The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-11-16
THE
SHADOW
A Story of
Hypnotism
By ETHEL 3. HAYNES
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By ETHEL 3. HAYNES
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Estella Brooks looked wistfully at
the prospective buyer. I'm very anx-
ious to sell the place." she said slowly
Your offer is satisfactory to me, but
l hardly think you will want 1t after
have told you about the shadow" As
/ she uttered the last word all the color
! forsook her cheeks, and she looked
j years older.
you needn't say a word about it I'M
less you want to relieve your mind
/ III take 1t even If the shadow Is a
/ ghost" assured Mr.. Baker warmly.
ut isn't an ordinary ghost" protest
ed Estella. 'In fact, it isn't a ghost
anyway. | tell myself I can't believe
in them ard be a member of the
church at the same time. but It's very
queer that the shadow should be there,
just the same"
"Show 1t to me, please" requested
Mr.. Brooks. and in silence Estella led
the way down the front steps to the
gate that opened into the highroad
Here she paused and turned. facing
the long farmhouse. with Its low pitch
ed roof and many gabled windows.
Look there" she said simply, point
ing up at the roof Of the house. THE
sun is behind the clouds, yet what is
there to cast a shadow like that on
the roof"
Mr.. Thomas Baker scanned the red
stained shingles with a critical eye.
He glanced up at the sky, mass of
gray leaden clouds; he looked at Estel
la standing beside him with every
muscle tensed, her wide brown eyes
staring at the roof
Il can't see anything. Miss Brooks"
he said gently.
Estella turned disappointed face
to his. Il was afraid you couldn't see
anything. But it's there, right be
tween the two chimneys, great black
shadow as plain as can be on the roof.
l suppose it's only for the family to
see and remember"
Tell me about 1t If you care to,
Miss Brooks. But l assure you that
1t won't make any difference in my
decision. III take Wistaria farm if
you will accept my offer"
'I'll tell you about the shadow first"
said Estella. leading the way back 10
the deep shaded veranda. After
that, if you want to conclude the bar
gain. | am quite ready. My father
was n very stern man, cold by nature.
but possessing n powerful magnetism
that bound his family to him by cords
of fear as well as love My mother
died while | was little girl, and my
sister and l were brought up under
my fathers strict rule. AS Barbara,
my sister, grew older she seemed to
develop the same magnetism. and so
it was that her will and my fathers
often clashed over little matters and
at last over larger affairs.
about ten years ago Barbara was
twenty and | was twenty-five. My
sister met and fell in love with
young man who wrote poems for a
living. He was spending the summer
in Riyerdale. and he wrote verses
about Barbara's beautiful eyes and
in love with her. My father discov-
cred the verses and forbade him the
house, arraigning him in the most
singing terms, accusing him OF seek
ing to marry Barbara for the little
patrimony that would one day be hers
calling him a beggarly scribbler and
saying other terrible things. although
he really was a most manly fellow.
and | liked him exceedingly. As for
rny sister, poor Barbara was deeply in
love with him from the beginning, and
when my father sent her lover away,
tossing the despised verses after him.
Barbara defed father to his face and
declared she would marry Allen in
spite of everything.
THAT night she babe me farewell
and went away with Allen Searle and
was married by her own minister here
in Riyerdale. In the morning when
my father discovered her flight and
read the letter she had left for his
perusal he led me out to the gate
yonder and, pointing TO the roof of
the house he said solemnly:
"'Estella, there is n shadow on our
house. DO you see that grim, black
shadow of disgrace staining its pure
roof? Look long at 1t. Your sisters
defiance of me and her elopement with
n penniless stranger has broken my
heart. Mark well the shadow on our
roof. for it will never pass away-not
in your lifetime or mine!
II looked. and, Mr.. Baker, | saw the
shadow. grim and black and shape
less, lying there where no shadow had
ever rested before The day was
cloudy and forbdding. even as IT Is
now, and yet the shadow lay there,
and 1t has always lain there since
that day when my sister went away.
Nearly every day my father would
take me out to the gate and show me
the shadow and repeat his denuncia-
ton of Barbara. lie died five years
ago. and | have been left alone with
the shadow on the roof, for beyond a
letter now and then | have rarely
heard from Barbara"
II see" said that gentleman, with
an air of sudden enlightenment.
Now before ] so back to town this
afternoon and before ] pay the money
to bind the bargain | would like 10