Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-02-18
TWO HOUSEHOLDERS.

q man may SO long afterward--that when
first spied the house 1t put no desire in
me but just TO give thanks.
For conceive my case II was near mid
night by this. and ever since dusk had
been tracking the naked moors a-foot, in
the teeth OF as vicious nor'wester n ever
drenched a man To the skin and then blew
the cold home to his marrow. My clothes |
were sodden; my coat tails Tapped with |
noise like pistol shots; my boots squeaked |
az | went. Overhead the October moon
was in her fast quarter, and might have
been slice @f finger nail for all the light
abe afforded Two-thirds of the time the
wrack hlotted her out altogether, and !
with my stick clipped tight under my arm
pit. eyes puckered up and head bent like
butting rams. but a little aslant, had to
keep my wits agog to distinguish the glim-
mer of the road from the black heath to
right and left. For three hours | had met
neither man nor mans dwelling, and tor
all knew WAS desperately lost, Indeed,
at the cross roads, there had been nothing
for me but to choose the way that kept the
wind on my face. and it gnawed me like a
dog.
Mainly to allay the singing OF my eyes
pulled up at last, turned right about face
leaned back against the blast with a hand
on my hat aud surveyed the blackness |
had traversed It was at this instant that,
far away TO the left. point of light
caught my notice. faint but steady, and ut
once felt sure 1t burnt in the window OF
house. The house." thought |. sis q
good mile Off. beside the other road. and
the light must have been an inch over my
hat brim for the last half hour for my
head had been sloped that way.
This refiection-that on 40 wide moor
had come near missing the information
wanted, and perhaps a supper-sent q
strong thrill down my back.
cut straight across the heather towart
the light, risking quags and pitfalls, Nay
so heartening was the chance to hear n Eel
low creatures voice that broke into
run. skipping over the stunted gorse tina
cropped up here and there, aud dreadiu,
every moment to see the light quenched
Suppose IL burns In an upper window
and the family Is going to bed, woul'
be likely at this hourf" The apprehension
kept my eyes fixed on the bright spot, l.
the scandal of my legs, that within iv
minutes were stuck full of gorse prickles.
But the light did not 20 out. aud soon
flicker Of moonlight gave me glimpse G
the houses outline. 1t proved 10 be dea
more imposing than looked for-the out
line. in fact. Of tall barrack with a clu,
ter OF chimneys at either end like ears, an
high wall, topped by the roofs of som
outbuildings. concealing the lower win
dows There was no gate In this wall an
presently guessed the reason. was nj
preaching the place from behind. aud III
light came from n back window on the fir,
door
The fuintness of the light also was e.
planned by this time Il shone behind
drab eolored blind, aud in shape resemble
the stem of a wine glass, broadening oi
al. he fa.f AN ssrs,lftpf.H hp ha hal
drawn curtains within. ! came 10 a hal
waiting for the next ray of moonlight !
the same moment rush of wind swel
over the chimney stacks, and on the wiz
there seemed To ride human sigh.
On this last point may err. The gu
had passed some seconds before eaugl
myself detecting this peculiar noise. an
trying TO disengage IL from the natur
chords Of the storm. From the next gu
ii WAS absent And then, To my disma
the light failed from the window.
was half minded To call out when IL a
peared again, this time IN two windows
those next on the right TO that where
had shown before. Almost nj once IL /
creased in brilliance. rs II the person WI
carried IL from the smaller room To Il
larger was lighting more candles. and no
the illumination WAS strong enough
make fine gold thread OF the rain that {,
WITHIN It's FAathnGSs anu Ulnk Two suhihs
warm yellow over the coping of the bal
wall into the night. During the minu
or more TINT stood watching no shade
fell on either blind
Between me and the wall ran dite
into the black obscurity of which G
ground 1T my feet broke sharply ava
Setting my back 10 the storm again. {,
lowed the lip OF this ditch around 9
walls angle Here WAS shelter and he
the ditch seemed to grow shaliower n
wishing. however. 10 mistake bed Of M
ties or any such pitfall for solid earth,
kept pretty vide rs | went on. The hou
sas dark on this side. and the wall. as
fore, had no opening. Close beside q
next angle grew a mass OF thick gor
bushes and, pushing through these,
found myself suddenly on sound his
road with the wind tearing at me as flu
ously ever
But here was the front, and | now p
ceived that tbs surrounding wall adyane
some way Def IRE the house. so rs TO form
narrow conrt'age So much of IL, too.
faced the road had been whltewashe
which made II easy TO find the gate. b
as laid my hand upon the latch | had
surprise,
A line of paving stones led from the ga
TO heavy porch, and along the wet 81
face Of these fell a streak Of light from
front door, which stood aiar.
That a door should remain six incl
open on such a night was astonishi
enough. until ! entered the court and foul
IL as still ~ n room, owing TO the hi
wall, aud duuJ tless the porch gave adj
eonal protection. But looking up and
Surfing myself that all the rest OF the faca
was black as ink | wondered at the
mates-thus careless OF their property.
IL was here that my professional
s4inets received the first jog. Ahating I
sound of my feet on the paving stones
went up 10 the door and pushed It softly
Il opened without noise.
stepped into a fair sized hall OF mode
build. paved with red tiles and lit witt
ANAL hanging lamp. To right and
were doors leading &c the ground III
rooms Aion the wall by my khouls
ran line OF pegs. on which hung hall
dozen hats aud greatcoats, every one
clerical shape. and full In front OF ms
broad staircase ran up, with a star
brussels carpet. the colors and pattern
which can recall as well az today's bre4
fast Under this staircase was set a sta
fnll 81 walking sticks and table lite
with gloves, brushes, a hand bell, rid
crop, one or two dog whistles, and 4 b
room candle with finder box beside
This, with one notable exception. was
eha furniff4Fa