The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-25
His
Double House
By VIRGINIA Blair
(Copyrisbt 1911, BY Associated Literary Press)

stephen SmlleQ at neT. T1oW many
times have you said that to me, Mrs.
Brinkley?"
Il shall say it until you give me
an answer"
'All that is over for me-" bitterly. |
Mrs Brinkley turned and faced
him. you've never forgotten Mary
DEAN"
Nobody had spoken to Stephen Of
Mary Dean since. ten years ago. she
had Tilted him.
His head went up. but he smiled |
sadly. as Mrs. Brinkley laid her
wrinkled hand over his big brown
one 81 want to see you happy" she
said softly.
ooh, am happy. and I'm getting
to be a very good housekeeper.
He carried the situation of so
lightly that she had nothing else to
say, but when she reached the door
she turned and asked sharply. III
Mary should come back. what them"
Stephen stared at her He had
| never thought Of that He had
planned his future with reference
only to his bachelor needs.
He walked to the gate with Mrs.
Brinkley. and when he came back the
loneliness Of his big double house
struck him with a chill. Stephens
| mother had been with him until her
death, and she and her son had lived
| In the newer part The older wing.
furnished quantity in the style OF
early Victorian days, was open only
once year when Mrs. Brinkley
supervised the cleaning and airing.
1t was Mrs. Brinkley's neighborli-
ness which had made 1t possible for
Stephen to live alone. He loved her
not only for herself, but because she
had always been a friend of Mary
Dean.
Yet she had never dared speak to
him as she had spoken today. He
went about his tasks furiously, try
ing to put out Of his head the thought
of his humiliation and consequent suf-
fering
Outside, 1t was night Of wind
and of storm Within. a fire burned
on the hearth and a cat purred In
the warmth and glow. Stephen made
, Il cup of coffee for himself and gave
the cat some meat and dish Of milk.
In younger manhood Stephen had not
cared for cats, but now there was
something Of comfort in the presence
of this gentle, white creature.
He sat long over the fire that night
dreaming. The door was shut be
tween his portion OF the house and
the empty rooms. Suddenly he sat
up startled 1t seemed to him that
somewhere. family. he heard the
rustic Of wOman's dress.
He rubbed his hands across his
! eyes He must have fallen asleep
and the swish of the rain on the win
dows had caused the Illusion.
He rose lighted lamp and went
: to bed He left the cat on a cushion
: on the hearth lie thought he heart
[ the click of latch 1T is the wind.
he said to himself, and fell asleep,
+, In the morning when he wen
down the cat was still on the cushion
on the hearth rug. but there was
q something else on the rug-a little
fine square of white linen
: Stephen picked up the handker
:, chief and stared at 1t; then he looked
at the cat If only she could speal
what would she tell?
6 II was while he was still standing
s there that Mrs. Brinkley came run
. ming over Were you in the othe
: part OF your house last night?" sh'
demanded breathlessly
e No" Instinctively Stephen hi
the little handkerchief In his BIZ
a hands.
> There was faint flickerin
light" Mrs. Brinkley said. 'in one O
the upper rooms"
u "You must have been dreaming"
Of 81 couldn't have BEEN" Mrs. Brinl
lie ley insisted, for called Mr. Brinkle
n up to look at it."
Dear Mrs Brinkley," Stephe
asked, "who would come into tina
= unheated place on such night?"
ar Well" Mrs. Brinkley said. d.
e, cidedly. "if ! believed in ghost
Q should say that It was a ghost. ant
anyhow, It gave me an awful fright
. Stephen switched her from the sui
ject by inquiring tactfully about
o. certain chocolate cake which she ha
k promised to bake for him, and pre-
emily she flew homeward to beat u
/. and bake.
When she had gone Stephen stoo
- still in the middle of the foo
er We've got to look into this. puss
n cat" he said, TO the little cat.
Ell He went to drawer and took ol
n big key and inserted it softly
the lock of the dividing door
blast of chill. damp air struck hir
ne He shivered and went on. It was
We ghostly place. with the gray wint'
light sitting through closed blind
In the parlor there was no sign
any living presence. so Stephen a
OF cended the carpeted stairway al
tie came TO the landing without hayir
me made a sound And it was there
i. stonped listening. Somewhere
!. that upper floor someone was coug
~ ing, He made his way to the Ell
roop. As he approached the ops
Al. door he saw a little figure swath'
in blankets sitting in a big chair
the window
lie spoke softly: Mary"
as She gave a little cry and stood u
at Taa heavy covering fell at her fe
.07 ana showed hre in street suit al
ne
his