Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26

deeply moved by what she had seen and heard.
with sorrow and modification.
weak, weak, weak, she unused. "Weak AZ
. child. With such = brilliant military record
for courage, sobriety-all manly virtues-now
to be at the mercy OF such men as those who
gather around him! Oh, my poor giant, you
are an infant in their hands. and I must try TO
rescue You or you will be lostl"
While she so meditated she noticed that the
ire in the sitting room was going out SO she
went to the wood closet ard brought in some
fuel to mend it. She did the same for the
smouldering fire in the kitchen, fearing that
the girls might catch cold. She then sat
down beside the cradle. but was so worn out
with watching and worrying that from time to
time she fell into short maps, from which she
would be reused by some outburst Of noise
among the jewellers. When the clock struck
her baby awoke. She took him up and cried
over him. She suddenly reused up and took
herself to task, saying that none but fools so
weakly wept when they should resist. She laid
candles. She went through the kitchen and
looked out OF the back door. 1t was as dark as
Erebus. Not star shining. But she heard
tho servants stirring in their room overhead.
She again went 70 the sitting room and
peeped through the keyhole into the hall The
scene had changed somewhat. Some Of the
lights had gone out, others burned dimly. The
room was now only partially illumined by the
hanging lamp. The company were no longer
singing. They seemed to have worn them
selves out Yet thers was no movement toward
separating. They appeared to be telling
stories-weird, supernatural, blood-curdling,
hslr-raising, marrow-freezing stories. And in
their half maniacal, half idiotic condition, at
once exhausted and excited, the more awful
the story the more they seemed inclined to
believe 1t The old sea captain was telling the
story OF Don Giovanni with much cxaggeration,
as an authentic ghost story and an incident that
had occurred to his own grandfather who had
been converted from the errors of his ways by
the apparition of the-at one Of his wild
bachelor banQuets
The curious thing about this story telling,
anu story hearing was that though the inter-
ested company seemed to believe in their truth
they never thought of bringing the moral home
to themselves.
This last story gave Mistress Alice an idea
Her face. pale with waiting and worry, flushed
as a rose again and her eyes frightened. She
herself would raise the - and try the effect
upon these sinners
She went to the kitchen and found Classy, the
cook, and Len, the errand boy, already down
and busy over the fire making an early cup Of
coffee Tor Miss Molly and the two girls, who
were now wide awake and waiting for it.
Classy" whispered her little mistress don't
make the least sound; don't speak above your
breath; the gentlemen don't know that it is
morning; they don't know that any one is up,
and don't want them to know it, There Give
the ladies their coffee and be still as a mouse.
You Will all have some fun presently. Where
is Len?'
'Hore he am now, young mist'ess, said the
cook, as the boy entered from the ward.
The lady went to the door and looked out
The sky was black as ink, with clouds that had
not the faintest tinge of dawn. A strong south
wind was blowing up still heavier clouds.
by thls time nanny had walked up and
joined the party in the kitchen. Mistress Alice
cautioned her also to be silent as death. Then
she put out every light but one candle lest by
chance they should attract attention.
Then speaking in a very low tone she I'M
ing the jewellers.
1t was received with glee by all. but with per-
feet delight by the negro boy, who was to play
the principal role in the performance
All promised faithful cooperation and invio-
liable secrecy.
Now, them nanny, GO into the linen room
and bring the two large dark-blue bed curtains
And you, Len, take the dark lantern and go to
the barn and bring me that horses skull that is
lying out there by the door. Also-now stop
grinning and listen-bring me three or four
pine cones from the woodshed; and lastly
bring me your daddys thick cane
The messengers went quietly on their err
rands and in a few minutes all the articles che
required were brought in and laid on the
kitchen table.
Now SO to the stable" she said to the boy.
''and put bride OIL Satan. the black horse
and bring him here"
The boy started on his errand. Then Mis-
tress Alice threw a shawl over her head and
went out into the yard and around to the back
door OF the hail. She cautiously tried the door,
She silently turned the latch and opened it a
Few inches. The jewellers did not hear her,
but she heard them!
Gone, boys, let's have ANOTHER song to get
the gloom out of us" cried her husband
old King Coiep"
Then they started.
That will dc" murmured Mistress Alice to
herself, as she silently withdrew from the door.
leaving 1t slightly but imperceptibly ajar.
Then she returned to the kitchen.
There. amid the interested attention of her
companions, she began to create the =.
Win shoe backing she painted the horse
skull jet black. Then fixed two pine cones in
the sockets of the ewes and one between the
jaws and fastened them securely. Then she
hxed the skull on the top of the cane with
strong cords Then she set fire to the nine
cones and held up the stick with the hideous
a more Eideous figure than
that black skull with its flaming ewes and month
could scarcely be imagined in any nightmare
dream. Mistress Alice blew out the flaming
pine cones and left them glowing balls of fire
Then she made the boy stand up, and fixed
the stick against his back and bound 1t there
WIN OIL ohS Gurus 30 tnat the horrible figure
head stood two feet above his head. This was
done to leave his arms free to manage the
horse.
Now, girls, gather up the dark curtains
and follow me-, said Mistress Alice And she
led the way ont to where the horse Satan stood
quietly waiting. He was called Satan OF, ac-
count OF his extraordinary size and let black
coat but 1t was great injustice, for there never
wasa CENTER, quIeter or more obedient horse: a
child could manage him. Now. therefore. he
only turned his head with look of curiosity at
the strange creature that was about to mount
him.
First Of all one of the dark curtains was
drawn all over the animal, leaving only the
mead and feet free. Then Len scrambled I'M
on his back and took the bride. When he was
firmly seated. Mistress Alice mounted a chair.
aided by her companions, and fastened the
other dark curtain securely around the stick
Just below the skull and drew it down around
the form OF the boy and over The back of the
horse, where it was fastened to the first cover.
Thus arranged the boy the horse and the skull
appeared 81 one horrible monster
Now. then, are you seated fast, Len?" in
CURED his mistress.
''Yes'um," replied the grinning boy.
Il will lead the horse ND to the back door.
then you must dig your heels into his sides and
urge him against the door. 1t is partly open.
30 that he can go right through"
"lesum." |
wait minute, though, )" said Mistress Alice
And she crept around to the door to reconnoi-
ter. 1t was nearly dark in the hall.
All were singing-each on his own account