Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-06-16
The Sturp Teller.
KATHLEEN.

KATHLEEN.
The blue waters of the Shepscot rippled
and flashed in the August sunshine as 1t
swept on, winding in and out among the
scattered islands till it reached the broader
expanse beyond. On one of these islands
and hardly more than stones throw from
the river, stood an old square house. 1t
faced the water and looked toward the land
ing at the farther end of the island and over
to the green, wooded island across the river,
where no work of mans hand as yet broke
in on it's wild beauty. The old house had
been thought handsome mansion in its
day. That was more than hundred years
ago, but it was good still, for its oaken tim
bers had so far defed the ''tooth of time,"
and it's capacious chimneys still gave one
glimpse of the sky if he CHANGED to look up.
The square "foreroom" at the left of the
front entrance yet gave some hint of its old
time splendor; cornice not altogether de-
void of artistic finish ran around the ceiling,
and the dull blue paint of its wood work
was yet in good state Of preservation.
The room opposite this was in more COIN
mon use, but the long kitchen opening from
both was the usual winter living room OF
+, the family. On this August afternoon
light breeze, carrying with it the breath OF
the old-fashioned flowers outside, came in
through the open doorway at one end,
swept across the kitchen to the little bed
room at the other end, and through the open
window, wandered off over the fish-lakes
that stretched down the slope to the fish and
boat houses near the water. But as the af-
ternoon wore on, the sky darkened, distant
thunders sounded warningly now and then,
till with the twilight the breeze, grown toa
sudden gale, dashed the large rain drops
against the windows of the old house which
Mrs. NARROW was hurrying to close.
"Wall, 1 declare, father" she said, COM
ing down stairs quite out of breath, show it
does rain! Who'd thought it when twas
so pleasant this afternoon"
Captain NARROW rubbed the bald spot on
his head refectively as he returned, "Does
pour, that's fact;" then he added, 81 Won
der if Eben got his hay in. There he is
now!" he exclaimed, a few minutes later,
as rumbling sound was heard between the
peals of thunder. ''He's just comm over
the big rock. Sho! he must be as wet as
drowned rat, and his hay, too"
Eben represented the MarloW's nearest
neighbor, whose house was but few rods
from theirs. A little later binding flash
accompanied by crash of thunder heavier
than any preceding, caused Mrs. NARROW to
start up from her chair. "Mercy," she ex-
claimed, II pity any poor creature that has
to be out in this" The woman's benevO-
lent face grew grave and she sat silent.
Her thoughts had gone to her boy, boy he
was still to her, though the bearded captain
of the Hiqhayer had long since .outgrown
the name from others. He was beyond the
reach of this storm, but whatever else might
have befallen him who could tell?
eyes," said Captain NARROW, in response
to his wifes remarks, 81 dunno when we've
had such a storm since the time Cap'n Jim's
barn was struck, eight-ten-yes, ten years
ago this very month; you recollect it, don't
yOu?"
"To be sure l do"
The storm continued with little abate-
ment. Just as one peal of thunder died
away an indistinct sound reached the ears
of the two people in the long kitchen.
They regarded each other questioningly for
a moment, then there was rattle of the
door latch. Some one outside was cropping
for it in the darkness.
The man started up, and going to the
door, threw it wide open to the storm, but
he stepped back as he did SO, for there on
the door-stone stood figure strange to him.
The next moment his hospitality overcame
every other feeling, and reaching out, he
said, "Whoever ye are come in"
Mrs. NARROW was by his side and gazing
in arnazement at the slight, white-robed
figure. 1t was young girl they had never
seen before. There was frightened, ap-
pealing look in the brown eyes. The wind
and rain had beaten upon her head till the
dark, curling hair was drenched and cling
ing about her neck. Mrs. Marlow's moth
erly arms stretched out instinctively. "Poor
childw she said, drawing her into the
room; "why, father; she is wet through
and through"
TWAS quite true; the water dripped from
the dainty, white dress and made little pools
upon the floor She wore no wrap of any
kind. AS yet she had not spoken, but stood
looking wonderingly about the room.
"Where did you come from? Are you
alone?" Mrs. NARROW asked, and the girl
answered with a shudder, eyes, Pm Alone"
"Dear, dear, poor child! Let me get you
something warm"
Captain NARROW set about making fire
in the cook stove while his wife took the
stranger into the little bedroom. YOU'RE
all beat out" the good woman said pity
ingly, "you'd better 60 right to bed" The
girl made no remonstrance, but submitted
quite passively to whatever was proposed.
She took the warm drinks Mrs. NARROW
brought her, and when the woman went
back to the kitchen, she said. 81 declare,
father, the poor things completely beat
out; she's asleep already"
''Sho" was the response. "Who is she,
do you think?''
|, In hn