Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-27
NO. 229
Gales and Sketehes.
A NIGHT INVASION.

IL was on chilly day in October, and
my mother had just started for Deane,
where lived my married sister Esther.
1t was case of another baby. The
summons had come at O'Clock In the
morning; and after the pallid discomft of
an early breakfast and the hustle of pack
ing up and packing off our dear good little
mother. we began to feel rather unhinged
and weary, with long day yet to dispose
OF on our hands. By II o'clock we had
resolved ourselves, for the third time that
morning, into committee for calculating
from the premises based on sand, the ex-
act moment when we might hope to hear
to quote the time-honored joke-wheth-
er we were "aunts or uncles"
10 digest these ruminatons, strayed
out without my hat to the little orchard on
the slope, for the weather, until to-day,
had been mild, and we had not given up
our summer habits. The apples had not
all been gathered in. and amused myself
by picking up those that had fallen in the
night, waging war as did so with the
wasps that had been before me in the
field.
Great masses of clouds were lifting their
crests to the northwest, and the wind had
begun to rise. There was still some blue
sky visible, but it was deeper in color than
belongs by right to an October sky.
Alter studying the weather signs, with
my apples gathered in my dress, re-en-
tered the house almost in hurry; and
there was Margery lifting up her voice in
tones OF trouble and wiping her eyes with
her apron, while Helen and Lucy sat lis
tening to her.
They were in the dining-room, Lucy
seated on the table with her feet on
chair, and my sister in more decorous
attitude.
"lrs jest as if it came on purpose"
Margery was saying, "tor me to be leayin'
you the minute my missis' back is turned
And would not do it neither if Ruth was
TO be trusted-but she isn't; and the old
oomen may go between our hands if she
hasn't bit OF comfort. So, with your
leave, Miss Murry, I'll get the dinner as
soon as possible and be of" La .2
Yes certainly" said my sister, land
we will see to the clearing of dinner our
selves, Margery we would not wish you
to delay further"
well. thank you kindly. Put the
things anywhere, young ladies', and I'd
better send up little Sally as pass she'll
see after you bit, and answer the door il
any one comes. I'll be back by 10 o'clock,
II walking hard will bring me, and you'll
know my knock from any one else's at the
back door and not be frightened.
Margerys mother the old 'ooman allu-
ded to, bad fallen down and broken her
arm. She had come into the dining-room
to announce her plans rather than to ask
our permission, and the trouble of leaving
us alone evidently disturbed her more
than the cause for it. 1t seemed a breach
OF the confidence my mother reposed in
her, and we were little more than nurs-
!ings in her eyes.
We lived at that time at the Hermitage,
q small, lonely house that had the recon-
mendation to our slender and reduced re-
sources of a modest rent. And Margery
would have been offended at being sup
posed to require another "hand" that it
became quite out of the question to think
OF proposing it.
Lucy LennoX was our cousin. living
with us occasionally. She was very pref
ty; and so was Helen, in secondary de-
gree, more than balanced in my eyes by
strong background of good sense, for
which Lucy was not remarkable. As to
myself, they generally said / had the
brains of the family. Margery despaired,
and Lucy and undertook the task of put
ting away the dinner things making Helen
sit still.
The wind had risen considerably, and
howled wildly about the house. Helen
and | got out some plain sewing, but Lucy
sat at her ornamental. tape work. Sally
did not come. We supposed she was un-
able to, and took it philosophically.
Our tongues went as fast as our needles
at first, and when or why it was our spirits
first began to flag it would be difficult to
say. think the weather must have been
partly to blame. Short, stormy showers
OF rain swept at intervals against the win
dows, and the wind had risen to a perfect
hurricane; whole boughs from the orchard
were borne along on the eddying current;
the more exposed trees bent to the wind.
On the lawn graceful, sleek looking fir
tree, of which we were all fond, after sun
dry warning heaves of the ground about
it, that reminded one OF the struggles OF
sinking ship at sea, tore up its roots with
one convulsve effort and fell PROSTATE be-
tore our eyes. 1t really was quite depress-
ing, in spite of the excitement of the thing:
especially when slate or two began to
slide from the roof.
Tea. But not a very cheerful party sit
ting down to it. The meal could not be
prolonged forever, and the evening drew
on. 1t seemed a long time yet before
Margery would come.
Lucy sat down on stool near the fire,
signing at intervals. | made endless mis-
takes In my knitting, and was bothered
over the picking up. Helen read aloud
to us; but as the wind roared in the CHM
ney and around the house, she lost her
place so often, and read with so many
pauses, that the book was put up. An
unwise move; tor TO sit listening to the
wind beginning aiar off, gathering
strength, and coming nearer, nearer to
the final burst against our fortress, was to
challenge nervous depression.
One such blast, louder and stormier
than any before, had just broken its force
making US all shiver, when suddenly, act
ing on nerves like an electric shock, there
sounded through the house very violent
peal of the door-bell.
"Oh, good gracious ~ cried Lucy, COW
ering her face with her hands. IL know
we shall all be murdered r. An irrelevant