The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-18


high cliff. which seemed almost to
overhang the sea below; and. between
the door and the verge of the perpen-
dicular descent, unguarded by fence or
rail, nothing interviewed but patch of
grass, blackened and withcred by the
spray cast up by the westerly gales of
the equinox, and not more than four
yards wide. Why the bu lder should
have selected such a spot was not easy
to say. Perhaps he was man who
loved the wild moods of tho ocean, aud
found them harmonic with those of
his own soul. 1t looked the very place
for some terrible scene of midnight
murder and violence, such as SO often
happened in the old smuggling days.
The house itself was good one, and
the landlord, as he came to the door to
welcome us, seemed quiet, good-nat-
ured looking man. He showed us.t
our rooms, and served our supper in
lofty chamber whose windows looked
| out upon the sea, that already began 20
moan through the rocky caves and
passes with the restless motion that
foretells 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-
ance, 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, shat 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 a
hammer collecting bits of rock"
"Ah, geologist," l replied. "No.
1 have no objection to be left alone. 1
| would come down to the village with
YOU, but that / am tired, and l think I
will Just smoke pipe and go to bee"
This message being duly translated
to my host he made me bow and the
two started off, shutting the door after
them. l lit my pipe and made myself
comfortable with couple of chairs by
\ the fire. There is no more sleepy &C.
| cupation than watching tobacco smoke
curling upwards, and soon fell into a
doze. l do not know how long had
slept when l was awakened by a stir in
the room and saw at once that the
.'other gentleman had returned sooner
than he was expected. and was now re-
garding me with some interest.
He was 4 man of about thirty-fiye,
| 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 geologist's hammer. These
he laid on the table. and then came over
and shook hands with me.
81 did not expect to meet gentle
man in this out-of-the-way place." he
said. mo one comes here unless it be
to follow such pursuits As mine. or from
a love of seeing Nature unspoiled by
| mans handiwork."
was glad of some company. and told
him what had brought me there.
He set my mind somewhat at ease by
saying thai, from what he had seen of
| the people, he thought my task would
be simple enough; and then we drifted
into an interesting conversation. He
was, / found. a clever, well-read man,
and we got on ex, ellently together, but
/ noticed now and then an anxious
watching expression 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 the moan of the
sea grew louder aud louder, and at
length came sudden dash OF wind and
rain against the windows. The gale
was beginning in earnest.
What followed can scarcely expect
my readers to believe, and indeed, look
ing back on it now as l sit in my cosy
quarters, with the lamp burning bright
" on the table. could almost think
that had been the victim OF some terri
BILE hallucination; but it was real enough
TO me that night.
After the first impetuous gust of the
storm there came a pause of stiffness.
and in TIE unnatural tension of the
nerves that one feels in such an interval
of expectancy / heard, as clearly as ever
/ heard anything in my life, a woman S
voice outside the window crying in a
waiting tone: 90, Jack, Jackn'
"She will be blown over the.cliffr'
cried. "What can she be doing there?"
and rose to open the door.
My companion did not answer a
word. l glanced at him and saw that
his face, lips and all, had paled to a
CHASTITY whiteness. His eyes were fixed
upon the window with an expression OF
such deadly fear as hope l may never
see again.
It was useless to expect help from
him, so, mentally setting him down as
an arrant coward, l ran to the house
door and opened it, intending to let in
the wayfaror whose voice l had heard
| AS raised the latch the wind rushed
in with impetuous violence and nearly
tore the door from my hand. A cold
dash of mingled spray and rain struck
me full in the face.
''Come in whoever you are," cried
impatiently. 81 can't hold the door
open all night.
| There was no answer. stepped out
side and looked around. There was full
moon that night, and though the clouds
were thick there was a glimmer OF
light sufficient to see any OBJ .ect within
few yards distance. There was 8
phosphorescent luster on the sea thai
cleaned brightly now and then as the
waves broke out on the rocks, and q
frightened sea bird almost brushed my
face as it flew past. But of the woman
expected to see there was no trace
whatever.
Puzzled and irritated walked round
the house to see where she could have
gone At the back of the build ng there
was broad. open field, without any
trees or shrubs that could serve as 3
\ b;diprpIaca II seerued impoSsihle