The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-21
TWO HOUSEH0.LDERS.

first / spied the house 1t put nc oesire ID
me but Just TO give thanks.
For conceive my case. 1t was near MID
night by this, and ever since dusk mad
been tracking the naked moors a-ioot, In
the teeth of as vicious wester az ever
drenched man TO the skin and then blew
the cold home to his marrow. My clothes
were sodden; my coat tails tapped with
noise like pistol shots; my boots squeaked
IS | went. Overhead the October moon
was in her fast quarter, and might have
been a slice of finger nail for all the light
abe afforded. Two-thirds Of the time the
wrack blotted her out altogether, and l
with my stick clipped tig ut under my arm
Dit, eyes puckered up and head bent like a
butcing rams, but a little aslant, had TO
keep my wits agog TO distinguish the gllm-
,mer OF the road from the black heath to
right and LETT. For three hours L had met
neither man nor mans dwelling, and tor
all knew was desperately lost. Indeed,
at the cross roads, there had been nothing
for me but 10 choose the way that kept the
wind on my face, and it gnaweG me like a
dog.
Mainly to allay the singing Of my eyes
pulled up at last, turned right alb Nut face,
leaned back against the blast with hand
on nv hat and surveyed the black uess /
had traversed. 1t was at this instant that,
far away to the left, a point of light
caught my notice, faint but steady, ana at
once felt sure it burnt in the window VT
house. 1.-The house." thought !, els a
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 50 wide a moor
had come near missing the information |
wanted, and perhaps a supper-sent
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 window,
md the family is going to bed, as would
he likely at this houri" The apprehension
kept 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 a 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
high wall, topped by the roofs of some
Outbuildings, concealing the lower win
dows. There was no gate in this wall, and
presently guessed the reason. | was APP
preaching the place from behind, and the
light came from "A back window on the first
floor.
The faintness of the light also was ex-
planned by this time 1t shone behind "A
drab colored blind, and in shape resembled
the stem of wine glass, broadening out
AT the foot, an effect produced by the half
drawn curtains within. | came TO halt,
waiting for the next ray of moonlight. At
the same moment rush Of wind swept
over the chimney stacks, and on the wind
there seemed to ride a human sigh
On this last point l may err. The gust
had passed some seconds before / caught
myself detecting this peculiar noise, and
trying to disengage il from the natural
chords of the storm. From the next gust
it was absent. And then, to my dismay,
the light faded from the window.
/ was half minded TO call out when il ap-
peared again, this time in two windows
those next on the right TO that where it
had shown before. Almost at once it in
creased in brilliance, as if the person who
carried it from the smaller room to the
larger was lighting more candles; and now
the illumination was strong enough to
make fine gold thread of the rain that fell
within its radiance, and fling two shafts of
warm yellow over the coping of the back
wall into the night. During the minute
or more that | stood watching no shadow
fell on either blind.
Between me and the wall ran ditch,
into the black obscurity of which the
ground at nay feet broke sharply away.
Setting my back to the storm again, fol-
lowed the lip of this ditch around the
walls angle. Here was shelter, and here
the ditch seemed to grow shallower. Not
wishing. however, TO mistake bed of net
ties or any such pitfall for solid earth.
kept pretty wide as went on. The house
was dark on this side, and the wall, as be-
fore, had no opening. Close beside the
next angle grew mass of thick gorse
bushes, and, pushing through these,
found myself suddenly on a sound high
road, with the wind tearing at me as fun
ously as ever.
ceived that the surrounding wall advanced
some way before the house, SO as TO form a
narrow courtlaSe. So much of it, too, as
faced the road had been whtewashed,
which made il easy to find the gate But
as l laid my hand upon the latch / had a
surprise.
A line of paving stones led from the gate
20 q heavy porch, and along the wet sur
F,f1 IL fs..f.. T.
front door, which stood aiar.
That door should remain six inches
open on such a night was astonishing
enough. until / entered the court and found
It as still as room, owing TO the high
wall, and doubtless the porch gave addi-
tional protection. But looking up and as
surfing myself that all the rest Of the facade
was black as ink l wondered at the in
mates-thus careless of their property.
1t was here that my professional in
stincts received the first jog Abating the
sound OF my feet on the paving stones,
went up to the door and pushed it softly.
1t opened without noise.
l stepped into fair sized hall Of modern
build. paved with red tiles and lit with
small hanging lamp. To right and left
were doors leading TO the ground aoor
rooms. Along the wall by my shoulder
ran n line Of pegs. on which hung half
dozen hats and greStcoatS, every one OF
clerical shape, and full in front of me a
broad staircase ran up, with a staring
brussels carpet, the colors and pattern Of
which / can recall AS well as today's break
fast. Under this staircase was set a stand
full Of walking sticks and a table Uttered
with gloves, brushes, a hand bell riding
crop, one or two dog whistles, and bed
room candle with finder box beside it.
Thia with one notable exception, WAS al