The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-01
FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS

|EEEl!TllIEiII!!
he drove along the narrow lanes be-
tween tho high hedges. He felt as
known Year, and years ago. II
seemed impossible that Il was only
three weeks since he parted from
Rosaiie that windy morning at The
cross roads.
His young face was grave and
serious. lie realized all In . mo
ment that there were no many
things he would like TO know about
the death OF the girl who had been
his wife for 10 short . time.
lie would have given . great deal
now 10 hear what twas shs had
said TO shsrney before abe died. He
longed selfishly TO know that II was
some message OF forgiveness for
himself. but II was 20 UNLIKELY that
he would ever hear.
He wondered where the dragged
circus had piodded to now--ths pa
ticnt elephants. and tho stilted clown
gone out OF his life forever.
tramplns on from village to vii
iage. with no hope OF anything bet.
ter. only everincreasing shsbbiners
and WEAKNESS Well. Rosaiis was
out Of II. anyway. She had told
him more than once how she hated
the life. and he--what fine promises
he had made her. what q golden fu.
ture he had held out 20 her In his
arrogance.
He was passing the crossroads
now, and the thin spirs OF Bedmund
parish church was IN sight above
the trses
A sudden desire 70 20 there again
seized upon hin. With hassy i'm.
pulse h. stopped the car AT the old
Heb gate and jumped out.
Scott followed with aiacrity, and
stood wsEgins his tail. waiting for
orders.
Good dog; stay there"
Rorie went on MP the little sioping
churchyard and In AT the open door.
The damp depression Of the church
struck him afre-h: n single red light
burned before the altar. the same
whcexy old verrer was sorting pray.
er books In One OF the pews
Rorie looked round with rather
wistfui eyes. This was where he
had been married: that was the rose
window thru which a weak ray Of
sunshine had stolen inauiativciy 10
look NJ them moment before the
sudden. sharp shower OF rain had
deluged the earth.
Less than three weeks ago-it
seemed a year.
The verrer had turned his head
stiffly. hearing young Briton's step:
the eyes of the two men met across
the church. Roderick swung round
hastily and went out.
Scott greeted him with q joyous
bark: he had not moved from the
spot where Roric had left him. but
now he sprang back into the seat by
the wheel.
ftodcrick drove away. feeling
rather Ia N he had been to a funeral:
and yet II seemed impossible that II
was Rosalie whom he had buried
impossible tbnt----- The car swung
round a bend In the iane--Rorie
half rose from the seat. jamming on
the brakes: he shouted warning:
Look out therer'
a man lodged suddenly 10 the side
OF the road. narrowly escaping being
struck by the bonnet OF the car.
passed. swearing angrily; but the
words died on his lips. for the man
whom he had so nearly knocked
down was a hunchback, long Of
limb. and ugly. with n thick. stubby |
growth Of hair. and suilen, resentfui |
eyes beneath beetling brows.
He wore a shiny corduroy coat. |
much soiicd and patched. and he
carried huge bunch OF beautiful
roses in his big. ciaw-like hands.
Roric recognized him with some
thing Of shock; It was Bunch. the
hunchback from the circus.
For an instant the small car
swerved violently beneath young
Briton's agitated hand: II almost
seemed as II they were bound 10 land
in the ditch which bordered the mar
row road. but. with a superhuman
effort. he wrenched at the wheel.
stopping the engine; then he flung
aside the rug. leaped out. and ran
back 10 the bench round which the
hunchback had vanished.
But there was no sign OF him any.
where: he had vanished AZ complete
iy as II the earth had opened and
swallowed him up.
Rorie ran up the bank. and peered
across the bleak fields. but nowhere |
could he see the ugly. deformed !
figure carrying Its incongruous
bunch OF flaming roses.
II almost seemed as II II must |
have been n dream. thought young |
Briton, as he went slowly back TO |
the car. and once more started for
home.
The following morning he drove
the Same way again. keeping a sharp
lookout on either side OF the road,
but he saw nothing OF the bunch
back. aItho he met Brenda Myers al
most in the same spot where they |
had passed one another the previous
day. For = moment he wondered idly