The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-11
HEz0WER R00N

thing like darkness and silence for find
ing out the weak points OF man"
Mr.. Dallas looked at him little
sharply, but he made no remark.
Il wonder" Carmichael said later on
to Godfrey, when they were smoking to-
gether in the hall, 81 wonder your faith
er can bear to see that always there
nodding at the portrait Of Mrs. Dallas
that hung on the wall. HE must
face it every morning when he comes
down, every time he enters the house"
ut was there before my mother
died." Godfrey said. whatever pain
it might cause him, he would not have
1t moved. He would think 1t was put
ting a slight on her. That is her right
place. He would not have her put out
of sight and forgotten. He is always
most punctilious that every respect
should be paid to her memory. The
choicest flowers in the Conservatives
are used to decorate her grave"
This portrait fascinated Carmichael
much more than the sketch in the
Tower Room. Mrs. Dallas was quite
a girl here-not more than twenty. 1t
had been painted soon after her mar
rage, Godfrey said. There was nothing
hard In these eyes. They were the
clear, laughing eyes of a child, that
look out on the world and find it very
good" The whole face was young and
eager, and untouched by even the shad-
ow Of doubt.
What gay, beautiful face II is,'
Carmichael exclaimed. "She looks such
radiant creature, the embodiment of
youth at its best. It might well break
a mans heart TO lose her."
when / was small boy, used to
wonder where she had come from
where she had gone to-" Godfrey said.
softly. Il had never seen anything like
her In real life. The people about me
were quiet and grave and severe. With
that face, in her laces and flowers. can
you wonder that l thought her being
Of another world? l used to climb M
on high chair sometimes, and try to
kiss her eyes. They always fascinated
ne. l shall never forget my father
coming in once and finding me perched
up here. He looked a moment from me
to her, and went out without a word"
Carmichael thought Of the unfinished
sketch upstairs, and wondered why the
face should have changed so much ia
less than ten years. That woman was
n
things as they were; she had known
disilluslon. Had she found her hus-
band too old for her gay, laughter-lov-
ing youth? He could not imagine that
Mr.. Dallas had ever been young as this
girl was; he must always have been
somewhat grave and austere. He came
or Puritan stock. Well, 1t was all
done with now. The pretty butterfly
lay dead in her grave this many a year.
and the man who had married her
mourned her still, when probably
companion of her own age would have
long ago consoled himself.
But as the days went on, Carmichael
was not so sure that was all over and
done with. In spite OF the years that
had elapsed since the tragedy, Mrs.
Dallas was not forgotten her presenc,
was still felt in the house. Even ne.
stranger, was reminded of her every
day In one way or another; he could
not get her out of his thoughts. 1t be-
gan to worry him after a time. He
would wake up In the night, with the
lovely face close to his, not gay like the
one picture, or disappointed like the
other, but sad and pleading. That was
the word-pleading. The wonderful
eyes were always asking something:
trying TO tell him something, it seemed
to Carmichael
At last he could bear it no longer.
II don't know whether you will
think l have gone out of my mind" he
said to Godfrey Dallas, "but am tor
mented by the idea that your mother
wants to tell me something She quite
haunts me-
The young man looked at him In
amazement OF course, he knew some
thing of what Carmichael had done.
and the theories he held, but he had
never thought of them being brought
into use here. The idea revolted him.
IL know it seems like sacrilege to
you. / can quite understand your feel
ing, and l hope you will believe that
| have not sought for this. 1 have
struggled against the influence. but it
is too strong for me. Either l must go
away, or l must try and help. Your
mother may have been wishing for
years to make some communication TO
you, and / may happen to be the first
person through whom she can speak |
As you know, an electrician must have
sensitive at the other end If the cleo
trio waves he sends travelling through |
space are TO make any impression |
Well, the idea is the same here"
But 1 don't understand" Godfrey |
stammered what can 1t be? What |
can she have to say? Why have we
not felt this-my father especially? |
Surely she would come to us rather |
than a stranger?''
You have not given up your life to |
these matters, as l have; she may not |
be able to reach you. There must be |
spiritual rapport AS | said, a 'sensi- |
tive to receive the message"
what do you want to dO!' he asked, |
reluctantly.
II should like to pass a night in the |
Tower Room. That was your mothers |
special room, where she spent most of |
her time. Her influence would |
be strongest there, and | may find out |
the meaning of this haunting OF |
course, it is for you to decide, bat |
think" impressively, that it would be |
cruel-to her-if you refuse You have