Nevada County picayune., 1889-06-26

house with it's barns and Outbuild- ings. It was a wooden house, paint ed 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 in- terrupt the monotony, it was cold and ghost-like.
 In response to my knock the door opened and Miriam herself appeared Her dark face flushed and then paled as she saw me. She extended both her hands, seized mine and shook them with heartiness.
 "Oh, it is you. Come in, Pm very glad to see you.'
 As entered l placed my arm about her shoulder and drew her near me. She resisted little. and then swayed toward me with sweet yielding grace. touched her fore head with a light kiss, and then we went in.
 The interior of the house afforded evidences of prosperity. There was a piano, some pictures of the better class, and various other evidences of cultivation and wealth. As 1 had learned Farmer Douglas was the possessor of great wealth, much of which had come to him through in heritance. He was a man of about half a century, slender, slightly stopping, thin locks, with careworn face.
 At the table there appeared MT. Douglas. Miriam and young brother.
 ''Is Mrs. Douglas ill;" l asked.
 My mother is," responded Miri- am, with hesitation and marked con fusion. My mother is''-
 .'Parlon me; l did not know. 1 am very awkward. Don't say any more.
 A dead silence followed, and per ceptiblc feeling of restraint and em- barrassment fell on the family. After supper we all went into the parior, where, after while. Miriam and myself were left alone.
 l recall that evening with profound regret. We were both hesitating. reticcnt and timid at the outset. Miriam had changed but little. She was charming as when l had known her at the seminary; if there were any difference it was that the habit ual sadness of her face and the som bre melancholy of her splendid eyes had grown more intense. It could net he lack of health, for she was the incarnation of vigor and perfec- ton of form.
 However, l soon ceased to notice this quality, being absorbed by her conversation, her changeful, winning face, and the tenderness which per mealed her tones. She was eXquis- Ite that evening, as we chattcd in low voices and looked unuttcrable things into each others eyes. A half dozen times l was on the point of asking Tier to marry me, for felt that she was willing to throw herself into my arms. Why did not speak l cannot tell; it must have been the result of decree of fate.
 It was late when 1 retired. The wind was tearing by, straining the timbers and joints of the house and twisting the tree tops outside of the windows of my room. There was a creaking of doors, grooming of win dow 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 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 deliciousness of the hours spent with Miriam, l was long in falling asleep. It seemed as if l had been slumbering not moro than a moment when l was suddenly reused to consciousness by what seemed the hoarse shriek of a woman's voice somewhere out in the storm. listened with stralned ear and heart beating with excitement. A moment or two later the same un- earthly sound rang out through tho darkness, and with diabolical effect mingled with diocord in the gale.
 Again and again the voice came skricking through the tumult of the storm-now simple scream, and then awful oaths and hlashphcmies