Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-04-05

"Thank you, ma am" said Popkins;
and to himself, 81 wonder what's in
the wind now" for, though the words
were conciliatory, there was no relenting
in the eye.
The next day the mystery was made
plain; the carpenter came and put up O
hen-house of rough pine boards, close
by the fence which divided the two es-
tates, almost beneath the window of
Mr.. Merridews sleeping apartment.
"Now he'll know when it's time to
get up in the morning." said Miss Pen
niman.
If the unsightliness Of the structure
and the sounds of Growing and cack-
ling which proceeded from it sometimes
proved annoying to her own eyes and
ears, she rejoiced in the fact as an evi-
dence of the still greater annoyance
they were causing her neighbor. "a.
There was an end to to the inter-
change of messages, and ostensibly of
all communication between the two
households; for if Popkins occasionally
helped Suky drive her cows from pas
ture, or flung his tender compliments
over the garden gate, or escorted her
home from evening meeting, neither
party felt called upon to report the same
to their superiors.
As for Waggle, he so resented the
treatment he had received that he stayed
at home of his own accord, as might
have been expected Of dog of any
spirit.
A November storm was raging. The
The fierce blast howled round the cor
ners of the house, roared in the Chin
neys, and drove the sleet against the
window-panes.
cts an awful night" said Miss Pen
niman, shuddering, and drawing her
worsted shawl more closely about her.
" An awful night"
"That it u.s." said Suky Ann, who
had come to the purlor for the sake of
companionship, and was crouching on
a rug before the fire. "My granny
used to say there was witches abroad
on such a night as this .i4.
Witches, child! I hope you're not
so silly as to believe in witches? Good
Lord! What was that?" And Miss
Penniman started to her feet, for a
heavy blow on the front door had sent
it flying back on it's hinges, while O
blast swept through the halls and up
the staircase with sound as of thous-
and wind-harps, bassons and drums, all
mingled in one mighty chorus. It was
a relief to distinguish, amid the din,
the stamping of boots. suggestive as it
was of human agency; then the parlor
door was flung open, and q man stood
before them.
"Popkinsw exclaimed both women
in one breath, as he threw back the
cloak in which he was enveloped.
excuse my unceremoniOus en-
trance" said he, addressing Miss Pen
niman; the cause is an urgent one.
I've come to ask your help"
Z" In what way ?"
"By going with me on an errand of
mercy"
"To whom? ?"
"My master"
"And why should I leave my comfort
able home on this stormy night to
oblige one who has never shown any
kindness to me?' ...
Because, madam, he's dying"
"Dying"
There was something in the simplicity
of the answer, rs contrasted with Pop
kins' usual grandiloquence, that touched
Miss Penniman in spite of herself.
"Suky Ann, bring my Polish boots
and waterproof" said she.
Suky obeyed without a word, and
having helped to put them on, throw a
shawl over her own hood.
"What! are you going, too?"
"I can't be left here alone" said
Suky.
"Silly girl! Well, come; we may
need your help"
A few moments of buffeting the storm,
and the trio gained the shelter of Mr..
Merridew's roof. As they entered the
parlor, Waggle, recognizing his former
enemies, sprang toward them, gnash-
ing his teeth with rage; but quickly
by some subtle instinct that
they had come to help, not harm, he
quietly retreated to his old position by
the fireside.
1t was a large, dimly lighted room in
which Miss Penniman now found her
self, chiefly redolent, as she did not
even then fail to observe, of stale
tabacco smoke. On sofa, in q remote
corner of the room, lay middle-aged
gentleman, wrapped up in a crimson
dressing-gown. His iron-gray hair fell
loosely over the pillow, his face was
ghastly pale, his eyes closed, and his
hands folded on his breast. White,
shapely hands they were, with large
seal ring on the little finger of one Of
them.
"Deadw whispered Popkins, with
look of horor.
Fainted,' said Miss Penniman, her
fingers on his wrists. " Brandy: A
teaspoon. Compton. Battle his fore
head"
With a breyity and conciseness which