The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-04-10

raindrop fell down the wide throat ct
the chimney and 1t was so like whis-
per that jumped little.
AS I lay down once more on my pii-
low l became conscious Of peculiar
sensation. 1t was true that heard no
voices. that no wraithlike forms cross
ed my vision. yet seemed to be
among animate things. l was rece1v-
ing information from some unknown
source. a"
stared at the highboy, counted the
glass knobs of the drawers, assured
myself that there was nothing but the
reflection of the freight on the polish
ed front, when all of a sudden saw
Out of the polished surface there
grew a picture-dark shadows for
background of shrubbery. a winding
path bordered with flowers, and stand
ing there was Miss Dorinda Page as
she appeared in the large painting In
the drawing room below-Miss DORM
da of thirty years ago, fair and sweet
and very shy. She was timidly offer
ing a rose to a youth, who looked at
her with eyes of despairing alteration.
He bent and kissed her in sudden, pas
sionate farewell. turned and disappear
ed in the shrubbery, leaving her. white
and trembling. to sink on a garden
bench. But he had carried the rose
away. AS Miss Dorinda leaned her
head on her rounded arm the picture
died away. and there was nothing save
the freight pickering on the front OF
the highboy and the ticking Of the
clock. interrupted by. the fall Of rain
on the roof.
was not afraid now. was filed
with pity for the sweet, patient little
woman who had so sturdily taken up
the burden of wage earning when she
had been left alone. Her house of
paying guests" was always filed. and
|, who had known her a dozen years.
had by great good luck been placed In
the mahogany room and thus stumbled
upon the romance in Dorinda's sad life.
The face Of the young man was not
unfamiliar, and was sure that had
seen 1t, older, graver. somewhere. The
story Of the highboy was clear to me
now. 1t had belonged to Ralph Glenn's
people, and 1t was for his sake she had
purchased the heirloom. Ralph Glenn
must have been the young man Of the
picture.
"Glenn-Glenp-wher have I heard
that nameT questioned to myself as
I dropped of to sleep. and the answer
came as the morning sunlight awoke
me to consciousness. "Dr. Glenn. OF
course, stupid!'
did not see Miss Page until after
breakfast. Then she sought me In the
big veranda. where ! was studying the
railroad time table.
"Not going home so soon7" she ex-
claimed. with a glance at nay occupa-
ton. II hope the mahogany room has
not driven you away. You slept wellf''
Beautifully" assured her. 81 must
run home for q day. and then l shall
return to lay the ghost of the mahog-
any room"
As the stage crawled its way up the
long hill to the station I saw In my
minds eye my home city. On one or
the handsomest streets there was a
row of brownstone houses given over
to physicians offices. On one Of the
brass plates was the name Ralph
Glenn, NJ. D." I had met DR.. Glenn
once, and, as recollected his features.
he might have been that same youth
who had taken farewell Of pretty Do
rinda Page.
There was no harm In trying.
thought. so I made my way home and
straight out to the Office of DR.. Glenn.
The physician was in. and ! made my
chronic neuralgia the excuse for my
visit. When the consultation was over.
still fingered in the office. He. quiet,
grave, middle aged. clever looking.
watched me as If questioning my de-
lay:
II am going away for fortnight"
explained. "I'm going down to Put
wick. Perhaps you know the villager
His face paled, but he smiled polite
". II was born there" he said brief
" and then looked as II he regretted
the confidence.
"Then you must know the Page
homestead?" I said rapidly. "That Is
where / am staying. 1t is the most
charming old place. and Miss DoFinda
Page is the most charming hostess"
Miss who?" he asked brusqaely.
looking down on me from his superior
height.
Miss Dorinda Page" replied inno-
Gently. "She is the last Of her family
and the sweetest little woman In the
world. She
II thought she married Hugh Ora
ham," he burst out. sinking heavily
into a chair 'They sent me wedding
invitation. Here 1t Isl" BE pulled
open a drawer, and from a leather
covered box he drew forth yellowed
envelope containing an engraved an
nouncement of the wedding Of Dorinda
May Page and Hugh Montgomery Ora
ham on April 1. 1890. read 1t slowly.
I'm afraid you are the victim OF
joke, ali Ill timed and fateful April
fool trick" said regretfully as ! point
ed to the date. whoever perpetrat.
ed the joke did not spare expense. As
a matter of fact, Hugh Graham mar
RED Miss Dorinda's cousin. Hannah
Page. years ago. long before ] knew
them. You never went back to Put
wick?'
mo; stayed away after that"
'T'm going back to Putwick tomor-
row." suggested.
$50 am l." he exclaimed. rising to
his feet with sudden energy. "Just