The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-02-12


II feel-like / was going to be oper
ated on. That's how l feel"
cav, brace up!" said Martin McGee.
Rosalie did not answer at once Her
eyes, sweeping the room to avoid
direct gaze lighted on the dresser
where stood q photograph of Con-
stance Hanska--a solicited gift. She
fixed her gaze on that; and the fallen
lines of her face lifted with determine
| ton,
Yes she said, I'm goin to brace
up"
She started upstairs to that room
on the third floor back, the center of
the. sinister web which she had made
of this, her dwelling place, SO strangely
acquired, SO strangely used
III that web struggled half-blind,
half-distracted fly, toward which she.
the spider, was now creeping. Some
such comparison may have struck Ros-
allie. for she shuddered twice in her
slow progress. And these were not
the assumed shoulders which an
nounced her false control"
Resale knocked at Miss Estrilla's
door
Come I'M" cried the invalid, more
eagerly than her wont. And as Rosa
lie entered, ooh, was expecting you!
Can you-will you-today?"
I've been putin all the power !
have into this thing" said Rosalie lie
hny 'Vyp
tried was awake half the night, just
gettin' into touch This is my last sit
tin with you for ever SO long. Miss
Estrilla ] can feel it goin' When
I'm playin for all my power. as I've
got TO now, conditions must be right.
You wouldn't mind, would you, if
darkened this room complete? An
let's have q little more air"
There was a window, which opened
upon the fire escape. at the foot OF
Miss Estrilla's bed. This window Ro-
sale darkened last Of all; but first she
raised the sash foot.
"That curtain will blow an disturb
me-" she said, I'm goin to pin it
down.
Had Miss E5trilias soul held any
emotions, in that moment, but grief
and eagerness-had she been capable
Just then Of sus picion--she might have
noted tiny but significant sound. The
fire escape had creaked little, as
though a weight had been imposed at
the bottom. 1t creaked again at inter
walls for the next five minutes, but aft
erward, usually, when the roar of a
passing elevated train drowned all
slighter sounds,
Now I'm ready to try" said Rosa
lie, settling down at the foot of the
couch Dear, you do look anxious!
Don't try to crowd the spirits that's
always the best way--but remember
again--this is about the last control
that's in me for month. BE quiet,
dearie' Her eyes sought the dis
tances, her body shook. Then came
the change which Miss Estrilla had
watched so often, and with such fas
cinated eagerness. Rosalie's body re-
Taxed and fell backward in the Norris
chair. Her lids gradually closed. She
breathed as though asleep.
ooh, sad lady again!" babbled
LaughingEyes, quite suddenly. She
could hear Miss Estrilla shift eagerly
on her couch, Il can't stay long. John
speaks. He says he wants you quick.
John is big and strong Good-by. sad
lady"
Rosalie's breath came hard her
body wrenched q masculine voice fol-
lowed--the voice which RosaIie always
assumed when she impersonated Cap
tain John II. Hanska
II am here again, Margaret: love
you. / am ready to forgive"
"Oh, John, thank you--thank God
you will when you know. For John,
you have SO little to forgive, beside
what l have already forgiven" AS
usual Miss Estrilla made reply.
II know. And / suffer. But UNI
derstand. First l have told you how
little saw that night. My flesh still
chung to me"
Resale stopped here and seemed to
gather her body together. as though
the thing which controlled her was
81 GS5lAS " "HSOAC iAOiC pO~Ci-
so | do not know what happened
even before l passed Quit came so
suddenly-say to me again that you
loved me-"
$50 much, John dear. that cannot
tell you all"
And l put aside such love as that
for jewels!"
yes, John. And when ] searched
your room-the night found you there
i would have given them all to you
if you had walked and spoken kindly
to me. But you were married-and
you would have died soon at the best.
BILE threatened or meddIesome neigh
I,1.,... t,.ica - nIn..4,... -.