The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-03-04
The Magnificent ANDERSON
BY Booah Harrington

by Dooan harrington
Copyright By Doubleday. Page & Company
Never was Mrs. Hornerl" the voice
declared, speaking undenlably from
Mrs. Horners lips-but with such con-
Uction that Eugene, In spite Of every
thing, began TO feel himself in the
presence of third party, who was
none the less an individual, even
though she might be another edition
OF the apparently somnambulistic Mrs
Horner. "Never was Mrs. Horner or
anybody but Just Lopa. Guide
"You mean you're Mrs. Horner's
guide?" he asked.
Your guide now" said the voice
with emphasis, to which was incon-
gruously added low laugh. "Yuu
came here once before. Lopa remem-
hers."
'Yes-sn did Mrs. Enrner."
Lopa overlooked his implication, and
continued quickly: "You build. Build
things that go. You came here once
and old gentleman on this side, he
spoke to you. Same old gentleman
here now. He tell Lopa he's your
grandfather-no. he says father He's
your father"
whats his appeaSanceT'
"How?"
"What does he look liker"
VERY finei White beard, but not
long beard. He says some one else
wants to speak to you. See here.
Lady. Not his wife. though. No.
Very fine lady Fine lady, fine lady I"
as it my sisterT' Eugene asked.
SISTER? No. She Is shaking her
head. She has pretty brown hair. She
IL fond Of you. She is some one who
knows you very well. but she is not
your sister She is very anxious to
say something to you--very anxious.
Very fond Of you; very anxious to talk
to you. Very glad you came here-oh,
very gladl"
What Is her nameT
Name" the voice repeated. and
seemed to ruminate. "Name hard to
getaways very hard for Lopa.
Name. She wants to tell me her name
to tell you. She wants you to under
stand names are hard to make. She
says you must think Of something that
makes sound" Here the voice
seemed to put question to an invis-
IDLE presence and to receive an an
swer. "a little sound or big sound?
She says Ii mighs hc little sound or
big sound. She says a ring-oh,
Lopa knows She means bell That's
II, bell"
Eugene looked grave. "Does she
mean her name Is Beller
mot quite. Her name Is longer.~
Perhaps" he suggested, "5he means
that she was belle"
NO. She says she thinks you know
what she means. She says you must
think OF color. What colorr Again
Lopa addressed the unknown. but this
time seemed to wait for an answer.
Perhaps she means the color of her
eyesr' said Eugene.
mo. She says her color Is light
It's a light color and you can see
through It."
"Amber?" he said, and was startled.
Tor Mrs. Horner with her eyes still
closed, clapped her hands, and the
voice cried out in delight:
"Yesl She says you know who she
10 from amber. Amber! AmberI
That's 1t She's says you understand
what her name Is from a bell and
from amber. She Is laughing and
waving a lace handkerchief at me be-
cause she Is pleased. She says /
have made you know who 1t is."
This was the strangest moment Of
Eugene's life, because. while it lasted.
he believed that, Isabel Anderson.
who was dead, ha 1 found means to
speak to him. Though within ten
minutes he doubted 1t. he believed It
then.
His elbows pressed hard upon the
table. and, his head between his
hands, he leaned forward, staring at
the commonplace figure In the easy
chair. "What does she wish to say
to met"
@She is happy because you know
her. No---she is troubled. Oh--a
great troubled Something she wants
70 tell you. She wants so much to
tell you. She wants Lopa to tell you.
This Is q great trouble. She saya=