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

night by this, and ever since dusk l had
been tracking the naked moors a-foot, in
the teeth of as vicious a nor wester as ever
drenched a man to the skin and then blew
the cold home to his marrow. My clothes
were sodden; my coat tails tapped with a
noise like pistol shots; my boots squeaked .
as | went. Overhead the October moon .
was in her fast quarter, and might have .
been a slice of finger nail for all the light .
she afforded. Two-thirds of the time the .
wrack blotted her out altogether, and | .
with my stick clipped tight under my arm
pit, eyes puckered up and head bent like
butting rams, but little aslant, had to
keep my wits agOg to distinguish the glim-
mer of the road from the black heath to
right and left. For three hours had met
neither man nor mans dwelling, and Qor
all knew was desperately lost. Indeed
at the cross roads, there had been nothing
for me but to choose the way that kept the
wind on my face, and it gnawed me like
dog.
Mainly to allay the singing of my eyes
pulled up at last, turned right about face,
leaned back against the blast with hand
on my hat and surveyed the blackness |
had traversed. 1t was at this instant that,
far away TO the left, point Of light
caught my notice, faint but steady, and at
once felt sure 1t burnt in the window Of
n house THE house." thought |, sis
good mile Off, beside the other road, and
the light must have been an inch over my
hat brim for the last half hour" for my
head had been sloped that way
This refection-that on so wide moor
had come near missing the information !
wanted, and perhaps a supper-sent a
strong thrill down my back.
| cut straight across the heather toward
the light, risking quags and pitfalls. Nay,
so heartening was the chance to hear fell
low creatures voice that | broke into
run, skipping over the stunted gorse that
cropped up here and there, and dreading
every moment to see the light quenched.
Suppose it burns in an upper widow
and the family is going to bed, as would
be likely at this hour~ The apprehension
kent my eyes fixed on the bright spot, to
the scandal of my legs, that within five
minutes were stuck full Of gorse prickles.
But the light did not go out, and soon a
flicker of moonlight gave me glimpse OF
the houses outline. 1t proved to be deal
more imposing than looked for-the out
line. in fact, of "a tall barrack with a clus
ter of chimneys at either end like ears, and
a high wall, topped by the roofs of some
outbuildings, concealing the lower win
dows There was no gate in this wall, ano
presently | guessed the reason. was ap
preaching the place from behind, and th'
light came from a back window on the frs
floor
The faintness of the light also was ex
planned by this time. 1t shone behind
drab colorad blind, and in shape resemble'
the stem Of wine glass, broadening on
at the foot, an effect produced by the half
drawn curtains within. | came to halt
waiting for the next ray Of moonlight A
the same moment a rush Of wind swep
over the chimney stacks, and on the win'
there seemed to ride a human sigh.
On this last point | may err. The gus
had uassed some seconds before | caugh
myself detecting this peculiar noise, an
irving to disengage it from the natura
chords of the storm From the next gus
it was absent. And then, to my dismay
the light faded from the window.
was half minded to call out when it al
reared again, this time in two windows
those next on the right to that where
had shown besDre Almost at once 1t II
creased in brillianCe, as if the person VIII
carried it from the smaller room TO Tn
larger was lighting more candles; and no
the illumination was strong enough I
make fine gold thread of the rain that te
within its radiance, and fling two shafts
warm yellow over the coping of the bac
wall into the night. During the minu'
or more that | stood watching no shade
fell on either blind.
Retween me and the wall ran a ditc
into the black obscurity Of which Il
ground at my feet broke sharply ava
Setting my back TO the storm again, fC
lowed the lip of this ditch around u
wallis angle. Here was shelter, and he
the ditch seemed to grow shallower. n
wishing, however, to mistake bed OF nc
ties or any such ptfall for solid earth,
bent rretty wide as | went on. The hou
was dark on this side, and the wall, as /
fore. had no opening. Close beside Il
next angle grew mass OF thick gor
bushes, and, pushing through these,
found myself suddenly on sound biz
road. with the wind tearing at me as tu
ously as ever.
Bnt here was the front; and 1 now p'
ceived that the surrounding wall adyanc
some way before the house, so as to form
narrow courtlage. So much Of It, too,
faced the road had been whltewasht
which made it easy to find the gate. 3
as laid my hand upon the latch / had
surprise.
A line of paving stones led from the q
TO heavy porch, and along the wet s.
face of these fell a streak of light from
front door, which stood ajar.
That a door should remain six incl
omen on such "a night was astonlshi
enough. until entered the court and fou
II as still as a room, owing to the hl
wall. and doubtless the porch gave nd
tional protection. But looking up aud
surfing myself that all the rest Of the fac
was black as ink | wondered at the
mates-thus careless of their property
II was here that my professional
stincts received the first jog. Abating
sound Of my feet on the paving stone
went up to the door and pushed 1t softl
It opened without noise.
stepped into a fair sized hall Of mod
build. paved with red tiles and lit wit
small hanging lamp. To right and
were doors leading TO the ground 4
rooms. Along the wall By my Shout
ran line Of pegs, on which hung hal
dozen hats and greatcoats, every one
clerical shape, and full in front OF m
broad staircase ran mp, with star
brussels carpet, the colors and patter
which can recall as well as today's or'
fast. Under this staircase was set ST
full of walking sticks and table litt'
with gloves, brushes, hand bell, nc
crop. one or two dog whistles, and "a
room candle with finder box beside
This, with one notable exception, was