Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-05

to the left-at the foot of the next fight,
so placed that | was gazing down the
length of it. And almost at the end there
fell parallelogram of light across it from
an open door.
A man who has once felt it knows there
is only one kind of silence that can be fifty
called dead" This is only to be found in
a great house at midnight. For few sec
onds after / ratified the stair rod you might
have cut the silence with knife. II the
house held a clock it licked inaudibly.
Upon this silence, at the end of a min
ute, broke a light sound-the clink, clink
of decanter on the rim of a wine glass.
1t came from the room where the light
was.
Now perhaps it was the very thought of
liquor put warmth into my cold bones. 1t |
is certain that all Of IA sudden Strengthened |
my back, took the remaining stairs at two
strides, and walked down the passage as
bold as brass, without caring jot for the
noise made.
In the doorway | halted. The room was
long, lined for the most part with books
bound in what they call divinity calf''
and Uttered with papers like a barrister's
table on assize day. Before the fireplace,
where few Goals burned sulkily, was
drawn a leathern elbow chair and beside
it, on the corner of a writing table, were
set an unlit candle and a pile of manu-
scripts. At the opposite end Of the room
curtained door led las | guessed) to the
chamber that / had first seen illuminated.
/ All this took in with the tail of my eye
while staring straight in front, where, in
the middle of great square OF carpet be
tween me and the window, was table
with red cloth upon it. On this cloth
were a couple of wax candles lighted, in
silver stands, tray and a decanter of
brandy.
And between me and the table stood
man.
He stood sideways, leaning little back,
as if to keep his shadow off the threshold,
and looked at me over his left shoulder
a bald, grave man, slightly under the com
mon height, with a long clerical coat Of
preposterous fit hanging loosely from his
shoulder, "A white creyat, black brooches
and black stockings His feet were loosely
thrust into carpet slippers. judged his
age at fifty or thereabouts, but his face
rested in the shadow, and could only note
, a pair Of eyes, very small and alert, twin
king above a'large eXpanse Of cheek.
, He was lifting a wine glass from the
table at the moment when | appeared, and
it trembled now in his right hand.
heard split drop or two fall on the car
pet, and this was all the evidence he
/ showed of discomposure.
q Setting the glass back, he felt in hi.
l. breast pocket for handkerchief, failed u
I find one and rubbed his hands together Il
}, get the liquor off his fingers.
a "You startled me-" he said in a matte
I OF fact tone, turning his eyes upon me, a
he lifted his glass again and emptied it
Z. "How did you find your way inf
a ''By the front door," said !, wondering
A at his unconcern.
Il He nodded his head slowly.
f. "Ah! forgot to lock it. You came t
t, steal, / suppose"
t 81 came because I'd lost my way. Nv
It been travelling this God fOrsaken moo
d since dusk
with your boots in your hand'" he pu
st in quietly
It 81 took them off out of respect to tn
d yellow dog you keep"
Al ale lies in natural attitude, ehf"
st 'You don't tell me he was stuffed"
Y, The old mans eyes beamed with col
temptuOus pity.
D. you are indifferently sharp, my dea
- sir. for "a housebreaker. Come in. s.
il down those conyicting boots, and don
10 all places. If | must entertain a burglar
ne prefer him tidy"
w He walked to the fire, picked up polk
to and knocked the Goals into a blaze. Tn
I'll done he turned round on me, with Il
of poker still in his hand. The serenest gra
* ity sat on his large. hale features.
te "Why have done this'" he asked.
w "Isuppose TO get possession of the poker
"Ouite right. May | inquire your ne
h, mover"
he why" said /, feeling in my pocket.
". carry pistol"
Oh (which suppose to be damp"
he "By no means. | carry it, as you see,
re an oilcloth case"
ot He stopped aud laid the poker careful
ct in the fender.
"That is a stronger card than posses
Use l might urge that by pulling the trigg
be- YOU would certainly alarm the house al
he the neighborhood and put halter aroul
rse your neck. | say ! might urge this, al
assume you to be an intelligent audlt'
Oh But it strikes me as safer to assume y
ri capable Of using a pistol with effect
three PAGES. With what might happ
er subsequently, | will not pretend TO be &C
ed cerned. It il sufficient that / dislike I
n notion OF being perforated. The fate OF 20
as neck"-- lac waved a hand. We'll, ma
ed, known you for just five minutes, end f
BUT but a moderate interest in your neck.
for the inmates Of this house, 1t will
fresh you to hear that there are none.
ate have lived here two years with but
ur- and female cook, both Of whom | dismiss
the Yesterday at minutes notice for cond'
which | will not shock your ears by
hes plicitly naming. Suffice it to say carr
ing them off yesterday to my parish ehul
md two miles away, married them, and
Ugh missed them in the vestry without char
ldi- ters wish you had known that butle'
as but excuse me With the information
ade have supplied you ought to find no difiic
in ty in fixing the price you will take TO ci'
out of my house instanter."
in "Sir,n answered, 81 have held pis
the at one OF two heads in my time, but ne
s, at one stuffed with nobler indiscreti
y. Your chivalry does not, indeed, disarm
but prompts me to desire more OF y
Tern acquaintance. have found a gentlem
tn and must sup with him before | mi
leH terms"
ioor The address seemed to please him.
lder shuffled across the room to a sideboard
II produced plate of Biscuits, another
9 OF almonds and dried raisins, glass,
le u two decanters. .
ring "Sherry and Madeira" he said. TT
n OF is also cold pie in the larder, If you care
eak- it,"
and "a biscuit will serve" | replied.