The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-07-10
TIE STRANGE VISITOR.

/ Maine is bounded on the north by
Canada, on the east by New Hamp-
shire, on the"
This interesting recitation was cut
short bv Il knock at the door. Why
was it that the schoolma'am turned
pale and trembled a. she turned to
answer the summons She herself
could not have told YOU, but all day
long she had been filled with name
less dread, and every sound had star
tied her.
The door being opened, dirty,
bare-toofed little urchin put into her
hand note which ran thus
JENNIE Il will call for you to
drive round the beach with me at
four. You will go, won't You
In haste. Paul"
Nothing alarming in that, surely.
How foolish | am to he so fright
ened at nothing. think / must be
tired. 1t will make me feel better to
ride along the beach and breathe the
rclreSIlng sea DrccLc.
/. In this way she had nearly dispelled
the cloud that had rested on her spir-
its all day, when second rap called
her to the door. This time the visi-
tor proved TO be tall, gaunt man,
with piercing black eyes.
You are one or the committee,
suppose" she said, offering chair
and extending her hand
lie took it, and holding it tightly,
with his strange eyes fixed on hers
with a gaze that seemed to reach her
very soul, replied
Yes, / am committee sent by
God TO gather his garden of rosebuds
and carry them to him."
Quick as fash the awful truth
flashed upon her but she knew that
the only chance of safety for herself
and school lay in extreme steadiness; ;
and the spirit that had bowed all day
before the dark shadow, rose up,
calm and majestic, to meet the fearful
reality
She turned her face toward the
school, with her hand on the bell, to
give the signal of dismissal Would
they go? She took the tiny gold
watch from her belt, and found it to
he only halfpast three. No, they
would linger to ask innumcrable ques-
tiOns; the earliness Of the hour would
surprise them and excite his suspicion.
Turning to the august stranger, she
said A:
"Ycs, | understand YOUR mission
1t is nearly recess time now, and they
will come in fresh and invigorated."
Then going to some of the older
scholars. under pretensc of examin-
ing their book and writings, wrote a
short command in each one. Her
step was steady and firm, and her
face showed no signs of the terrible !
conflict that was raging within, "a she (
returned to the de>k.
Oh, how wildly her heart beat un-
der the dainty muslin folds of her
dress, as, responsive to each success
i've tap of the bell, the rows of happy !
girls and boys filed out of the open I
doorway, and, with a sigh of relief, I
she shut the door on them They
were safe at least. Now she must
face danger, perhaps death, alone
The man, beast, or devil, whichev-
er he might be, had gone TO the stove,
taken out an old pocket-knife, and
stood drawing it up and down the
rusty funnel for a few minutes, then
feeling of the sharpened
blade with his long bony fingers.
The result seemed to please him, for
lc broke into a low chuckle, which
into a horrid, maniac, laugh;
hen procecdedto walk back and forth
lcross the room. AT length he
stopped suddenly before her and said
"Why don't they come ~
Because | have not rung the bcll,"
he answered quietly.
Ring il, then"
And again he resumed his walk
Jennie Nays heart thrilled with a
lew hope. She would go to the door
o ring the bell, and then run for her
ife Something in her manner
aught his eagle eye as she passed,
Or he sprang toward her with de-
loniac yell.
You've played me false They've |
II gone and you shall die ~
The fearful words and gestures
roke the spell which had upheld her ,
eretofore. With one piercing shrek
he sprang from him, and as he stood
4 the doorway, ran to the window /;
ut ere she cOllId raisa IL tho maniac ,