Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-14

the river revealed through the darkness
by its slow onward rush, and by the rars
lights reflected on its back surface. A
belated barge came swinging down stream,
Its lantern sending long yellow CLEANS
across the parting water; it passed and was
lost In darkness beyond. Lights shone from
the clustered gables of the darkling town.
Close at hand, ON the river bank, a girl sat
at an upper window mending a stocking by
the light of @ candle set on the sill The
flame hardly naoved In the heavy air; IL
lighted up her fresh young face, her yellow
hraids of hair and busy hands So she had
sat many night before, 80 she would sit for
many night TO come; but 1.-THE thought
passed through my mind-should have no
consciousness Of her. For between her and
me il would be always night
fingered, remember, on the bridge; Il
was one OF those hours becoming rarer with
every day OF travel, that hold in them some
recitation of fresh and strange impressions.
The town clocks were striking 10 rs made
my way back To the Inn. had left a book
In the room where had dined, ami went
to fetch IL before going up stairs TO bed The
young Englishman was still there, seated In
the chair where | had left him. Had he
never moved could not tell, bat he was
! not now alone. A young girl stood opposite
TO him leaning against a wooden press, her
head thrown back, her arms folded under q
long colored apron that she wore over n dark
blue gown. knew the girl by sight; once
she had waited on me at table, once or twice
l had seen her gathering fruit in the garden;
she seemed 20 have no fixed service In the
house, but TO make herself useful as occa-
sion required Without much beauty, some
r.tn lar
tention. She was brown faced girl, with
masses OF sun faded brown hair, aud sleepy
blue eyes that had trick OF opening sud
denly to accompany q sudden smile which
revealed two rows OF small white teeth;
otherwise her expression was sullen and
rather scornful So much | had noticed,
paying little heed 10 her, however, as she
came and went about her work Her pres
ence in the room now surprised me. She
was speaking as came in, but ended or broke
Off abruptly ON my entrance, and stood as /
have described her, leaning against the
wooden door Of the press. She shot glance
at me from her half closed eyes as took my
book from the table where had left 1t, but
did not change her position. The young
Englishman, on the other hand, sprang TO
his feet
II tell you, he said, facing her and speak
ing with certain vehemence s.you have
nothing to do in the matter-nothing. Keen
out of it."
He thrust his hands deeper into his pockets
and swung out of the room. The girl looked
after him. did not like her look, but IL was
no affair of mine. | took my book and
quilted the room, leaving her standing there
with her folded arms. At the foot OF the
stairs met my acquaintance, the waiter
'tWho is that girlF' said, describing her.
81 have seen her several times about the
house,
"You mean IotteF said the old man.
Have nothing to do with her, young sir;
she Is bad one. The master took her in out
of charity, but tomorrow she leaves There
is nothing she likes better than To set on the
young men who come here to quarrel about
her. There have been two duels fought al
ready in the twelvemonth she has been in
the house. No great harm done, to be sure;
but the master won't have IL, and so to-mor-
row she goes He has found her pIacc
where there will he no young men to set by
the ears. Oh, | know her ways; I've seen
her at it. She treats them like dogs till they
turn and insult her, and then she gets one of
them TO take her part. When the mischief is
done she rubs her hands. Oh, I've seen her
at 1t, ! know her ways No, no, she'll come
to no good wherever she is. I"
A bell rang and he left me. / made nv
way up stairs 10 my own apartment ON the
second floor. At an open window in the pas.
sage, saw the young Englishman standing
and gazing out into the darkness He started
at my approach, and preceding me rapidly
along the corridor, opened the door and dis.
appeared within the bed room next my own
! heard bolt drawn as | passed and match
struck, and saw him no more
was tired, and although the night was
oppressive, fell almost at once into uneasy
slumbers | woke again restless with the
heat The room was perfectly dark; struck
my repeater; 10 was nearly o'clock in the
morning. My windew stood open, and |
could hear the even, temperate sound of
heavy summer rain; the lowering cloud was
descending in a steady downpour. I got up
and groped my way 10 the window, hardly
visible as square of fainter black open
ing from the biaekness within. church
clock struck the single stroke of the hour: II
was answered by another and another. then
far of like an echo, a chime from some hid.
den village In the hills Moist odors rosa
through the darkness from earth and herbs
and leaves in the garden below; the damn
I
rain refreshed and calmed me- | was re
turning 70 bed with better prospect Of
sleep than before when my attention was ar.
rested by a noise In tho adjoining apartment.
A door communicating between the two
rooms made 1t easy for sound TO pass from
one TO another; IL was a sob | heard now
yet less a sob than kind Of shiyering moan
as from some creature trapped and held by
mortal anguish. II came again and again;
listened until listening became impossible.
The room was occupied, as knew, by my
young compatriot; recalled his pale and
desperate looks some few hours before, and
lighting candle, dressed hastily and went
out in6o the empty corridor A streak ol
light shonc below the door Of the neighbor
ing apartment. | knocked quietly and
waited
My knock was quiet, as befitted the siieni
hour, but that IL was audible TO the occupant
/ of the room was Immediately apparent
heard chair pushed back. with movement
as Of some one suddenly springing 10 bis feet
then silence | knocked again. This time
hesitating footstep crossed the floor, the boil
was withdrawn, the door was opened an inch
then thrown back entirely, the young Eng
+ lishmau stood before ma.
He was dressed as had seen hl.z the pre-
vious evening. except that he had removes
his necktie and exchanged his boots fol
slippers. In his hand be held a candle tina
feebly lighted up the sparely furnished room
the bed standing in a dusky corner. tn
painted wardrobe and half dozen chairs, tn
small table set near the window IL illn
sained his white face also, and hair hangin,
loose and damp over his forehead Their
was something disheyeled and miserable Il
he ,vhrla a,,4.,a, rance and n Sesarsasl loak 4,