Mountain advocate., 1914-03-27

| the sinister web which she had made
OF this, her dwelling-place, go strangely
acquired. so strangely used.
In that web struggled a half-blind.
half-dlstracted 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 shudders which an
nounced her false control"
Rosalie knocked at Miss Estrilla's
door.
Come in!" cried the invalid, more
eagerly than her wont. And as Rosa
lie entered, "Oh. | was expecting you!
Can you-will you-todayT'
I've been putin all the power l
have into this thing" said Rosalie lie
Grange; you've no idea how I've
tried was awake half the night. Just
gettin' into touch. This is my last sit
tin with you for ever so long, Miss
Estr,lla. / can feel II goin'. When
got to now, conditions must be right
You wouldn't mind, would you. II l
darkened this room complete? An
! let's have 4 little more air"
There was window, which opened
upon the fire escape, at the foot OF
Miss EsSriIla's bed. This window Ro-
sale darkened last of all; but first she
raised the sash a foot.
That curtain will blow an disturb
me-" she said. I'm goin' to pin it
down"
Had Miss Estrillas soul held any
emotions, in that moment, but grief
aud eagerness-had she been capable
just then of suspicion-she might have
noted a tiny but significant sound. The
fire escape had creaked little, as
though n 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
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 a 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. Rosalies body re-
Taxed and fell backward in the Morris
chair. Her lids gradually closed. She
breathed as though asleep.
"Oh. sad lady again." babbled
Laughing-Eye 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; a masculine voice fol-
lowed-the voice which Rosalie always
assumed when she iE3personated Cap
tain John H. Hanska.
Il am here again, Margaret; love
you. | am ready to forgive"
"Oh, John. thank you-thank Cod
you will when you know. For, John,
you have so little to forgive. beside
what / have already forgiven" As
usual Miss Estrilla made reply.
Il know. And | suffer But l un-
derstand. First 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
struggling to assert more power.
so | do not know what happened
even before | passed Quit came 30
suddenly-say to me again that you
loved me-"
so 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 ALI to you
II you had walked and spoken kindly
to me. But you were married-and
you would have died soon at the best
Oh, why not before this happened TO
Juan"
Was II Juan? | have told you that
could not see clearly at that time--it
is all confused"
yes. dearest. You could not under
stand because of the elothes-but
dearest. II was Juan who held the
knife which went into your body oh,
forgive him more than me. He is my
brother-he did II for me--John. |
can't forget his remorse when he came
to me-were you watching? Did you
seer"
Mo- was not awake in spirit yet
quick"-the voice was growing weak.
He himself did not understand.
then, how you died. He thought the
knife killed you. He worked II all out
afterward-when I told him about your
condition. But then. he said TO me:
My God. | have run knife into Cap
tain Harska!' What In it--whht Is III"
For Resale had laanad from her