Middletown transcript., 1881-04-29
ONE STORMY NIGHT.
BY JULIA H. S. BUGEIA.
A stormy NIGHT. indeed

sky were great sieve, and not ray o.
light found it's way through its blacl
clouds. The giant fir-trees bent an(
swayed in the fierce wind, and sent theil
wild, wailing voices down through gulch
and canon to mingle with the roar Of
creek and cataract, or fell before the
rocks that crashed down the mountain
Sides The terrified cattle lowed and
cried in their corrals, hudling together
for warmth and sympathy. Indoors
people drew near together, crowding
around the hearth fires that blazed in a
titful, almost uncanny way.
In a wayside inn, on the mountain
road, a little company sat thus gathered
about an immense fireplace that glowed
and famed like bonfire, and not con-
tent with cheering the great room sent
its beacon-light out at the windows to
defy the night and the storm.
There was Mike Malone, the landlord,
and Kitty, his fat, funny wife; little
Maria, the Spanish girl whom Mike and
Kitty had ''rared y Jake, the stable
man, and last, because the most i'm
portant, ''Bat, . the French Canadian
wood-cutter. There was nothing in the
young fellows appearance to suggest
the winged horror whose name he bore.
1t was merely sobriquet for Baptiste.
Jake seldom availed himself of the
abbreviation, but, slowly and emphati-
cally, styled him "Canuck," !" usually
prefxing descriptive that had more
force than elegance. 1t was ill-natured,
to say the least, for Bat was one of the
kindest fellows in the world, and the
ways Of him, as Kitty said, twas wan
sthrame o. sunshine; but sure" she
added, Jake is that jealous that he
can't trate him dacent, though I'd
sooner see Maree quiet in her grave nor
married to the likes av him. AY she's
in love wild the Frenchman There We
have me now. She's that quare and
shy, Maree is, that ye niver can tell her
mind till she PLACES to let ye know, and
on this subject she hasn't PLACED yit. >
And that was quite true, for when
Bats blue eyes, sparkling with fun and
deep with the light of love, beamed upon
the little dark-eyed beauty, her long
lashes swept her cheeks sometimes not
until the quick eyes Of Jake had seen
the outspringing of an answering love,
though not all Bats gallant wooing
could bring word of it to her lips
silent, cautious little Maria, who doubt
ed the gay manner Of this rollocking
knight Of the ak.
''Did ever yees listen to the loike o.
that y exclaimed Mike, at a sudden
crashing sound.
Kitty and Bat crossed themselves fer
vently, but Jake, with unmoved, sullen
face, glowered at the fire. Suddenly
Maria sprang, excitedly, "Itis a voice y
she cried.
''Indade, thin, it's the voice of nanny
wathers, I" laughed Kitty, though rather
cts human voice it is calling for
help"
"By golly, it's de debble den,'' said
Bat. "Dat's nobody helse'll be on de
road such a night like dat. I'll bet he's
call for Jake, ? he added roguishly.
A deeper glover was Jake's only re-
ply, but soon, lifting his head, he said
"She's right, Maree is ther is some
one callin'.'
s'Out wild yees, men, till the rescue II
cried Kitty, seizing Mixes hat and
coat and thrusting them upon him.
"Sure ye're spakin' p said Mike, rue
fully preparing to leave the CHEEKY
hearth.
Bat, aroused by the light in Maria's
flashing eyes, sprang up with enthusi-
asm, for, low be it spoken, his was not
a grand heroic soul. His brave deeds
were mostly born of impulse and nour-
ished by the appreciation of others.
Jake sullenly Joined them, but before
they reached the door it opened, and
full in the freight appeared tall form,
and handsome, yellow bearded face-a
picture, with the dark night
for background.
'By me sowl, it's the docther. In
the name O. the ovid divil, who brings
We out in the loike o. this ~
II don't go abroad in the divil's
name, Mike" laughed the doctor, ma
king his way to the fire, and taking the
chair that Kitty had hastened to place
for him.
''No more ye don't docther it's hiv-
ems own servant ye are, )" she said ear
nestly. Bestir yersilf, Mike, and bring
him somethin' hot to drink, for, indade,
docther, ye're the color of ghost.
''I've had pretty tough time to get
mere, ana a rev minutes ago was more
likely to arrive at the bottom of the
gulch, where my poor horse is now.''
The Doctors voice trembled, and his
eyes were wet with not unmanly tears,
for, as the little company well knew,
The horse was a pet and beauty.
"Ah woes the night p walled Kitty,
Yen niver find betther baste nor
wan-and so proud he samed
to bear ye, the poor faithful crature p
eyes, we've pulled through many a
5ough place together, and he never
iinched nor failed me. The almost
human cry he gave when he went down
hat horrible place viii ring in my ears
rs long as live, . said the doctor, shud-
iering. "But who's going to show me
he way to Fraser'sP ? There's trail
,ver the mountain, isn't there ?''
'Begorry, there was wan, - said Mike,
with great hesitation, ''but very divil
If way yen foin it llowLthe traas do
lie crackin' and fallin' and the rocks a