Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-24

Don't, Helenl' she argued. "It's
growing dusk and the wind has turned
cold" She shivered slightly as she
spoke. "I'm sure there's a storm blow
ing up"
But Mrs. Berrydale was In one Of her
merriest, most willful moods. She
caught Melanie's hand and dragged her
into the shadow Of the solid-looking old
tower.
perhaps to meet your fate!" said she,
rolling her RS in true Evolutionary
fashion. at may be the ghost of Cap
tain Kidd, or Il may be a smuggler, or II
may be Captain Fred Maryland"
She pushed the creaking door open
and entered, still dragging Melanie at
her heels.
"a liquor storage, think" said,
straining her syes into the semi-dark-
ness. "A lot of little barrels, laid on
their sides! Now-I-do-wonder--
what-they--are? Ali" with a sudden
inspiration, "wasnt 1t lucky l stole
Fred's matches awayf"
She drew the box of matches from her
pocket with quick motion which was
habitual to her. In the same instant
the dark doorway was again darkened-
this time by tall, masculine figure.
"Captain Maryland!'
Mrs. Berrydale stood transfxed with
amazement, the box in one hand, the
appraised match, ready to strike against
1t, in the other.
Captain Maryland snatched both from
her and thrust them deep into his pocket.
"Now CO." said he, in deep, stern
accents.
Mrs. Berrydale flushed to the very
roots of her curly, gold brown bangs.
81 won't!" she cried. "You forget,
Captain Maryland, that you are not on
your own quarter deck! And anyhow"
with tone of defiant mischief in her
voice, "Pve got one match left in the
bottom of my pocket"
She was fumbling for it, when the toll
sea captain suddenly caught her up in
his arms as If she had been an diversified
wax doll, and, striding through the mar
row doorway, carried her some dozen
yards or so across the glistening beach,
before he put her down.
"How dare youi" cried the widow,
involuntarily putting up her hand to
straighten out her rumpled tresses. 81
never, never will forgive you"
"But Helen"
"Nor will ever speak to you again"
"Mrs. Berrydale-"
But before he could get the words out,
the pretty widow had once more seized
Melanies wrist, and the two were van
ishing into the gray folds of the twi-
light.
Neither of them spoke until they had
reached the quiet, apple-tree shaded lane
which led to the farmhouse where they
had been boarding for few weeks.
Then, as they paused to regain breath,
Melanie looked at her companion in
surprise.
"Helen," she exclaimed, "you are
crying!"
I'll can't help it!' sobbed Mrs. Ber-
rydale. "He looked at me SO! he
spoke so sternly"
"Helen, you love him."
"No. don't!" cried Mrs. Berrydale,
stamping her foot. IL hate him!"
And then she sat down among the
daises and sweetfern and cried harder
than ever, until the first sprinklings of
a coming shower compelled her to ac-
company Melanie into the house.
"1've got the match in my pocket
STILL" she said, when she was bathing her
eyes before tea. "I&I don't care now
whether Captain Maryland smokes oil
not"
Just as they sat down to the table, q
fash of blue lightning outblazed the
humble kerosene lamp upon the table
a crash of thunder shook the walls.
Mrs. Berrydale gave little shrek.
She was nervous in thunder storms.
II dew hope the powder magazine
won't be struck" said the farmers
wife, coming in with plate of hot waf
hes. "Cap'n Maryland, he's jest had i
filed full his last wage, an the com
pany amt goin' to send for it till mex
week.
1.-THE what?" said Mrs. Berrydale.
"The powder magazine" explained
the farmers wife. don't We know
Tint ar old stun buildin' out on Pebbl
Beach. 'Tain't possible ye amt no
ticed it?"
Mrs. Berrydale and Melanie Morton
looked at each other. Both had grow
very pale, but the good farmers wife oh
served nothing.
al guess it's safe 'nough," said she
as another poal sounded further of
1.-The storms goin' off east, thank good
ness!
In half an hour the rain was ovar, an,
tho moon was shining brightly. Melanie
who sat ut the window, gave little start
II think-there comes Charley Tor
rance" said she, Cup the garden walk!
"And I'm almost sure" whisperc
! Mrs. Berrydale, Captain Maryland
with him."
Melanie ran out TO meet her Lover
Mrs Berrydale sat still in the parlo
, until Captain Maryland entered. The
she rose, and looked up into his fac
With pleading eyes.
, He held out the fragrant brown cigar
/ and the little match.box which had 6
nearly precipitated them all into eternity
Here they are, Helen" no said. g
! give them back to you. You didn
know, did you, that you were standin
0 in powder magazine when took thei
q from you so abruptly"
, az didn't know then, Captain Mary
land" said Mrs. Berrydale, in 10
O voice. II know it now. And 1t WI
/. your promptness and decision that save
4 my Iife-all of our lives"
!! "You will forgive me then?"
t pleaded. -.
!. "Oh, Captain Maryland!'
!; "And you will speak to me again
Mrs. Berrydale's head dropped.
n "You are cruel!" she whispered.
"Crucll 1? And to you? Oh, Helen.
o oh, my darling!"
When Mrs. Berrydale went back