself sufficiently to speaE
Mrs. Lawson came painting up the
stair and thrust pallid face in a. 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 a sort of gay perverseness,
upon this. But even as they passed
under the arched gateway the mystic
rious gloom fell back upon her Sim
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; the red ON her
lips changed to gray pallor.
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 catalpas
tree by an open window. The stricken
man frowned and lifted instinctively
warning hand, but dropped 1t, re.
membering.
What did it all mean?" he ques
toned, STOPPING to the face on it
coffin-pillow.
The dead lips smiled. but Withheld,
I the response.
Copyright, 1906 by Joseph B. Bowles)
A Denver dispatch tells of the dealt
of the Original Deadwood Dick" an,
} certainly no one is going to question