Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-03-16

LOuktitS tttht Wo uehru VI your
II suspected rs much. l had a
slight acquaintance with his daughter
when she was away to the seminary.
How far does he live from herel"
Its about six miles. It's about the
last house you will visit in your board
ing round"
The school was opened the next day.
II forms no part Of the purpose Of this
narration TO relate any details Of my
school experience. ! sent a note 10
Miriam announcing my arrival in the
neighborhootl. and my intentions TO
call ON her the next Saturday. The
note was carried by a boy who l found
lived in the ncighborhood Of the
Douglas farm. A couple of days later
l received an answer front Miriam in
which she expressed pleasure Mt my
arrival aud tho 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 secured information as TO
the location Of tho Douglas farm, and
started for il on foot. II was
wrctchcd country over which | passed.
The roads were buried in snow, the
fences were ciFaccd, great drifts barred
my way. and savage north wind
steadily beat against me. the sky was
lcadcn and sullcn. the roar Of the gale
through the lcailcss branches was
filled with suggestions ominous Of evil.
Struggling through some woods,
reached the further side, and saw be-
fore me vast stretch of rolling land,
near the center Of which was farm
house with its barns and outbuild.
ings. II was u wooden house painted
white, of two stories, and was by far
the most prctcntious residence Of the
hill region. In the white level of the
snowy plain, with nothing 10 interrupt
tho nnonotony, il was cold and ghost
like.
In response 10 my knock tho door
opened and Miriam herself appeared.
Her dark face flushed and then palcd
as she saw me. She extended both her
hands, seized mine and shook them
with hcartiness.
"Oh, 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 resisted a little, and then swayed
toward me with sweet, yielding
grace. touched her forehead with
light kiss, and then we went in.
The interior OF the house afforded
evidences Of prosperity. There wcrc n
piano, some pictures of the better class,
and various other evidences of cul,iva-
ton and wealth. As / had learned
Farmer Douglas was the posscssor OF
great wealth, much of which had
come 10 him by inheritance. lie was
a man Of about half century, slender.
slightly STOPPING, thin locks, with a
carrworn face.
At the table there appeared Mr..
Douglas, Miriam and young bro
thor.
us Mrs. Douglas illl" l asked.
'My mother is, responded Miriam,
with hesitation and marked confusion.
"My mother is
Pardon me; did not know. am
very awkward. Don't say any more"
4 dead silence followed, and per-
ceptiblc feeling Of restraint and en-
barrassment fell ON the family After
the supper we all went into the par.
Tor, where. after n while. Miriam and
myself were left alone.
i recall that evening with profound
regret. We were both hcsitating,
rcticcnt and timid at the outset. Mi.
Ram had changed but little. She was
charming rs when had known her
nj the seminary; If there were any diff.
ference il was that the habitual sad
ness Of her face and the sOmbcr mclan.
choly Of her splendid eyes had grown
moro intense IL could not be lack Of
health, for she was the incarnation Of
vigor and perfection Of form.
However, ! soon ceased 10 notice
this quality. being absorbed by her
conversation, her changcful. winning
face, and the tenderness which per-
mcatcd her tones. She was exquisite
that evening, rs we chattcd in low
voices and looked unuttcrblc things
into each others eyes. 4 half dozen
times was on the point Of asking her
Ia marry me, for | felt that she was
willing Ia throw herself into my arms.
Why ! did not speak cannot tell; il
must have been the result of II decree
Of fate.
II was late when retired. The wind
was tearing by, straining the timbcrs
and joints Of the house and twisting
the tree tops outside of the windowsoi
my room. There were creaking OF
doors, a grooming Of window frames,
all OF which. combined with tho inter.
uniting swishing Of the winds and the
dash of snow against the house.
lilo, the thud Of waves against ship
in "a storm made the night suggestive
of The orgies Of devils and witches.
Disturbed by the clamor of tho
storm, and recalling the dcliciousneSs
of the hours spent with Miriam. was
long in falling asleep II seemed rs
il | had been slumbcring not more
thnn n moment when | was suddenly
reused Ia consciousness by what seem
cd the hOarsc shrek of u woman voice
somewhere out in the storm. lis
tened with strained ear and heart beat
ing with excitement \ moment or
two later the same unearthly sound
rang ont through the darkness, and
with diabolical effect mingled in the
liscord Of the gale.
Again and again the voice came
shricking through the tumult Of the
storm-now a simple scream, and then
awful oa,hs and blasphcmics as If the
utter,nceS Of some damned soul.
| rose, went 10 the window, and
looked out The air was filled with
swift flying clouds Of SNOW. A faint
light in the east indicated that the day
was dawning Directly in front Of my
window could be dimly seen a small
building Of a single story which had
the appearance Of an out house such
as is seen about farm houses, and
which might have been n wood shed,
a summer kitchen or some other
structure.
As listened 10 the incessant shrieks.
il seemed that they came from this out
building. II was awful beyond con-
ception. The voice. although hoarse,
was Enthusiastically that Of a woman.
Inside the house i'm which stood il
was alliet ms the praye They ev;.