Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-06-10

flying clouds and scuttling shadows made
q weird picture. A strong breeze was
rising, which brought to me the fresh
scent of hay fields, aud could almost
hear the drowsy twitterings of the
birds The sweeping foliage of the
trees as we shot by bowed and swayed
in the night breeze, like dark phan-
toms, pausing just long enough to salute
each other in a grand courtesy before
the revelry Of wild night dance. 1t
brought TO me the lines:
The day is merging into the night.
From the purple into the gray,
And along the cattle trail over the hills,
The foclIs are vending their way
The heather mods itself 10 sleep,
Rocked By the breeze OF the night
The swsying boughs have assumed strong
forms,
In the weird fantastic light"
We whirled by farmhouses standing
In the shadow, and fields heavy with
fruit waiting for the sickle. The
soughiug Of the wind had played upon
my ear until it seemed my window had
become transformed into an Eolian
harp that was playing the story of my
life, and with the silver moon, and the
trees Ike tossing plumes, and the
shadows-I listened
The soft melody of the tender, witch
ing strains was the tiny fingers of my
childhood as they twined about my
mothers heart, and then they increased
and grew as they passed from child
hood into girlhood, losing the subtle
sweetness and PIre note, but increas-
ing in the volume of grand sound and
harmonizing chords--ever increasing
ever changing. shifting, restless and
longing. Then strange, weird strain
swept across the strings, so intensely
sweet with wild imaginings that the
very air seemed TO grow thick and
warm and the strings quivered and
wavered and sobbed and moaned in an
agony of pain, and cried out in anguish
and seemed to break into n ghostly dis
cord as we reached wild prairie
waste.
The moon was out silvery white
banked by dark clouds, while a low,
rambling farmhouse stood silhouetted
against the plains.
The train shot ON. Station after sta
tion was passed until we were almost
home again. / had grown drowsy, and
throwing my heavy travelling wrap
about me | rested against the cushion
Suddenly | raised my head and looked
around the car. ! cannot describe the
force that compelled me. but am quite
sure that had my life been weighed in
the balance against my inclinations
could not have done otherwise. | saw
the same terrible eyes fastened upon
me with that awful glitter, and they
expressed more than mortal tongue
could have done-hatred, revenge, cru
city, fendishness.
| grew sick at heart. ! could under
stand now the fear that must possess
the poor little animal the prey Of the
larger. My limbs trembled. My head
reeled. My teeth chartered like cas-
tenets, and it seemed ts me that the
beating Of my heart could be heard all
over the car above the roar and din Of
the rattling train A desperate thought
flashed through my mind. ! would
speak to the conductor and ask his pro-
lection, or that fatherly looking gentle
man in the corner who resembled a
physician. But what should | say? Tell
him was afraid of n man on the train
NHO "do AOOhAhB ~ fC W VIC
fatherly looking old gentleman with n
blanched face and trembling limbs, and
beg him 10 protect me from some one
who had done nothing TO molest me?
What would they say, or saying moth
ing, what might they think? My mind
was chaos Of conflicting emotions
looked around the eur. Evruent1y
the occupants did not notice my agita-
tion-those who were awake; "a great
many were in various stages of repose,
and / can remember the half frantic
thought that came to me, imagining
how they would wake from their slum-
Der in wild alright should | do what |
was most sorely tempted 10 do-lose my
control and give voice to my nervous
ness in a truly feminine shriek.
How absurd IL would bel / would do
nothing II the very heavens fell ]
would not place myself In such a ridicu-
lous position. tried TO think Of all the
bad things had ever done. They were
too many and gave it up.
II Is claimed by that class of people
termed enthusiasts that actual dissolu-
tion Is not unpleasant, but is preceded 10y
state OF coma, so delightful, in fact
that people who have walked hand In
hand with death almost 10 the shores OF
the other world have rebellcd upon be-
ing awakened.
think ! must have relapsed into
state something very much akin 10 this.
for when the train steamed into the
depot ! was forced TO arouse myself
and made my way rapidly through
the ear 10 the outward entrance.
IL was very dark. The wind blew
gale and the mir Had grown chill. /
hastencd rapidly through the depot
without encountering a familiar face
and picked my way over the pavcInents
under the gaslight.
There was neither II cab nor car ia
sight, and after some little delibera-
tion decided not TO wait. Gathering
my skirts about me disappeared down
n dark street. There was always q
policeman on that corner I knew, and
j could appeal 90 him. ! had been out
many times before at night without OK
pericncing any alarm, but now ] was
timid aud / looked In vain for tho
policcman's familiar form The very
lamp posts seemed 60 stretch out spec
trail arms that were mocleing my fear,
and the massive buildings on either
side Of the street looked grim and fore
boding
II might have been q city OF the dead,
everything was SO sllcnt-not "A soul In
sight. The gas lights had grown dim.
looked about me nervously and rec
ognizcd with horror form that had
grown 10 noe terribly familiar. threw
self-control 10 the winds ana started TO
run. There were only two blocks moro
and felt sure could reach the end OF
the way.
On, on, sped, my heart beating with
such rapidity that II almost sufYocatcd
me. One block more and would be
safe. With u courage born Of despera-
tion made the final effort. looked
around. The form was gaining upon
me rapidly. Would lever reach it2 At
last my foot was on the step and I
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