Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-19

the lanulOfu, rs ne came 10 inc uOOf 10
welcome us, seemed n qu ct. good-nat-
urod looking man. He showed Hs to
our rooms, and served CIR supper in a
lofty chamber whose windows looked
out upon tho sea, that already began 20
moan through the rocky caves and
passes with the restless motion that
foretells a rising storm.
After supper my Sergeant strolled
down to the village to see his men and
arrange about getting them together in
the morning; and the landlord, with
whom he had struck up an acquaint-
ancc, accompanied him to show him the
persons he required. Before leaving the
house he said something TO my comrade
in Welsh.
''He says, sir" said the Sergeant, sa-
luting, "that he hopes you won't mind
being left alone in the house for an
hour or two. No one will intrude upon
you. There is one other gentleman
stopping here, but he is out now and
most likely won't be back till morning.
He is man who goes about with q
hammer collecting bits of rock"
"Ah, geologist," l replied. "No,
l have no objection to be left alone. l
would come down to the village with
you, but that am tired. and think |
will Just smoke pipe and 60 to bed"
This message being duly translated
to my host he made me bow and tho
two started off, shutting the door after
them. lit my pipe and made myself
comfortable with a couple of chairs by
the fire. There is no more sleepy oc-
cupation than watching tobacco smoke
curling upwards, and soon fell into q
doze. do not know how long l had
slept when was awakened by stir in
| the room and saw at once that tho
"other gentleman had returned sooner
than he was expected, and was now re-
| garding me with some interest.
He was man of about thirty-iive,
tall and well-made, dressed in thick
frieze suit, with belt of the same ma
terial round the waist. In his hand
were bag of fossils and rock speci-
mems and biologists hammer These
he laid on the table. and then came over
and shook hands with me.
II did not expect TO meet gentle
man in this out-ofth e-way place" he
said. mo one comes here unless it be
to follow such pursuits as mine, or from
love of seeing Nature unspoiled by
mans handiwork."
| was glad of some company, and told
him what had brought me there.
| II set my mind somewhat at case by
saving that, from what he had seen of
the people, no thought my task would
be simple enough; and then we drifted
into an interesting conversation. Ho
was, found, clever, well-read man,
and we got on cxcellently together, but
l noticed now and then an anxious
watching preston in bis eyes for
which could not account. was not,
however, mu h of Judge of physiog-
nomy, and did not trouble myself with
theories on the subject.
AS we were talking tho moan of the
sea grew louder aud louder. and at
length came a sudden dash of wind and
rain against tho windows. The gale
was beginning in earnest.
What followed l can scarcely expect
my readers to believe, and indeed look
ing back on it now as | sit in my cosy
quarters, with the lamp burning bright
" on the table, l could almost think
that | had been the victim OF some terri
bic Authorizations but it was real enough
TO me that night.
After the first impetuous gust of tho
storm there came pause OF stiffness
and in tho unnatural tension of the
nerves that one feels in such an mterya
of expectancy heard. rs clearly as evcl
j heard anything in my life, woman |
vol outside the window crying in ;
wailing tone: 40, jack, Jackr'
"She will be blown over the cliffI'
cried. what can she be doing there?
and rose to open the door.
My companion did not answer
word. glanced at him and saw tina
his face, lips and all, had paled to {
ghastly whtencss. His eyes were lixe(
upon the window with an expression o
such deadly fear as i hope l may nevel
sec again.
1t was useless TO expect help from
him, so, mentally setting him down n,
an arrant coward, l ran to tho hous,
door and opened il, intending 10 let il
the wayfarer whose voice | had heard
As | raised the latch the wind rushed
in with impetuous violence and nearl,
tore the door from my hand. A COLI
dash of mingled spray and rain strucl
me full in the face.
Come in whoever you are" ! cried
impatiently al can't hold the doc
open all night"
! There was no answer. 1 stepped out
side and looked around. There was full
: moon that night, and though the cloud
were thick there was q glimmer o
| light sufficient to sec any oh ect within
/ few yards distance. There was
: phosphorescent luster on the sea tina
cleaned brightly now and then as thu
, waves broke out on the rocks, and
, frightened sea bird almost brushed m,
: face as it flew past But of the woman
, l expected to see there was no trac,
: whatever
Puzzled and irritated / walked rounC
the house to see where she could hav,
gone, At the back of the build ne ther
, was a broad, open field, without an,
trees or shrubs that could serve as
: hiding-place. 1t seemed impossible
, that any one could have crossed it ant
got out of sight during tho few mo
. ments that had elapsed since l hear,
tho cry; nevertheless, such had evident
, ly been the case, for there was no on
there.
| l went in again and closed the door
! determined to think twice before | wen
TO the trouble of opening it again
7 whoever might demand admittance
} My companion was sitting Just as / lei
5 him, with tho same look on his face.
, spoke to him twice, but received n
: answer. Fearing ho might be in a fit
2 went over to him and raised his arm.
| felt stiff and unnatural / went to tn
$ table for some water, intending to das
it in his face and rouse him ii possible
| Hardly had l made step forwar
4 a,.1 hAf
1 sounded once more from without. Thi
. time there was no MISLEADING the intens
l agony of the tone. had never hear
: anything in the least like it and
a rooted me to the spot where stood
l The words it spoke were. "Come, como
s comet" three times repeated.
4. To my great surprise, the man ha
Y believed in dangerous fit rose an
moved toward the door can scarcel