The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1884-06-13

last darkcning room. They had no
occupation but 20 await the coming up
of the water. and they were strangers
who had never 80 much n bcheld each
Others face By full daylight The wind
and the water went sweeping BY outside.
and IN the house were ghoslly sounds II
doors and windows stcalthily tried and
shaken.
Had We not better 20 up 10 tho At
tic while we can?" asked the man. by
and BY.
She asscntcd. and they went inward
70 the dark core of the house. The inky
solitude below was full Of creakings
and rustlings; above shonc square ri
yellow light. revealing steep ladder.
a lighted lantern had been left for them
in the attic. together with food and
warm wrappings.
II will fetch the lantern" said he,
and swung himself quickly upward.
She stood below. holding fast 10 the
side ~ the ladder. His quick stcp
sounded above her head. the light shift
cd and frightened. she saw his face in
quick illumination: then the light
whirlcd toward and beyond her. down.
down into the darkness and flashed
upon the stairs. Her breath stood still;
she had sickcning feeling Of being
left alone. Assurance Of her compan-
ions safety reached her. however. in
the form Of an imprecation, checked.
indeed. but hearty. uttered about two
net above her.
The handle Of the lantern was loose. "
said he, as he came to her level. iii
20 down and fetch II up"
"No. don't II is too dark. Please
don't! let US go up"
She had found his arm in the dark
ness and held him back. In the dark
ness, which was much the blacker for
that brief interposition Of light. they
made their way into the attic. and
crossing il carefully. afraid OF the low
roof. afraid Of unseen stumbling blocks.
afraid q returning upon the yawning
aperture. made their way 10 the gray
square 81 the window. Here they found
large box. upon which they sat down.
They spoke but little; there were SO few
things left worth uttcrance in such an
hour as this. BY and by. as their eyes
grew accustomed 70 the dimness. they
di-cerncd the general character Of their
surroundings. There was a table
near them with food; there were boxes
and bundles and couple Of old pict-
ures. brought up hiiher apparently
when the tide began to rise. In the
middle lay the black square through
which they had made entrance: at the
far end rough heap OF straw was dimly
distinguished. and from this came rest
less cravings, scrapings and rustIings.
causing the woman 10 shrink and shud-
der.
II suppose they are rats" she said
once. when tire sounds grew louder.
II suppose 50; DO you mind very
much?r
mo. II we could only see them.
Again for while they were silent,
hearing the little sounds within and the
evcr-increasing sounds without
AT last the man stood up. and pass
ing his hand across bis face. said: s.Oh.
this i very cnld-blooded! They used
% torture witches %, fixed % q stake,
when the tide was coming up"
He moved to and fro impatiently and
stood still BY tn table.
"Conld you not eat something's
mo. thank yon.'
He broke himself piece of bread.
and returning 70 the window. ate few
mouthfuls. He pushed open the lattice
and leaned out
The water was rising rapidly. and
was already washing on the window Of
the room below. He turned back to-
ward her . face Of dismay; hers as she
sat within the room was not clearly
visible. but her attitude was calm and
undisturbcd. He sighed. and came
back quickly 10 sit beside her. But his
qmictness was Of short duration. He
, asked. after few minutes: Would
you not like 20 20 out upon the roof
We shall have 70 do II sooner or later,
and don't think we should feel quite
% much imprisoned.
'Oh yes. let rs 90. Is there trap
door,
II don't think there il. looked Just
now: But ! can get up through the
window the roof Il close above and
then ! can help YOU"
He set his foot on the window-sill.
and thrust his head and shoulders
through the narrow opening. .'Oh
YES. il Is quite easy. But how il blowsi
We had better have some Of those
shawls. "
She brought them and handed them
out, watched him draw himself up, and
then mounted in her turn from box 70
window-lcdgc. and. reaching her hands
upward. found herself lifted safely To-
the summit.
The surge of wind and water was
terrific: her hat was blown away ut
once and she was blinded BY her hair.
When she had freed her face and drawn
up her shawl over her head she was
able 70 perceive tina. the roof was
formed Of two long parallel gables, and
that between them, at each end.
stack of chimncys rose from . solid
platform. They went forward 70 the