Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-03-10


But Mrs Berrydale was in one of her
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 ii smugger, or it
may be Captain Fred Maryland.
She pushed the creuking door open
and entered, still dragging Melane at
her heels.
"a liquor storage L 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 All" with sudden
inspiration, wasn't it lucky l stole
Fred's matches away
She drew the box of matches from her
pocket with a quick motion which was
hubitual to her. In the same instant
the dark doorway was again darkened-
this time by n tall, masculine figure.
Captain Maryland"
Mrs. Berrydale stood transtixed with
amazemcnt, the box in one hand, the
upraised match, ready to strike against
it, in the other.
Captain Maryland snatchei both from
her and thrust them deep into his pocket.
"Now go!' said he, in deep, stern
accents.
Mrs Berrydale flushed to the very
roots of her curly, gold-brown bangs.
Il won't" she cried. "You forget,
Captain Mary land, that you are not on
your own quarter deck And anyhow, y
with tone of defiant miI"', Is. :. :, nSl .n
voice. "pve p,+ 40 match lett In the
h".. b"..' >. u nj NY pocket"
She was fumbling for it, when 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 tho 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!"
"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
Melanie'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 lane
which led to the farmhouse where they
had been boarding for few weeks.
Then, rs they paused to regain breath,
Alelanie looked at her companion in
surprise.
"Helen," she exclaimed, "you are
crying!"
I'll can't help it," sobbed Mrs. Ber-
rydale Gle looked at me so! He
spoke so sternly"
"Helen, you love him"
"No, DON'T! cried Mrs. Berrydale,
stamping her foot. 81 hate him."
And then she sat down among the
daises and swcetfern and cried harder
than ever, until the first sprinklings of
a coming shower compelled her to ac-
company Melanie into the house.
''lve got the match in my pocket
still, she said, when she was bathing her
eyes before tea. 'I-l don't care now
whether Captain Maryland smokes or
not"
Just as they sat down to the table, q
flash of blue lightning outblazed the
humble kerosene lamp upon the table
a crash of thunder shook the walls.
Mrs. Brrrydale gave Il little shrek
She was nervous in thunder storms.
81 dew 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 tho com
pany amt goin' to send for it till next
week"
The what?" said Mrs. Berrydale.
"The powder magazine" explained
the farmers wife. ''Dont ye know
That al old stun buildin' out on Pebble
Beach. 'Tain't possible ye amt no.
ticed it?'
Mrs, Berrydale and Meanie Morton
looked at each other. Both had grown
very pale, but the good farmers wife OBJ
served nothing,
81 guess it's safe 'nough, d" said she,
us another peal sounded further off.
"The storms goin' off east, thank good
ncssw
In half an hour the rain was over, and
the moon was shining brightly. Molanie,
who sat at the window, gave little start.
81 think-there comes Charley Tor
rance, said she, "up the garden walk"
"And I'm almost sure whispered
Mrs. Berrydale, Captain Maryland is
with him."
Melanie ran out to meet her lover.
Mrs Berrydac sat still in the pAror
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 littlo match box which had so
nearly procipitated them all into eternity.
"Here they are, Helen" he said. ~
give them back to you. You didn't
know, did you that you were standing
in powder magazine when took them
from you so abruptly"
81 didn't know then, Captain Mary
land, said Mrs. Bcrrydale, in u low
voice. 81 know it now And it was
your promptncss and decision that saved
my ife-all of our lives"
"You will forgive me them" he
pleaded.
"Oh, Captain Maryland!"
And you will speak to me ugan1"
Mrs. Berrydalo's head dropped.
"You are cruel" she whispered.
"Cruel |! And to you? Oh, Helen
oh, my darling"
When Mrs. Berydalo went back to
New York, it was 10 buy her wedding
gown. The feather factory had to look
out for new cashier. She and Melanie
were to be lifelong ncighbors after all.