The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-02-14
hen we will have tea in our cosv little

villa with hne garden.
Things went on quietly enough at
Lookout villa for another couple of
years. Mrs. loft had not been blessed
by children, as Richard had hoped,
and the old man was good deal
thereat still he lived in
hope, and seemed fonder than ever of
his young wife. By-and-by the rumor
went about that he had sent for Law
yer Emlyn to make his will-he had
always been very stubborn against
wills and presently, when
Mrs. En4lyn toiled up Lockout hill to
visit Mrs. Toft-the Emlyns mad never
before visited at that house-and
some time after invited her to spend a
quiet evening in the High street,
everybody shrewdly surmised how the
will was made, and judged that the
property disposed of was not incon-
siderable.
Meantime the Peruvia, the good ship
that had sailed away that fine summers
evening, had been heard of more than
once. She had not been spoken, how
ever, later than the last October, when
she had left Kurachee with the north.
east monsoon for the Red Sea, intend.
ing to come home by Suez and the
Mediterranean. Any day she might
return, any day might witness William
Black stride up Lookout hill; any one
of the white-winged ships that dotted
the horizon might be the one that
heart sore Alice was secretly longing
to see. He had been very good; he
had not written to her sister-she had
forbidden him to do so, and he had
obeyed her; and yet if he knew how
she longed to hear he was safe-after
all, it was better not.
Mr.. Toft was breaking a little, PEG
pie said. He was no longer as active
as he had been only short year since.
He rarely came down into the town
now, and when he did it was pitiable
to seen him toillng back up the hull,
making believe the ascent was not
painful to him, He had been used to
come each morning to the reading
room; bit now he had given that up,
and had the Times sent up to him on
the next day after publication.
One summer evening, her husband
had been poorly all day, and Alice had
been constantly employed in attending
him, but now lie had gone to sleep,
she put on her things and went down
into the town to make a few purchases,
intending to spend half an hour with
Mrs. Emiyn, to enjoy gossip with
that lively conversible lady
Down the hill she went, the cool sea-
breeze tanning her parched cheeks.
The evening was divine, and the sea
was stretched before her III long golden
swathes, the murmur of it sounding
gently in her ears. Ships were stir
ring; some outward-bound were heav-
ing at their anchors, and the well-re-
membered sailors song came softly
over the waters; some homeward-
bound were making for their anchoring
grounds with full-bellied sails. She
strained her eyes, and fancied that now
this and now that might be the long
expected Peruvia But not there
would be no doubt then, her heart
would tell her at once, "That is Viii.
liam's ship"
The sun was getting low, and she
fastened quickly down the hill. She
met sundry towns-people she knew by
sight, and nodded to them a good
natured greeting they turned and
looked at her, and watched her down
the hill. How rude people are get
ting" she thought "There was a time
when these would all have touched
their hats to the wife of the ship
owner"
At each shop she visited she noticed
something strange about the people,
Mr.. Meagre, the draper, came out OF
the little box stared at her, and Mrs
Meagre's stony visage appeared over
the glass door, sternly regarding her.
iC was the same at the other shops,
everybody looked queer.
Imagination, she told herself.
" [ feel altogether strange, and / find
my own feelings reflected in other
peoples faces. Here comes Mrs.
Emlyp."
Mrs. Emlyu came up to her and
looked at her with vacant unrecogniz-
ing gaze.
Mrs. Emlyn," she cried, how
fortunate | am to meet you"
The lady gathered together her
skirts and passed coldly on.
Oh, what have | done--whati is the
matter y cried Alice. She felt FAINT
and giddy; something dreadful had
happened. The air grew heavy and
thick all the houses in the red, quaint
High street seemed to blink at her ::
the sky was brassy and dull above
her. She was as if in dream, when
the last trumpet seems to sound, and
the universe quakes around. But it
was nothing; it could be nothing :;
Mrs. Emlyn was often queer.
But she turned round and made her
way home. Her husband was awake
and crying for her like sick child
She could do nothing tonight, but in
the morning she would go down into
the town and get to the bottom of this
mystery, if it were a mystery, and not
all delusion.
Next morning Mr.. loft was better
much better; cheerful and chirrupy.
He had his breakfast in bed, however,
and Alice took it up to him. He was
quite atfectionate over lis toast, and
loving over his egg; and by noon he
was down stairs in the sitting room
grumbling that The Times hadn't
come.
ut is here now, Richard, said his
wife, bringing him the great broad
sheet. She left him to his paper and
went on her way about household mat
ters. By-and-by she heard strange
sound III the parlor, as If somebody
had fallen. She ran into the room :;
Mr.. loft was on the floor in a heap
against his easy chair He had fallen