Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-22
His Double House
(copyriqhl IOlI. By Associated Literary Prsss)
By VIRGINIA BLAIR

light sitting through closed blinds.
In the parlor there was no sign OF
any living presence. so Stephen as
cended the carpeted stairway and
came to the landing without having
made a sound And IL was there he
stopped. listening. Somewhere on
that upper floor someone was cough
ing! He mada his way to the end
room. AS he approached the open
door he saw a little figure swathed
in blankets sitting In a big chair By
the window.
lie spoke softly: Mary"
She gave little cry and stood up
The heavy covering fell at her feet
and showed hire In a street suit and
coat. shivering and shaking. her
cheeks flushed. her eyes bright
"Oh. Stephen" she said. what win
you think of met"
He went up to her and took her
hsnd II think this" he said kindly.
that you are very cold and that you
must come down and SIT by my fire."
Il sat there last night" she said
eagerly. 1T was so bitter up here
that when I heard you go to bed
crept In and shared the warmth with
the pussy cat"
The tears came In her eyes as she
said It. and he saw how weak she
was
You must come right down. he
said with authority. You'll freeze
here. Mary"
She broke down and sobbed "Oh.
nobody has taken care of me for
years." she said. when my hus-
band died | tried to get work. and
then was III. and at last ! came
back in the storm. and when PASSED
here ! saw the light shining out. and
wanted TO stop and ask your
mother to take me in; but watched
and saw she wasn't here. and so !
crept into the other part Of the house
I remembered the way we used to
get in when we were children. Ste
phen."
And It was your handkerchief I
found on the hearth" he said. Some
how felt that It was yours. Mary"
He helped her down the stairway
and put her into his own big chair.
Then he went for Mrs. Brinkley.
MARY Dean has come back She's
sick with a cold and she needs Inn
mediate attention" be stated You'll
come. won't your"
Mrs. Brinkley's chocolate cake
burned to a crisp while she went on
her errand Of mercy. but she did not
care.
She sent Stephen for the doctor.
Then she kissed Mary and cried over
her and lectured her. and ended BY
saying, Stephen is the very best man
In the whole wide world"
"Oh. don't | know it?" Mary asked.
at seemed to me. Mrs. Brinkiey.l
that II could only get back here and
see Stephen once more ! wouldn't
care II died"
But you are not going to die" said
Mrs. Brinkley briskly. You're go
ing to get well and marry Stephen"
"oh, mol" Mary's face famed.
Hell never forgive me. Mrs. Brink
ley"
.You get WELL" said Mrs. Brinkley.
land see how quickly. he'll forgive
you. Stephen needs you. He's
lonely man-lonely because of his love
for You"
In the days that followed Stephen
and Mrs. Brinkley and the doctor
fought for Mary's life. One morning
Stephen brought her out and put her
into the big chair on the hearth.
You'll be perfectly well In Few
days" be said. heartily.
Mary looked at him listlessly. And
then" sne said. Il must go away"
"You are going to marry me" ne
said, quietly.
She would not. she protested. not
after the way she had treated him
He urged and argued until at last he
brought Mrs. Brinkley in to convince
her.
TEL her how l need her." be said
MARY Dean" said Mrs Brinkley.
severely. "are you going to condemn
stephen Strong to keep house with
a pussy cat for the rest OF his daysE
And then Mary gave in. and Mrs.
Brinkley baked the chocolate cake
for their wedding feast.