Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-14

YOU would chanSe your m4uu apou1
selling the farm If the shadow were
relnoved?' He bent forward ana
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 ID the
world, Mr. Baker" she crled. VIII
tears In her eyes. "Wistarla 1arh
has always been my home-alWays
would be if 1t were not for the
shadow. Besides, you see my rather
disinherited Barbara, and l 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," muttered Mr.. Baker
thoughtfully. II believe III take that
$3.50 back to town. but first I'll pay
something down to bind the bargain
and If you change your nii"d about
selling it I'll let you OFF. | shall re-
turn tomorrow, and, with yodr 'nr-
mission. / will bring a friend wtsa
me-"
The next day he came down from
the city in large touring car that con-
tained several yelled and goggled pas
sengers in the tonneau. Mr.. Baker
came down the path. accompanied by
| a short, stout man with protuberant
blue eyes behind thick lensed specta-
cles. Estella met them at the front
steps.
Wont the lady come in!' she in
uuired as she led the way into the
darkened parlor and threw open the
blinds.
Not now, thank you. Miss BrooES
Allow me to present my frlend Dr.
Gaming. Would you object 10 telling
the doctor the story Of the shadow -
your roof? He is an expert al e&l~''-
ing shadows of that sort"
There was no resisting Thomas b";;-
er's winning smile. and so hesita!::" y
Estella related the story Of her si:'''-TS
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.
"If you will accompany me 10 the
gate. Miss Brooks. will dispel the
shadow forever. Have no doubt. have
no fear. madam" he assured her rs
Estella's brows were arched incredu-
lously. Come with me to the gate,
and | will dispel the shadow" he re-
| peated in a monotonous voice.
A dreamy look came into Estellas
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 the
| house. The summer sunshine lay warm
on the red roof. and there was no
| shadow save the foreshortened Shad-
ovs of the two great chimneys.
DR.. Gaming lifted his hands impress
sively before Estella's face. DO you
see the shadow, Miss BrookS:" he III
quired harshly.
Yes" she said evenly. 1T lies be-
tween the two great chimneys. large,
| Irregular DlOl oIl oul iOol. 49, eh~t~ 49,
uothing between that and the sun to
cast shadow, not even passing
cloud"
"Now you do not see the shadow
because it has never been there. You
will never see it again. There never
has been a shadow on the house and
you will forget all about it and never
| think of fl when you awake" The
| doctor repeated his hypnotic sugges-
| tons with mon0tonous regularity un-
til Estela's eyes closed. They carried
| her to q summer house near by and
placed her in a chair, and she contln-
ued in the hypnotic sleep until the
motor returned and the yelled lady
alichted 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 weDt bitterly.
When Estela aw0ke she was alone
with her sister Barbara and Allen
Searle "E've had such Il terrible
| dream. Barbara" she said after The
delight Of greeting WAS over Il can't
recolect it sufficiently to tell you. but
it hung over me like Il black cloud.
but the cloud has departed"
| Forever. dear E$tpIia." whispered
Barbara as she placed her arms
around her da2el sister
II came very near selling the place.
! Barbara. dear. don't know what to
do about it," said EstctIa. puzzled
Keep ii or sell ii tn Tom Baker. as
you please. dear Tom il Aliens half
brother and they are in business to-
| gether in town 1t I'll! make !" lovely
summer bone for all os ~ 10 matter
which member If the family owns 1t.
In the winter you shall "o:'" to us"
"AIr. Baker writes poems. too. sup
| pose" veniurpd EStc!la glanria2 with
interest at the tallo<t Of the three
men standing in i;tt!r group outside
the arbOr.
Barbara uttered her cid !i-ht heart
| ed laugh. "Nrar me. no Allen Is
poet by nature and has Srrtihled lots
of pretty verse; l'at as for making
living By it. he @ii2piy can! 10 1t. |
hope yon wont he shocked. but he
and Tom are II thr most romantic sort
| of business ina Ginabe"
What Is that?" inquired i,Stela ca
gerly. for she discovered Il growing
interest in big Tom Baker.
"WholeSalc paint and varniSh-there!
Not much poetry in that. is there"
At that moment Dr. Canning was