The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-05
MY DILEMMA.

MY DILEMMA.
Il was Oh the 5th day of November-Guy
Fawkes' Day in the old almanac that hung
above the mantel in maternal grand
mothers long disused room up stairs. In
this northern home to which we had re-
Gently removed, falling heirs to it through
that very ancestress' will, the jewellers re-
garded November rather as winter than
an autumn month, and today the wind
howled and the rain battered with a per-
sistence marvellous to behold
And, as it happened, was all alone in
the house. Father had gone to take his
russell apples to market-the apples that
myself had helped to harvest and pack into
the barrels-and was not expected home
until tomorrow night at the earliest. Jack,
my brother, was in Montreal fitting up the
law Office which was henceforward 20 be
his abode. Jean, our hard featured, cross
grained old servant, had gone home with
the "rheumatics, as she termed it, to be
treated by certain ancient Indian herb
doctor. and just about dusk Peter, our
useful man" had thrust his shock head
unceremoniously in at the door.
Il say, Miss Ruth, " he had said. there's
plenty Of wood, and everything's ali snug
for the night, and I'm goin over to Steph-
enson's. They're in trouble there"
Trouble, Peterl What kind of trouble;
Is the old man sick?"
But in answer to nv query Peter only
uttered an indistinCt remark and went out,
slamming the door behind him.
stood in front of the fire looking down
at the glowing embers, and bordering
within myself The Stephensons, who
lived in an old graystone house on the
other side Of the precipitous glen. had al
ways been riddle to me.
The family was small, consisting of only
a Grabbed old man. his portentously silent
wife and two tall, ungainly sons, and what
on earth they did with all the big, echoing
rooms, or how they contrived to live,
perched like cagelets on the side OF the
rock, | could not form the least idea. City
boarders," Peter had once grunted out III
answer to my persistent interrogatious.
But if they kept city boarders, why did
they not leave these dreary mountain fast
nesses when the leaves fell and the dismal
autumn fogs gathered above the cIiffs7
Altogether, there was a certain atmoS-
phere of mystery about these Stephen
sons'' that aroused all the Evelike instincts
in my nature.
While stood thinking, soft tap sounded
at the door. / opened it at once, never
once remembering that l was alone in the
house.
I've never oughter do that, Miss Ruth, :"
said the well known accents of Mrs Gludge,
Farmer CIld cye's huxoro wife
'-Do what, Mrs Gludge1'
"Open the door after dark, when your
alone in the house, without askin who's
there"
How did you know I was alone in the
house2"
Il just met Peter goin to Stephenson's."
"Ohi'' said L But we don't have tramps
here, Mrs. Gludge"
I'm not so certain o. that" said the
farmers wife. Your folks hain't lived
enough to the Canada line TO have queer
characters prowlin about when ye least
expect EN-. And then, there's Stephen
sons"
What of Stephensons'" Icried eagerly.
"Who is Stephenson, anyway? Do tell
me, Mrs. Gludge."
well. | declarer' said Mrs Gludge
'ELs it possible, now, that they hain't told
YOU
They have told me nothing" said L
well, it's likely they didn't want to
scare you or make you nervous, said Mrs.
Gludge But all the same, think you d
oughter know"
Mrs. Gludge," cried [, seizing her arm,
"what is it? Do tell me"'
Its private home" said Mrs. Giudge,
lowering her voice TO whisper, as though
the raindrops and the rustling FIR boughs
could overhear.
"A what2'' gasped-
For people of feeble mind, - explained
the woman, and lunies," tapping her fore
head as she spoke.
stared at her.
Then" cried I, that's what Peter
meant when he said that-that"-
"One of the poor creatures has somehow
given 'em the slip" said Mrs. Gludge; IAN
English gentleman from Montreal, as has
only been there few days. Nobody knows
just how it happened but happen it did
Ny mans gone over with a lantern to help
hunt for him; so has Peter"
"He might have told me-" cried indig-
nantly.
Anyway, 1 don't think he ought TO have
left you here alone" said Mrs. Gludge Sc
verelv.
But you've come to stay with me- Mrs.
Gludges"
BLESS your heart, Miss Ruth, MOI I'm
on my way to carry letter TO Mr.. Rom
ney's up the road-a very important letter,
with In haste writ on it" (For in add
ton n her dr1tiaS a. q farp7eT-ss vi IA and
mother Of a large family Of little children.
Mrs. Gludge hel ped her husband IN the care
Of the obscure little country postofice a
mile down the road. "And-by the way, I'd
nearly forgot tive got a letter for you
too. That's what brought me here"
For me, Mrs. Gludge;"
Instinctively put out my hand TO grasp
the treasure, while the woman fumbled
first in one and then n another of her
pockets.
~It's very strange" said she 81 made
sure had it. did have il when / started
away from home; but now | remember.
ust st the foot OF Gibbs Cliff took out
nv handkerchief 10 tie around my neck
The wind came so keen around the rocks
and | must applied it out with that, and
too pitch dark around me 70
see. Oh, Miss Ruth, I'm 50 sorry. Please
don't report me, that's good young lady.
1r shall lose nv placer
l swallowed down 4 great iumF u dis
,omfture in nv throat and tried 10 laugh.
Report you, Mrs Gludge!' said l ''Of
,ourse not. II wasn't your fault II you
hadn't kindly thought Of me and started
% bring it On your way to Ronney's you