Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-11-08


brelIa, for by that time a fine drizzle
was falling, and soon was seated bv a
cheerful fire in the oblong room knew
so well, with its cases of specimens
from every part of the globe and It's huge
bouquet OF pink coral over the chimney
piece. | had already learned from An
drew that the Professor and his wife were
not at home, having been called to a
distant part of the State by the sudden
illness of their daughter, but Hanah
rehearsed the whole matter, and while
lamenting the sad necessity of their 90
ing, assured me it would in no way in
terfere with the comfort of my stay.
In the days gone by had been a
faYOrite with Hannah, and when, after
supper, she showed me to my room, I
found evidences of the old-time regard
still surrounding me. A bright fire
burned in the fireplace, an easy-chair
stood waiting before it; and the thick,
rich-colored curtains at the windows,
the soft carpet on the floor, and the bed,
with its snow white coverings, made as
coy nest as one could wish to slip
into after a long and tiresome days
journey.
But, though I had had much ado to keep
my eyes open during Hannah's kind,
but prOsy, talk, every inclination to
sleep departed when that worthy woman
babe me goodnight, and was at last
left alone with my thoughts.
Some book shelves hung against the
wall at one side of the fireplace, and on
examining their contents, l found q
curious melange of medical, scientific
and philosophical works from which,
out Of some whim, 1 chose the crab
bedest and least comprehensive, in
the mazes of which l so completely
lost myself that clock striking twelve
in long, measured strokes, recalled me
to myself, and to the knowledge that I
was, at least, very sleepy. The wind
had risen, and now walled around the
house, seeming to have chosen the recess
under mywest window in which to play
its widest pranks. l could hear it com
ing through the trees with the sound of
a distant waterfall, then growing nearer
and louder it would, with one angry
swoop, leap into this corner, shrieking
like demon, and making the window
rattle as if a giant had caught it in his
grasp, then dying away in a hollow
moan that sounded in that midnight
hour inexpressibly mournful and human
like.
went to the window, drew the
curtain aside and looked out. The
mists had become condensed with
masses of vapory clouds, and in all
kinds of fantastic shapes were flying
wildly across the moon, which, at inter
walls, burst into mOmentarY splendOr,
only to plunge with frantic haste into
the next dim mass that threatened her.
A mile away the huge mass of the uni
versity buildings rose darkly against a
chaotic background of black and gray
In another direction, but still in the
range of vision, a church-steeple lifted
stately from sea of silvery mist.
From under the window a rOsebush
reached bare beseeching arms, and
beat against the windOw-panes as if de-
handing entrance into the light and
warmth within. All this stress and
strain of the elements wearied me, and,
half afraid of the lonely place and hour,
l hastily undressed, put out my light,
and got into bed. A lull in the noises
outside accompanied this act of mine,
but in moment or two they began
again with renewed fury. My last con
fused thought was that some mighty
preparations were going on. Some
great reckoning was about to be ushered
the wild wind, my soul seemed to lose
its hold on earthly things and to float
away toward the unknown.
When I awoke it was broad daylight,
indeed the morning was quite advanced.
A delicious warmth filled the room, al
though the fire had gone out hours be-
recess was wide open. My first glance
foil 4bo yoI
! to see that the bare and shivering rose
bush of the night before was now thick
clothed with buds and full-blOwn roses.
crowding thick upon the windOw-sill
| and turning glowing faces toward me
like happy children at play. The heavy
windOw-curtains were also gone. dainty
white draperies having taken their
place, but before could look for further
changes within, the scene outside
claimed my astonished gaze.
From my position. as from some
aerial height, l beheld a glorious sweep
fhill and dale, lit up here and there by
the flash of waters, and bounded at the
horizon by a swelling line of hills fair
as the Detachable Mountains. Har-
mOnious sounds foated on the air, and I
caught the CLEAN of sunlight on sail;
woods and flowers, wandered in and
out of the room; a solitary bee buzzed
among the roses, and voiced the
Heavenly calm of the place.
Too wonder-struck to move, lay
with my arms crossed above my head,
trying to account for the marvellous
transformation around me. I went
over in careful detail every incident of
nv journey of the d9V before I 70
called the ride from the depot, my ar
rival at the house, my conversation
with Andrew and Hannah, and my
subsequent lonely vigil in that very room
with no other cOmpanionship than the
vagaries of an obsolete philosopher and
the ghostly tapping of the rosebush on
the pane. That rosebush, which re-
allied again with thrill that went
through me like an electric shock, was
now pouring out upon me the breath of
re b10ry,1