The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-16
Naq@ @@@l
5 BaIIiinyyl..llaIBsss
50 I. n,sry DEM e.
@@@@ 8@@
(Continued.)
X. RILEY DENT.
Copyrighted ''ss. by Publishers

which she had sold herself, no one en-
joyed dollar, aside from her immediate
household. God would certainly hold her
responsible for life SO wasted, for such
. misuse of the money in her keeping.
She had called hers life Of penance,
tonight it appeared to her as one Of
wickedness. She had failed in her du-
lty to her husband, while living, now that
he was dead nothing that she could do
would benefit him, in the least. But
he had not been altogether unhappy"
she told herself. My presence alone
gave him pleasure, cold and heartless as
was my treatment Of him. One smile
from me made him happy for month. ("
Her conscience smote her when she re-
membered how few she had given him.
~ gave him Blossom, she was never
ending source of pleasure. To the other
/ gave nothing, ard left him alone and
hopeless, when I might have made him
30 happy, and wronged no one. I won
der if it is too late nowa" Her heart
beats quickencd, the color mounted to her
white face Would he come to me were
to summon him. or has he given to an
other the love and name he offered METZ
A feeling Of suffocation came over her.
She had written him that she hoped that
some good woman would brighten his
life. She knew now, that she had never
expected him to marry, had always
thought of him when she permitted her
mind to dwell on the past at alias. liz
ing as she did, alone and away from the
world. Foolish idea, she said half
aloud, sOf course he has lived in, and
with the world. Has perhaps given his
heart to another, while I have perhaps
lost him forever A low cry escaped
her lips, she glanced around excitedly.
Aunt Debby aroused from her nap, and
muttered slcepily, sWhut is it honeyf"
and settled back to sleep.
Elba seemed to feel the presence Of
Brent Lawrence us she had not done for
years. Not since that night he held her
in that frst embrace, and gave her that
first kiss Of love. She closed her eyes
and lived it all over again. Oh the joy
of it. Why could it not always be sol
Why could he not always be nearf To-
night he might be with her, assisting in
her work charity. What pleasure
it would be to work with him. How
much good they could accomplish to-
gether. With their combined wealth
how many lives could be frightened, and
their own lives, how different.
g He was right in calling me fanatic.
see my mistake for the first time. I
seem to have awakened from long deep
sleep"
Ths lethargy that had, so long marked
her manner was gone. She was aroused
from her stupor. A strong desire for an
active useful life, had seized her. Tho
truth had suddenly dawned on her, there
was a life work for her, and she was
eager to take hold. With every though,
every desire, was associated the man she
loved. Without him she could do moth
ing. She asked herself, "why do these
thoughts come tonight7 Why does his
image rise before me so vividlyf Years
have passed since heard his voice, and
looked in his eyes, and yet, tonight |
feel his presence as never before. Some
thing could touch. Am growing nerv-
GUST She stirred uneasily, and glanced
about the room. The curtains moving
softly in the breeze made her start
CHANGING toward the window, she half
expected to see smiling face and bright
blue eyes.
"Surely, I have imbibed some Of the
negro superstition, and it is working its
evil effects upon me. I'm almost fright
ened. The wind in the pines has a
weird, unearthly moan tonight. | feel
as if something strange, or terrible is
going to happen"
Elba's nervousness increased. She
started at every sound. Brave, moving
in his sleep, caused her heart to bound.
When Jocko crept closer and eyed her
questioningly, she wondered if he felt as
she did, and was aware of strange, I'M
usual presence. In her childhood sha
had heard the negroes tell of ghosts going
in rooms, and laying spells on the occu-
pants, SO they could neither move nor
speak. She lifted her hand, and was re-
lieved to find her power OF motion in
tact She made an effort to speak, her
voice died away in whisper. She must
do something to break the terrible spell
that was coming over her. She turned
beseechingly toward the colored woman
doing by the window, but could not call
She looked ,wn at the dog, he too wai
beyond her reach. Only the monkey
with one eye blinking at her, was awake
to her condition, and he made her more
nervous. Might he not be in league with
the evil powers that she felt were clos
ing about her? Suppose the woman on