News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-12-20


that you hive honorel me with your
confidence. will YOU tell me whether
you would change your mind about
selling the farm IL the shadow were
remoyed| lie bent forward and
scanned her face with eager eyes.
IF there was no shadow there-and
If Barbara could come back some
times-if we could be reconciled-I
would be the happiest woman in the
world, Mr.. Baker" she cried. with
tears in her eyes, "Wistaria farm
has always been my home-always
would be if it were not for the
shadow. Besides. you STE my father
disinherited Barbara. and | want to
give her her rightful share Of his es-
tate. If it is turned into money can
accomplish it better"
81 see-I see" mutte"ed Mr.. Baker
i thoughtfully. II believe I'll take that
] $3.50 back to town, but first I'll pay
something down to binds the bargain,
and if you change your mind about
selling it I'll let you off. l shall re-
turn tomorrow, and, with your per-
mission, l will bring friend with
me-"
b next day he came down from
the tity in large touring car that con.
taihkd several yelled and goggled pas''
SEND frs in the tonneau. Mr.. Baker
camv down the path. accompanied by
short. stout man with protub Grant
blue eyes behind thick lensed specta-
ces. Estella met them at the front
steps.
won't the lady come in?" she in
quired as she led the way into the
darkened parlor and threw open the
blinds.
Not now, thank you, Miss Brooks.
Allow me to present my friend DR..
Gaming. Would you object to telling
the doctor the story of the shadow on
your roof? He is an expert at expell-
ing shadows Of that Sort
There was no resisting Thomas Bak-
er's winning smile, and so hesitatingly
Estella related the story Of her sisters
fight and how her father had shown
her the shadow on the roof.
DR.. Gaming listened intently, never
once removing his bright eyes from
Estella's mild brown orbs. When she
had concluded he spoke brusquely.
eff you will accompany me to the
gate. Miss Brooks, | will dispel the
shadow forever. Have no doubt, have
no fear, madam" he assured her as
Estella's brows were arched incredu'
lousy. "Come with me to the gate,
and | will dispel the shadow" he re-
peated in a monotonous voice.
A dreamy look came into Estella's
eyes. and in utter silence she arose
and preceded the two men out Of the
house and down the path to the gate.
The three turned and faced thef
house. The summer sunshine lay warm
on the red roof, and there was no
shadow save the foreShOrtened shad- |
ows of the two great chimneys.
DR.. Gaming lifted his hands impress
sively before Estella's face. do you
see the shadow. Miss Brooks?" he in.
CURED harshly.
YES" she said evenly. 1T lies be. |
tween the two great chimneys. large, |
irregular blot on our roof, yet there is
nothing between that and the sun to
cast shadow, not even a passing
cloudr'
Now you do not see the shadow |
because it has never been there You !
will never see it again. There never .
has been q shadow on the house and !
you will forget all about it and never
think of it when you awake" The |
doctor repeated his hypnotic sugges-
lions with monotonous regularity I'M
til Estella's eyes closed. They carried
her to a summer house near by and
placed her in a chair, and she contin-
ued in the hypnotic sleep until the
motor returned and the yelled lady
alighted and came down to the sum-
mer house accompanied by tall,
slight. intellectual looking man. The
woman fell on her knees beside Es-
tella and wept bitterly.
When Estella awohe she was alone
with her sister Barbara and Allen
dream. Barbara" she said after the
delight of greeting was over. II can't
recollect it sufficiently to tell you, but
it hung over me like a black cloud,
but the cloud. has departed" II
Forever. dear Estella," whispered
Barbara as she placed her arms
around her dazed sister.
81 came very near selling the place,
Barbara. dear | don't know what to
10 about it." said Estella. puzzled :
keep it or sell it to Tom Baker, as J
you please, dear Tom is Aliens half {
brother. and they are in business to-
yether in town. 1t will make q lovely l
summer home for all of us no matter .
which member of the family owns it. :
n the winter you shall come to u.s." +
'Mr. Baker writes poems. too. sup
,ose," ventured Estella. CHANGING with Nr
interest at the tallest of the three ?
nen standing in a little group outside '
he arbor.
Barbara uttered her old light heart q
d laugh. Dear me. no. Allen is a
oct by nature and has scrubbed lots (,
f pretty verses. but - for making a o
wing by it. he simply can't do it. :