The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-11-12
ONE STORMY NIGHT.

A STORMY night, indeed, high upon the
lonely mountains, the rain came down in
streams, as if the sky were great sieve,
and not a ray of light found its way
through the black clouds.
The giant FIRE trees bent and swayed
in the ferEe wind. and sent their wild.
wailing voices down through gulch and
canyon to mingle with the roar of creek
and cataract, or fell below the rocks that
crashed down the mountain sides. The
terrified cattle lowed and cried in their
corrals, budding together for warmth and
sympathy.
Iu d6o.s people dfew near together,
c-owding around the hearth fires that
Ul9zed il 6tful, almost uncanny way.
In wayside inn on the mountain
road little eohipOny sat thus gathered
about an immense fireplace that glowed
and famed like bonfire, aud not con-
tent with cheering tue great room, sent
its beacon light out at the windows to de,
fly the night and the storm.
There was Mike Malone, the landlord,
and Kitty, his fat. funny wife; little Ma
ria, the Spanish Gill whom Mike and
Ki,iy Ind ''rsred;' Jake, the stable man,
and last. bccaiise th6st Important, Bat,
the French Canadian woodcutter. There
was nothing in the young fellows APP
pearance to suggest the winged horror
whose name lie bore. 1t was merely a
sobriquet for Bhptiste. Jake seldom
availed himself of the abbrevia.ion, but
slowly aud emphatically siyl,d bith Ca
nnck, usually prehAing descriptive
that had more force than elegance.
1t was ill-natured, to say the least, for
Bat was one of the kindest fellows III the
world, land the ways Of him." rs HI tS
said, " was one sthfnme of sunshine; Tut
rure," she added, u ke is tha. alous
that be cant trste him dacelt. though
Id sooner STE NJ rec quie, IN her grave
nor married tn the likes NV him. Av she's
i'll Love ~Id the Frencbmai2 There, yt
have me now. Sues that queer aud shy
that yon can never tell her mind till she
PLACES to let you know, and on this sub
ject she hasn't plazsd yet"
Aud that was qnite true, for when Bat,
blue eyes, sparkling with fin 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 bad seen the out.
springing of an answering love. though
not all Bats gallant wooing cotild bring
word of it to her lips-silent, cautious
little Maria, who doubted the gay man.
ners of this rollioking knight of the AZ.
Did ever yees listen to the loike oi
thai1" exclaimed Mike, at sudder
crashing sound.
Kitty and Bat crossed themselves fer
vently, but Jake, with unmoved, shilei
face, sat and glowed with the FIRE.
Suddenly Maria sprang up excitedly,
ats voice" she cried.
''Iudade then. its the voice of nanny
wathers," laughed Kitty, though rathel
nerveously.
"Its human voice; it is calling fol
help"
"By gOlly. its the debble them" sait
Bat.
"Dar's nobody else'll be on the road
such night like dat, I'll bet he's cal
for Jake, he added roguishly.
A deeper glover was Jakss only reply,
but soon. lifting his head, be said:
Shes right. Maree is, there is som,
one callin'."
"Out wild yefs men. till the resche,
said Kitty, seizing Mikes hat and coal
and thrusting them upon him.
Sure, ye're speakin'," said Mike rue,
fully. preparing to leave the CHEEKY
hearth.
Bat, aroused by the light In Maria'r
tiashiIg eyes, sprang up with enthusi.
asm, for, low be it spoken. his was not q
grand, heroic soul. His brave deeds
were mostly born Of impulse and nour-
ished by the appreciation of others.
Jake suddenly Joined them. but before
they reached the door it opened. and.
full in the hre-light appeared tall form
and handsome, yellow bearded face
striking picture, with the dark night foI
background.
by me sowll its the doctbef. In the
name of the onld divil, who brings ye
out in the loike o. this?'
Il don't go abroad in the DEVILS name
Mike" laughed the doctor making his
way TO the Ere, and taking the chair that
Kitty had hastsnsd to place for him.
mo more 70 dont DOcthsri it's Hiv.