Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-03-12

knuckles.
The light was moved, and woman's
voice said:
'Is that YOU. iather p
No. / answered. Il am a stranger.
I have been overtaken by the storm,
and beg you 10 give me shelter for the
night
Il am sorry,' was the startling reply,
but it is impossible y
.Imuossible y I repeated. with an inn
patient kick at the door. My good
woman, you cannot know what you are
saying. Why, it is certain death to me
to refuse to admit me p
Some low indstibct words were the
only answer my outburst received.
For Heavon's sake l cried, return
iny to the attack. 'let me in till MORN
ing! want neither focd nor drink,
only a roof to rolsct mo fiom the
weather.
There was the rafting Of chain. The
door was thrown open, and a woman o,
with her head muffled in shawl, ap'
peare1 before me.
Il must apologize said, as courte'
ously as my chattering teeth would al
low, for my unceremoDious request.
But you see for yourself what sort OF a
Dightltis.'
Yes, 1 see,' she returned slowly /;
then relucantly-'YOu had better come
in
l did not stay for more gracious ln-
vitauou, but, shaking myself free from
the snow which had collected on my
outer garments, followed her over the
threshold. No svoner was | inside she
shut the door. taste ned the chain and
slipped a great rustic bolt, apd, going
20 The window, put up a shutter before
it.
Then she turned to me and said, in
low, hurried tones:
Il will give you the shelter you ask ;
but it be but poor and ccmiortless
ore, for my father and-and others Will
be home pre- sently, and they must not
find YOU here. You see that trap door,
she ontiuucd, pointing to one Of the
rude raf!ered ceihng-'it leads to lott.
There you will be safe. 1 will give you
a wrap or two, and, at the worst, it IS
better than being out Of doors on such
a dreadful night as this. But you must
not in any way betray your presence
aud III the morning wait till let YOU
know it is safe 10 decend.'
You may rely upon my prudence
and carefulness, l returned earnestly.
She accepted my assurance without
remark; then, poin ting to the fire, she
said:
sit down now and warm yourself.
Y ou must be nearly perished with the
cold.'
I obeyed gladly aud as | stretched d
ont nv hands to the ruddy blaze, l gaz-
cd about me curiously. was in a
large low kitchen, the walls smoke
stained, aud the floor composed OF un-
even red bricks. II e isf taFce Ell ure was oil
the barest and scantA who massiv
oak table, three or four Tchairs-and
there we're a few cooking utensils.
My protectress had di'appc ared; b ut
she speedily returned, bearing a plate
fol of bread and meat and !umbler
containing a small quantity OF brandy
To The spirit she added some boiling
water from a kettle which depended
from hook in HE huge cavcrnous
chimney. aud then set both the food
and the brandy on he table beside me.
You must need it, she said, when |
would have refused tie refgeshmcnts.
Take Il at Cuce, there IL snot much
time to spare; and she cast an ANXIOUS
glance towards the door.
She had laid aside the shawl which
had hitherto shaded her face, and, as l
made a hasty clearance Of the eJmesli-
bles with which she had supplied me,
I regarded her furtiyely. She was but
a slender slip of girl, not moro than
nineteen or twenty. with fair hair slmp'
Ilv braided. a thin colorless face
dark eyebrows and large dark
eyes. There was ON air of dignity
and refinement about her, and
mai yelled greatly how she came TO be
| in her present situation. During my
repa,t she was evidently i'll at ease
and It was with ill.cor cesled relieI thai
ale saw me rise from nv seat.
After had mounted into my retreat
l,he handed me up pillow aud coupl,
OF rugs, repeating her injunction as TO
the need Of caution.
When I closed the trap-aoor, found
my,elf in almost total darkness. Appa
rentIy Tue lott wac extensive. but emp
lty. Tie storm continued with unaba
ted fury, and the nipping wind found
ts way in beiw.en the loose ties. fre'
Iuuenlly accompanied by plentiiu
.prinkllng Of snow. Although il was
droary. grucsome place, 1 was better
lof undoubtedly than / should have
been out on the lonely moor; neyerthe'
less It was by no means pleasant OF
enviable position Tor a respectable
Ihardworklug lawyer. 1 wrapped the
ru2s around me, tucked tue pillow un-
der my head, aud endeavored to make
myseli as comfortable as possible In The
untos ard circumstances.
| had began to d re, when l was
aroused by the noisy entrance Of men
into the room beneath. Amid the lout
talking aud boisterous laughter which
ensued, conld now aud then dlslin-
| ..;.k ~ ,ha Ioirl,a oentlar uosanfa