Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-22

batch of bread for Stephen Strong.
II should think you'd get married"
she said. daringly
Stephen smiled at her. How many
times have you said that to me. Mrs.
Brinkley?"
'1 shall say IT until you give me
an answer"
IAN that is over for me-" bitterly.
Mrs. Brinkley turned and faced
him. You've never forgotten Mary
Deanf"
Nobody had spoken to Stephen Of
Mary Dean since. ten years ago. she
had Tilted him.
His head went up. but he smiled
sadly. as Mrs. Brinkley laid her
wrinkled hand over his big brown
one. Il want to see you happy" she
said softly.
"Oh. am happy. and I'm getting
to be a very good housekeeper."
He carried the situation on 80
lightly that she had nothing else to
say. but when she reached the door
she turned and asked sharply, III
Mary should come back. what Them
Stephen stared at her. He had
never thought of that. He had
planned his future with reference
only to his bachelor needs.
He walked to the gate with Mrs.
Brinkley. and when he came back the
loneliness Of his big double house
struck him with a chill. Stephens
mother had been with him until her
death, and she and her son had lived
iu the newer part. The older wing.
furnished quantity ir the style OF
early Victorian days. was open only
once a year when Mrs. Brinkley
supervised the cleaning and airing.
1t was Mrs. Brinkley's neighborli-
ness which had made 1t possible for
Stephen to live alone. He loved her
not only for herself. but because she
had always been friend Of Mary
Dean.
Yet she had never dared speak to
him as she had spoken today. He
went about his tasks furiously. try
ing to put out Of his head the thought
Of his humiliation and consequent suf-
Nfering
Outside. 1t was a night Of wind
and OF storm. Within. a IRE burned
on the hearth. and q cat purred In
the warmth and glow. Stephen made
a cup of coffee for himself and gave
the cat some meat and dish of milk.
In younge, manhood Stephen had no:
cared fol cats, but now there was
something of comfort In the presence
Of this gentle, white creature.
He sat long over the fire that night
dreaming. The door was shut be.
tween his portion of the house and
the empty rooms. Suddenly he sat
up startled. 1t seemed to him that
somewhere. family. he heard the
rustic Of wnman's dress.
He rubbed his hands across his
eyes. He must have fallen asleep,
and the swish of the rain on the win
dows had caused the illusion.
He rose. lighted a lamp and went
to bed He left the cat on a cushion
on the hearth. He thought he heard
the click of latch. 1T is the wind.
he said to himself. and fell asleep.
In the morning when be went
down the cat was still on the cushion
on the hearth rug. but there was
something else on the rug-a little
fine square of white linen.
Stephen picked up the handker.
chief and stared at IT.; then he locked
at the cat. II only she could speak
what would she tellf
1t was while he was still standing
there that Mrs Brinkley came run.
ming over. Were you in the other
part of your house last night?" she
demanded breathlessly.
No" Instinctively Stephen hid
the little handkerchief In his big
hands
There was a faint pickering
light" Mrs. Brinkley said. ''in one of
the upper rooms"
You must have been dreaming"
Il couldn't have BEEN" Mrs. Brink.
ley insisted. "for called Mr.. Brinkley
up to look at It."
y Dear Mrs. Brinkley," Stephen
asked. who would come into that
unheated place on such a nightf"
We'll" Mrs. Brinkley said de.
cidedly. IF believed in ghost |
should say that it was a ghost, and.
anyhow. 1t gave me an awful fright. .
Stephen switched her from the sub
ject by inquiring tactfully about a
certain chocolate cake which she had
promised to bake for him, and pres.
emily she few homeward to beat IN
and bake.
When she had gone Stephen stood
still in the middle of the floor
We've got to look into this, pussy
cat" he said. to the little cat.
He went to drawer and took ont
big key and inserted It softly in
the lock Of the dividing door A
blast Of chill. damp air struck him.
He shivered and went on. It was a
ghostly place. with the gray winter