The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-06-05

II was no wonder that when Pat en-
tered the room he threw up his hands
and fled in mortal fear. He expected
TO see his sick wife, but instead he be-
held, seated in the huge armcheir BE-
side the window, form part human,
part monster. He turned and looked
again. No, there was no mistake. He
saw plainly enough the enormous fore
head, the awful nose, the grinning
mouth, the hideous cheekbones And
Pat was not crazy, nor was he intoxi-
Gated.
Rational as he was, he did not be-
lieve his own senses. And, going back
once more, he peered through the half
opened door at the strange figure in the
armchair. He was more startled now
to find that everything but the face
belonged to his wife. There was the
Powered waist she had worn when he
left in the morning; there was the
same snowy kerchief about her neck;
there was the same skirt; and there,
clasped upon its somber folds, were
yes, those were his wife's hands. OF
his he was as certain as that two
md two are four. Even the cloth
lippers protruding from beneath the
Airt belonged to his wife. But the
face-oh, that awful face! Yes, his
wife was sick, but no disease could dis
tort human countenance into the gro
tesque one that was most certainly his
wife.
Pat went out on the doorstep and
pondered. Then he went and sat on
the bench by the pump. From there
be moved to an old stump opposite the
window at which the strange being was
seated. He tried to look in, but q tan
gled growth of vines prevented this.
So he advanced cautiously, and when
he reached the window he peeked
through into the room. There it still
sat, solemn, stolid, awful. Pat made
Q Lasty retreat. He sat down on the
doorstep again.
He began to wonder where Mary, his
daughter, had gone. Why had she
left "it"--thats what he now began to
term the figure in the armchair
alone? He had cautioned her before
he left, telling her to be sure to re-
main constantly at his wife's side. This
awful catastrophe would not have oc-
eurred had she needed what he told
her. Well, how could anything like
It happen, anyway? Pat ran his fingers
through his hair. How could his wife
get another face? How could? Pat
swore under his breath and went back
to the old stump again.
At length Mary came sauntering
down the road. She had parcel or
two in her arms. These she placed up
on the step beside her father, and then
asked how her mother was feeling.
'Why didn' ye sthay to homer" Pat
asked. Then with true Irish abrupt
ness he added. Eyer mithers lost her
head. She's gone. Ye got"
But Mary listened no longer. Her
shrill voice rose in wild weeping at
hearing her father say she 10 longer
had mother, and she rushed up the
stairs and into the house.
Pat sat on musing. and of a sudden
n awful shrek came from within the
house. A moment later Mary. her face
white, her eyes staring, almost fell out
u the doorway into his arms. She was
Bordering on Mysteries.
did ye liver in your loife see sich
looirin'-mither?" Pat asked.
at amt mother" Mary sobbed, ut
Amt mother. But It's her dress, and
and--her hands. But her face! Oh,
It amt mother. 1t can't be mother!"
'It's mither all but the-the fa-ace."
Pat declared. But how did she git
shat fa-ace? Did ye liver see wan loike
At? It's enough to scare the divil him
self.'