Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-08-24

W ItIn w 'I'|@@''- '4@'' y =" O.
was conscious Of . presence IN tho
room beside him.
He stared up at the black space |
where the portrait had been, and
then at The dim corner Of the room
where the freight hickered over the
paneled wall, making an unsubstan-
tial background for the slender form
Of a girl gowned in gauzy black A
pink rose nestled in her bosom ana
her fair. face set in its frame OF
misty dark hair looked like another
rose.
So Martha's story was truel The
fair Rosamond OF the picture had
stepped down from her frame and
come to reproach him--for whatS
/ For buying her old home, Of course,
he told himself as he stared at her
with fascinated eyes.
All at once he realized that she
was staring back at him in fright
/ ened way. Her hand moved 1t
1 flew up to her white throat with .
! gesture Of great fearl
His picture was alivel
"Don't be frightened, Miss Rosa
mond," he heard himself saying
gently.
"Oh!' cried the apparition, turn
ing as if to flee.
'Please stay-I thought you were
a ghost or something" he went on,
still sitting there. sold Martha has
been telling stories to me-"
4 The girl sighed audibly.
4 81 apologize most humbly," she
said in a low, sweet voice that thrill
ed him. srYou must not blame old
Martha-I begged her to let me
come in for few minutes. There
was no light and we thought you had
gone to bed"
Gladwin arose and wheeled anoth-
er chair to the fire. He tossed on
some pine splinters and another log
and turned to her with a charming
gesture Of hospitality.
81 am sure you will rest LITTLE
' WHILE" he said courteously.
: "Oh, thank you," she hesitatet
e ond then swent forward and sanl
q into the chair.
e Gladwin saw that she was indeed
7 fash and blood. He easily guessed
that she must be the daughter o
! that fair Rosamond Oily, vino hat
7 eloped With her lover and displease'
her stern parent,
= II am Rosamond Mallory" san
the girl with a quick upward look
y the portrait Of her mother now VII
II ible. IN. the candle light Gladwin. .ha
produced. "Today is my birthday
:, and l wanted to come back to II
q old home and look at her pictpl
L lust once more. GRANDMOTHER doe
now know-she would be horrife
at such an act. She doesn't under
+ stand how | feel about it. | neyf
* knew my mother, but | love he
memory so dearly"
10 Gladwin's own eyes dimmed. ID
he foo had never known his moth'
" and he understood the yearning Il
= mother hands and mother heart
y learn upon.
81 81 know" he said hoarsely, an
she glanced at him and knew tn
he understood. at is very good
~ YOU to tell me all this, and now,
I'D YOU will honor me by remainiI
here as long as you please, | W
10 send Martha to you at once"
i y, She held out her hand, I'll
!, pink flesh and blood palm that
lu- covered in his own large grasp.
81 thank you sincerely, Mr.. Ola
OF VIM" she said simply. 81 am 81
Ieo grandmother will be glad to m'
YOU; of course, you know it hurt
ies to part with the old place, but | I
as differently now that ! have n
:. YOU"
NJ "You are very good" murmul
Gladwin as he bent over her hal
"Some day when Mrs. Dill is able
receive visitors 1 will ride over
pan Fairlawn."
lrse When he left the room Rosamc
la 5 was looking at the portrait OF
nu- mother with the same. tender 6
!. " s that the painted Rosamond b
iieI s upon her daughter.
sell He found a badly frighte