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

sea, and Mrs. Berrydale involuntarily
put up her. plump hand, dimpled in each
one of its FIVE joints, to shield her eyes
from the ribbon Of flame which blazed
along the waves.
"Isn't it lovely sight" said she.
"And only to think that tomorrow we
shall have to 60 back to those dismal
city streets and begin the daily grind of
workday life. Oh, / don't know how l
shall ever endure it after these delicious
two weeks by the seashorew
Mrs. Berrydale was cashier in huge
feather factory, charming widow, who
answered exactly to Byron's idea OF
"fat, fair and forty"
Her companion, tall, slim girl, with
rich brown hair, large hazel eyes and be-
witchingly irregular features, smiled.
"We?" said she, with slight accent
of interrogation in hor voice.
"Oh, forgot" cried Mrs. Berrydale.
"But really, Melanie Morton, do you
intend to give up oil your prospects and
bury yourself alive in this country
place?"
ave promised Charley" quietly
responded Melanie.
''But he's nothing on eacth but the
keeper of lighthouse!" pleaded Mrs.
Berrydale, ''and only think of being
shut up in that living tomb, half mile
out to SEAL
al shouldn't mind it ut all, so long as
Charley was there, too" demurely an
swered Melanie.
at will be awfully lonesome!
"With ones husband?"
"And you've been used to such gay
life in Madison's store"
at has been too gay" said Melanie.
"And every one says old Madison
would marry you in a minute it you'd
give him the least encouragement"
Melanie elevated her pretty little nose.
aid rs soon marry the wooden
Peruvian in front of tobacco store,
said she.
THAT reminds me-" said Mrs. Berry
dale, laughing. "Look here, Nell
In the plump, white hand she held out
two or three cigars, brown-scaled and
fragrant, and box of matches.
speaking of tobacco stores" said
she, III snatched these away from Cap
tain Maryland this morning"
"What for?"
because think he's smoking too
much. Because I've told him he mus
stop, and yet he still keeps on" declared
the widow.
care you Captain Maryland
fkeeper?" laughingly demanded Melanie
"Well, no, not exactly, but"
"Helen!" cried Melanie, Selling boil
her companions hands and looking he
resolutely in the face, "you are blushing
You are absolutely blushing!
"No, I'm mott" cried Mrs. Berrydale
looking pinker than ever. Its the re
Election of that red sunset over tn
water. Why should l blush?'
because you like Fred Maryland
You know you do. Helen! Helen! if onl..
YOU would marry Fred, and then we nee
neither of us go back to the city again
We could be so happy, Helen"
"Mel, what nonsense you are talking
He never has asked mev'
"But he would if you'd give him tn
slightest chance. And he has such
pretty colonial cottage, and he owns
fifth of the vessel he commands"
"a sea captain is too much in tn
habit of commanding" observed Mr'
Berrydale, solemnly. "He might war
to command me ! Oh, Mel, look there
We're not half mile away from ths
ruinous old tower on Pebble Poin
Let's go and see what it's like. Come
is our last night here"
but Charley told me not to 60 net
i'll" urged Meianie.
Mrs. Berrydale tossed her handsom
blonde hend.
"Thats the very reason mean to go
said she. "And Charley needn't know
.Indeed, Helen, I'D rather notl"
"Just as you please" said Mrs. BE
rydale, rising from the rock upon whi'
she had perched herself. eff you''
rot the conscience to desert me, do 8
But I'm undetermined to see what's in Il
Inside of that old ruin"
And, unwillingly enough, Melun
followed hen friend across the gllsteniI
sand, frfnged with ridges of still dro
ping seaweed, and dotted here and the
with odd little convoluted shells.
'Its nothing worth visiting" reason
she. al dare soy it used to be an O
church, and there's nothing left of 1t b
the tower"
"Fiddlestioks!" said Mrs. Berrydal
"A church indeed! But you belle
everything that Charley Torrance re
you. It's a real old Revolutionary rel
Just ace how thick the walls arel A
what dear little slit-like windowsl Oh
must get into the placel Perhaps III