St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-05-07

growing uuSh anu llo Win neS0 '"AA
cold" She shivered slightly as she
spoke. "I'm sure there's storm blow
| ing up"
But Mrs. Berrydale was in one of her
| merriest, most willful moods. She
| caught Melanies 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 elocutionarY
fashion. at may be the ghost OF Cap
tain Kidd, or it may be d smuggler, or it
may be Captain Fred Maryland
| She pushed tho creaking door open
and entered, still dragging Melanio ut
her heels.
"a liquor storage, 1 think" said,
straining her syes into the somi-dark-
ness. "A lot of little barrels, laid on
their sides! Now-I-do-wonder-
what-thoy-are? Ali" with sudden
inspiration, "wasn't it lucky l stole
Frod's matches away?"
She drow the box of matches from her
pocket with quick motion which was
habitual to her. In the same instant
| the dark doorway was again darkencd-
this time by tall, masculine figure.
"Captain Muryland!'
Mrs. Berrydalo stood transfxed with
| amazement, the box in ono hand, the
appraised match, ready to strike against
it, in the other.
| Captain Maryland snatchoi both from
her and thrust them deep into his pocket.
"Now go." said he, in deep, stern
accents.
Mrs. Berrydalo flushed to the very
roots of hor curly, gold brown bangs.
II 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, 1--WE got one match left in the
bottom of my pocket
She was fumbling for it, whom the tall
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 you?" cried the widow,
involuntarily putting up her hand to
straighten out her rumpled tresses. 81
never, never will forgive you'll"
"But Helen--'
"Nor will I ever speak to you againl"
"Mrs. Berydale--"
But before be could get the words out,
the pretty widow had once moro seized
Melanio's 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 lano
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"'
al can't help it," sobbed Mrs. Ber-
rydale. ale looked ut me so! He
spoke so sternly'
| "Helen, you love him"
"No, l don'tr' cried Mrs. Berrydalo,
stamping her foot. 81 hate him."
And then she sat down among the
daises and sweetfern and cried harder
than ever, until the, first sprinklings of
q coming shower compelled her to &C
company Melanie into the house.
"1've got the match in my pocket
STILL" she said, when she was bathing her
eyes before tea. II don't care now
whether Captain Maryland smokes Or
not"
Just as they sat down to tho table,
flash Of blue lightning outbazcd 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 dow hope the powder magazine
won't be struck" said the farmers
wife, coming in with a plate Of hot waf-
fes. "Cap'n Maryland, he's jest had it
filled full his last wage, an the COM
pany amt goin' to send for it till next
week
"The what?' said Mrs. Berrydale.
"The powder magazine" explained
the farmers wife. Don't ye know
That or old stun buildin' out on Pebble
Beach. 'Tain't possible yo amt no.
ticed it?'
Mrs. Berrydale and Melanie Morton
looked at each other Both had grown
very pale, but the good farmers wife OBJ
served nothing.
II guess it's safe 'nough,' said she,
as another peal sounded further off.
''The storms goin' off east, thank good
ness!"
In half an hour the rain was over, and
the moon was shining brightly. Nelanie,
who sat at the window, gave q littlo start.
II think-therc comes Charley Tor
rance said she, "up the garden Walk
"And Pm almost sure,' whispered
Mrs. Borrydale, Captain Maryland is
with him."
Melanie ran out to meet her lover.
Mrs Berrydalo sat still in tho parlor
until Captain Maryland entered. Then
she rose, and looked up into his face
with pleading eyes.
He held out the fragrant brown cigars
and the little match box which had so
nearly precipitate1 them all into eternity.
"Here they are, Helen" he said. II
give them back to you. You didn't
know, did you, that you were standing
in powder magazine when | took them
from you 80 abruptly?"
II didn't know then, Captain Mary
land" said Mrs. Berrydale, in q low
voice. II know it now And it was
your promptnoss and decision that saved
my life-all of our lives
"You will forgive me then?" he
pleaded.
"Oh, Captain Maryland''
"And you will speak to me again2"
Mrs. Berrydale's head dropped.
"You are cruel!' she whispered.
"Cruel l? And to you? Oh, Helen-
oh, my darlingH'
When Mrs. Berrydale went back to
New York, it was to buy her wedding
gown The faather factory had to look