The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-02-15
AN EVENING CALL.

We lived in the far, far West, in a
little settlement called Siam Town.
My grandfather was named Ozias
Steele, and as he was deacon in the
church, he generally received that title.
| was called the deacon's little Becky.
lad been born in Maine, but when my
parents died my grandfather crossed
the continent, and brought me back
with him. He carried me all the way
in flat basket, filled with cotton bat
ting, which he held ON his knees. He
often told me how he walked into the
hotels or taverns where he stopped with
me for luggage, and how much interest
| excited. ! was only three months
old, and | found mother at every
resting place. Since then he had been
all to me, and as | remembered nothing
else, was perfectly happy At six
teen had had my schooling, and had
settled down to he his housekeeper,
under the tuition OF our one servant,
Sally Wells e3t5 gs
It was still night, following beau
tiful day. AS sat at my window l
could hear all the insect voices hard at
work-criclet, katydid and locust and
the queer little tree-toad. Away in the
heart of the old woods screech-owl
was hooting. Down in the town the
bellswere ringing for evening meeting,
which they held on Wednesday.
Grandfather was gone 10 chur h. He
had taken old Widow Glenn NO and her
daughter with him, and the buggy
would hold no more. So staid ut
home. Sally had gone to get some
= pnl of fIn Hfx, L
alone. didn't mind it, / had never
known what it was TO be AFRAID OF soli-
tude, thougha crowI would have fright
ened me- sss ef,rtfa
The room was our sitting-room, 1t
was early in October, and the windows
w,re open, but there was little log
fire on the hearth.
A lamp, with q green paper shade,
decorated by adesign representing three
little kittens eating a pound cake, stood
ON the table; near it my work basket.
The chairs had rush-bottoms, with the
exception of two Boston rocking chairs
with chintz cushions; an engraving OF
me battle OF Bunker Hill, portrait ol
Washington, and some family photo
graphs hung on the wall, which was
covered with a pale-gray paper with O
pink flower upon it. A clock and two
vases stood on the mantel-pieoe, rae
carpet was on the floor, and a secretary
and bookcase combined filled one re-
cess. We had best paelor, which wa,
busted every Saturday, but we never
thought of using it.
telt very lazy that evening, and
lsough had egun a very pretty sort
q tape trimming, had no desire to take
u up ] looked Mt the stars that
Iwlnkled and shone so brightly; at the
splendid planet shining over the distant
mountain peak. / heard a brook bab
ollng in the hollow, and l fancied aftei
awhile, when the church bells had done
ringing, that | heard some nnusua
sounds-men's voices calling to eacl
otper far away, and saw lights now anC
then IN the fringe OF woods that covereC
me hill. Belated drovors, perhaps,
urging their cattle on to a safe stopping
pace, or wo)d-cutters who intended C
camp out, to be ready for their worl
~ me morning. As | looked at the
prlght dots moving to and fro, hearC
auother sound near at hand-a crunch
ing OF ieet on the stony read, and look
ilg toward the gate / saw q man oper
i and hurry in. and come up to til,
uoor | was not surprised that h,
opened it without knocking, for peopl,
were not ceremonious there, but fel
little startled when saw that he wa.
Stranger. He was out Of breath, a
.hough he had been running. His face
o,a %as aamp with perspiration. hi
cet9es' Which wefe good otherwise,
were torn, as though. he had made III
way through thorny bushes, and it wa.
EVIDENT that he was listening intently
!, l. yooi heard something; what. Ihardl,
as soon as he could do so he spoke.
Are you alone in the house. yorn.
lads2s, he said 1s = "a so' III sssssI s'i'.' :
Yes answered. is z !,
t,,.tor Gods sake, tell me where / cal
nae alees he said. as.The lyncherss ar
IhasW what 10 msapt Il.uacwg, TOO tx,