Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-01-11
1t was not at first that the serpent

and butter were to be eaten, called
him away from home, Ginny ordered
her days like the dear little house,
keeper that she was, and gave him
such welcomes home as few men are
lucky enough to get.
"Why in the name of all that is
reasonable" he exclaimed, couldn't
Mary MacMaster have stayed in New
York, where she belonged? 1t was
she" (the inevitable cry from Adam
downward y who made all the mis-
chief. Who ever would have thought
of her going to Ginny with that tale
Of a Irritation that was dead and
gone years before ever met my wife ?
She never ment to marry me, anyhow
Woman Of her sort only use their
money to send men as far on the road
to the devil as the man is fool enough
to 60 !"
Then there were tears, and scenes
and explanations in the little house
explanations that Ginny either would
not or could not understand, for, man
like, he grew angry and impatient
and so things went on from bad to
worse, till one night he came home to
find no little wife to meet him. Only
note lying upon the bureau, telling
him with all a jealous woman's inco-
herence, that he had wrecked her life
that she could trust him no longer,
and that she was going home to her
fathers house, where he must not fol-
low her, so she can't complain of me
on that score"
1t was nearly six months ago, but
from that night till this he had seen
and known nothing of his wife. But
tonight for the first time, he began to
feel something of the old tenderness,
and "desire for nearness." Had he
been altogether blameless?
"Whoa" he called sharply, as
the horse he was driving suddenly
SHE'D from one side of the road to
the other.
The poor animal stopped gladly
enough for he was trembling from head
to foot with sheer terror; and Fletcher
Gusts, despite his strong nerves, could
not but confess to creeping sensation
in the region of his spinal column.
twas dark--pitchdark and Fletch-
err knew, though sight was we'll
nigh impossible, that he was about in
the middle of the dreaded hollow.
Nothing could be seen, but borne
upon the wings of the wind, came a
strange, stfled cry that was repeated
again and again at irregular intervals
Low and inarticulate; yet it thrilled
the lonely listener with an indefnabl'
sense of horror.
This won't do he said, rousing
himself with an effort. "GooC
heavens it sounds like the wall of /
. childp
He set his teeth together, and get
ting out of the carriage, tied the hors'
to a tree by the roadside. Then h
CROPPED his way back and forth in TIN
darkness, trying to guide himself b,
the sound, which eluded him! for j
seemed to come now from the groun'
at his very feet now from the wood
on the other side, and now from over
head-still the same wordless groan !
The horse neighed and whinnieC
pitifully while her master was so en-
gagged and at last, after some tel
minutes spent in vain endeavor
Fletcher Gusts gave up the search
united his horse, and drove--as fas
as the frightened animal could trave
away from the spot. But whel
Piney Hollow was a mile or more be
hind him, he drew rain, and began t
feel rather ashamed Of himself
"Wellp he exclaimed, 81 didn'
know | was such a coward! I've
great mind to 60 back and stay till
find out what that was-if it takes al
night"
The drawer impulse conquered, AM
although the poor horse made siren
uous efforts to resist, it was not lonl
!, before she was again nearing the un
canny place.
IL don't propose to be scared ava
this timc," Gusts was saying to him
self.
"A simpleton, to be frightened by
noise in the dark !"
At the entrance of the woods Their
was the same violent "shying' on til
part of the horse, and in the momen
tary silence came the long-drawn
melancholy sound.
like nothing on earth ever hear
before in my life" said Gusts. u be
lieNe it's on this side of the road. ate
ALL"
Again the horse was tied, and agail
the search began. Every foot of tn
road, and the bitches on either side q
the road, were examined by the sense
of touch and hearing rather thai
sight; yet nothing could be discover
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