Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-29
Continued from first page.


bright light around, dancing and flashing
ON The timbers. and filling the room with
a crimson oloW. | did not close the shut
ter thinking that if he did come home to-
nioht. he would like to see the CHEEKY light
in token of a welcome. went to the next
room, used rs kitchen. softly followed by
the dog, and bringing forth some candles,
lit one. had'to be sparing of them, for
nv stock was but small; but tonight, !
could not bear the shadows cast in the
corners by the Pickering of the fire. |
scarcely expected Jack. Still hope would
whisper-"lIe may come" But the hours
grew into night, and still the long-tor ar
rival did not take place.
My baby was sleeping soundly in its
cot, and Terry" the dog, lay snugly be.
fore the now cheerful fire tried to while
away the lonesome time by reading and
thinking; but my book proved tedious and
my thoughts became sad. My fears were
for Jack. I cried with sheer nervous
fright; "What, what can delay him SOL
| cried: "Oh what trouble is in store for
me? Then my better sense came to my
aid. What use in idle repining. | made
some tea and dradk it, but with little rel
ish
As / watched my sleeping infant, the
stiffness of the night was suddenly broken
by wild, unearthly yell! The wolves in
the swamp some distance off. | covered
and shrank. What if Jack, determined
on coming home, had faced the night and
those terrible foes.
Nerying myself by IA great effort, stole
to the window and fastened the shutter
tremblingly. Terry barked violently at
this moment, and awoke my baby, which
diverted my thoughts for a while, until
had petted and nursed it into another soft
slumbcr. | heaped on fresh wood. The
night was far advanced, but | could not
90 to bed. Indeed, l felt thoroughly
sleepless; and drawing my low rocking
chair to the fire, sat down. | must have
slept some time, when long, low whine
from the dog aroused me. lie was stand
ing facing the window, his ears erect. bis
hair bristling, listening attentively.
Terry, poor boy, good dog wills
pered. trembling, what is it ?"
How long the silence lasted, cannot
say all at once it seemed to me a, if some
one or thing was creeping round the shan
ty-round, slowly feeling its way. There
was crunchng sound in the snow, at
first faint, now quite distinct With a
fierce bark he dashed forward to the door.
At this moment, on the glass on the win
dow, came violent rapping-a rapping,
it seemed, of human fingers smothered
shrek and sank on my knees. Then
again, Jack came before nae, and | APP
preached the easement. But the loud
barking of the dog and the crying OF the
awakened child stified all other sound.
opened the shutter, and raising the screen,
looked into the darkness | recoiled with
shrek A white face was pressed against
the glass on the outside-a face SO wild
and CHASTITY that it looked nothing of this
world. Involuntarily, | glanced at the
window again. 1t was there still F.! Then.
tapping on the pane, hands stroye TO open
the sash. With yell, Terry sprang for
ward; but / caught him ere he could break
through the window, and the face disap-
peared. But now at the door the knock
ing was repeated. Holding back the dog,
bent my ear to the chink and listened.
LET me in. for Gods sake. moaned Il
hoarse, voice. "Im dying man; let me
die in the light Woman. woman. | beg
of you; let me in! y
WHO are you % ! asked. DO know
you? ?"
''Let me in. am dying, He is hunt
ing me!' he screamed; and them as il
seemed, fell, for felt the door shake rs
if he had clutchedit.
1.-The wolves are after him thought.
and hesitating not an instsnt, undid the
fastening and opened the door. He had
fallen and lay across the threshold as ii
dead. Kneelng down lifted his head
he was not insensible. At first thought
i, was drink that allied him. but his face
disproved that. Ii was pincnrd aad white
and like the face Of dying man, rs h,
had called himself. helped him 10 a sit
ting posture. then TO his feet He stag
gered in, and sank down again when he
reached the hearth His hands We're be-
numbed; his teeth chartered with cold,
and his clothes were wet and torn. Alto
gether he looked the picture Of wrctchrd-
ness and misery. His wild eyes were Nv
eted on the door.
'.Shut.it," he whispered. keep hin.
out, for
Iquickly closed the door and fastened
it. Then, giving him little cordial, it
revived him greatly.
my poor fellow, are Nou hciter:' He
nodded
The fires heat seemed to make him
drowsy; so, getting a blanket and SO sc
skins. made him kind Of bed He At
down obcdiently, and gradually saw hi,
was not frightened now. The man before
me could not have injured a child, were
he SO inclined. Worn to a mere skeleton,
the wreck OF once powerful man lay
there. As the light fell on his face, saw
that he must once have possessed no ord-
nary portion of goods. His beard was
grizzled though he was not past the prime
Of life but toll and hardship, and, to Judge
from the sunken eyes and iurrowed brow,
care and sorrow too, had done their work.
pitied him, and was glad that no cow
ardly fear had caused "A refusal to his en-
treaty for admission. Poor fellow those
sinewy hands, feeble as baby's now.
spoke of hard work, a life spent in outdoor
toll. l anxiously looked for morning, as
well as the return of my husband While
enduring this sad vigil the stranger whom
had sheltered suddenly burst into excla-
nations, like the rawlings of mailman.
'keep him out--keep him out Don't
you hear him?" The man sitting up,
pointing with extended finger. Keep
of" he cried; keep off. Your time is