The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-04


rocks often appeared at the surface. Tht
fields were small, and almost covered witt
powders: the infrequent houses were tumb
ling, unpainted; the fences were of rottinf
wooden rails, or of piled-up stones.
1t was q Wretched, sterile, forbidlins
scene. Some dwarfed sumachs, with theil
scant verdure yellowed by frosts, ratified
their thin branches in the autumn wind
Stunted hemlocks, with dead tops, stoot
like half-clad skeletons among the crevice.
OF dark, bald rocks. Nowhere was there
any thing cheerful, inspiriting or suggestiv,
OF promise. Had it not been for the though
that this inhospital place was the home O.
Miriam should have turned about and re-
turned to civilization.
~.
found the residence of one of the trus
tees, and was informed that was to ssboar6
around" that is, to remain a week at eact
OF the homes of the patrons of the school
The prospects Of this method of living, il
view of the nature Of the country, as ha6
seen it, were not in the least promising
The trustee whom met informed me tina,
l might commence my term by spending the
first week with him.
How are the DougIases:" asked,
''They are all well, believe. We do NJ,
see much of them. You know, l suppose,
that it was through Mr. Douglas that we
heard of you!"
quaintance with his daughter when she was
away to the seminary How far does he
live from here!''
Its about six miles, It's about tho las,
house you will visit in your boarding
round"
The school was opened the next day. II
forms no part of the purpose of this nara,
ton to relate any details Of my school ex
perience. l sent a note to Miriam an.
nouncing my arrival in the neighborhood,
and my intention to call on her tho next
Saturday. The note was carried by a bov
who found lived in the neighborhood OF
the Douglas farm. A couple of days later
received an answer from Miriam IN which
she expressed pleasure at my arrival anu
the hope that would visit them on the day
named.
The following Saturday was the odd one
on which there was no session of the school.
and on the morning of that day I secured
information as to the location of the Doug
las farm, and started for it on foot. 1t was
a Wretched country over which passed.
The roads were buried in snow, the fences
were efaced. great drifts barred my wav.
and savage north wind steadily beat
against me. The sky was leaden and sui
len, the roar of the gale through the leaf
less branches was filled with suggestions
ominous of evil.
Struggling through some woods, reached
the further side, and saw before me a vast
stretch of rolling land, near the center of
which was farm house with its barns and
outbuildings. 1t was wooden house
painted white, of two stories, and was by
far the most pretentious residence of the
hill region. In the white level of the snowy
plain, with nothing to interrupt the monot-
ony, it was cold and ghostlike.
In response to my knock the door opened,
and Miriam herself appeared. Her darl.
face flushed and then paled as she saw me.
She extended both her hands, seized mine
and shook them with hcartiness.
%, it is you! Come in! I'm very glad
to see you!''
AS entered placed my arm about her
shoulder and drew her near me. She re-.
sisted little, and then swayed toward me
with sweet, yielding grace. touched her
forehead with listless kiss, and then we
went in.
The interior of the house afforded evi.
dences Of prosperity. There were piano,
some pictures of the better class and vari.
Gus other evidences of cultivation and
wealth. AS had learned Farmer Douglas
was the possessor Of great wealth, much OF
which had come to him by inheritance He
was man of about half century, slender,
slightly STOPPING, thin locks, with care.
worn face.
At the table there appeared Mr.. Douglas,
Miriam and a younger brother
us Mrs. Douglas ill!" 1 ssked
My mother is" responded Miriam, with
hesitation and marked confusion. my
mother is-''
''Pardon me; did not know. 1 am very
awkward Don't say any more'
A dead silence followed, and a perceptible
feeling of restraint and embarrassment fell
on the family. After the supper we all
went into the parlor, where, after awhile,
Miriam and myself were left alone.
recall that evening with profound re-
greet. We were both hesitating. reticent and
timid at the outset. Miriam had changed
but little. She was charming as when /
had known her at the seminary; if there
were any difference it was that the habitual
sadness of her face and the somber melan-
choly of her splendid eyes had grown more
intense. 1t could not be lack of health,
for she was the incarnation of yigor and
perfection of form.
However, I soon ceased to notice this
quality, being absorbed by her converse
ton, her changeful, winning face, and the
tenderness which permeated her tones.
She was exquisite that evening as we
chatted in low voices and looked unutter-
able things into each others eyes. A half
dozen times was l on the point of asking her
to marry me, for felt she was willing to
throw herself into my arms. Why I>did
not speak can not toll; it must have been
the result OF decree of fate
~ VI.
It was late when I retired The wind was
y ing by, straiuing the timbers and joints
OF the house and twisting the tree tops out
side the windows Of my room. There were
acreaking of doors, groanlng of window
frames, all Of which, combined with the
intermitting swishing of the winds and the
dash of snow against the house-like the
thud OF waves against a ship in a storm
made the night suggestive of the orgies of
devils and witches.
Disturbed by the clamor of the storm, and
recalling the deliciouseess of the hours
spent with Miriam, I was long in falling
asleep. 1t seemed as if had been slumber-
ing not more than moment when was
suddenly reused to consciousness by what
seemed the hoarse shrek of woman's
voice somewhere out in the storm. list
ened with strained ear and heart beating
with excitement. A moment or two later
the same unearthly sound rang out through
the darkness, aud with diabOlical effect
mingled in the discord of the gale
Again and again the voice came shrieking
through the tumult of tho storm-now a
simple scream, and then awful oaths and
blasphemies as if the utterances of some
damned soul.
rose, went to the window, and looked
out. The air was filled with swift-fying
clouds OF snow. A faint light in the east in
dicated that the day was dawning. Directly
in front of my window could be dimly seen
a small building of single story which had
the appearance of an clubhouse such as is
seen about farm houses, and which might