The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-09
THE TWO HOUsEHOLDERs.

For conceive my case. 1t was neal
midnight by this; and, eve~ since dusk
had been tracking the naked moors
afoot, in the teeth of as vicious q
Lor'-wester as ever drenched a man tC
the Skin and then blew the cold home
to his marrow. My clothes were sod.
den; my coat-tails tapped with a
noise like pistol-shots; my boots
squeaked as went. Overhead the
October moon was in her last quarter,
and might have been a slice of finger
nail for all the light she afforded.
1t was at this instant that, far
away to the left, a point OF light
caught my notice, faint but steady;
and at once felt sure it burned IN the
window of q house.
cut straight across the heather
toward the light, risking many quags
and pitfalls, and soon a flicker OF
moonlight gave me glimpse of the
houses outline. 1t proved to be a
deal more imposing than hadlooked
for-the outline, in fact, OF tall,
square barrack, with a cluster OF
chmneys at either ends, like ears, and
high wall, topped by the roofs OF
some Outbuildings, concealing the
lower windows. There was no gate in
this wall, and presently guessed the
reason, was approaching the place
from behind, and the light came from
a back window on the first floor.
The faintness OF the light was also
explained by this time. 1t shone be-
hind a drab-coIored blind, and in
shape resembled the stem of wine
glass, broadening out at the foot, an
effect produced by the half-drawn cur
talns within. / came to halt, wait
ing for the next ray OF moonlight. At
the same moment a rush of wind
swept over the chimney stacks, and
on the wind there seemed to ride a
human sigh. And then, to my dismay,
the light faded from the window.
| was half-minded to call out, when
it appeared again. this time in two
windows-those next on the right to
that where it had shown before. AL
most at once it increased in brlllance,
as if the person who carried it from
the smaller room to the larger was
lighting more candles. During the
minute or more that l stood watch
ing no shadow fell on either blind.
But l now perceived that the sur
rounding wall advanced some way
before the house. So much of it, too,
as faced the road had been white
washed. which made it an easy mat
ter to find the gate. But as l laid
my hand on its latch | had a sur
prise.
Along the wet surface of the walk
fell d streak of light from the front
door, which stood ajar.
That a door should remain six in
ch6s open on such a night was as
tonishing enough. But looking I'D and
assuring myself that all the rest OF the
facade was black as ink, l wondered
at the inmates who could thus be
careless OF their property Along
the wall by my shoulder ran
line OF pegs, on which hnng half
dozen hats and great-coats,
everyone of clerical shape, and full in
front OF me broad staircase ran up,
with q staring Brussels carpet, the
cOlOrs and patterns of which | can re-
call as well as to-day's breakfast.
Under this staircase was set stand
full OF walking-sticks and Il table lit
tered with gloves, brushes, hand
bell, riding-crOp, one or two dog
whistles and a bedroom candle, with
finder box beside it. This with one
notable exception, was all the furni-
ture.
The exceDtion-which turned me
cold-was the form OF n yellow mastiff
dog, curled on a mat beneath the
table.
But mans habits are not easily
denied. At the end of three minutes
the dog had not moved, and | was
down on the door-mat unlacing my
soaked boots. Slipping them off and
taking them in my left hand, | stood
up and tried a step toward the stairs,
with eyes alert for any movement of
the mastiff. but lie never stirred.
| was glad enough, however, on
reaching the stairs to find them new
ly built and the carpet thick. Up l
went, until | stood still, with q hand
on the rail. A man who has once
felt it knows there is only Cne kind
of silence that can fifty be called
dead" This is only to be found i'll
a great house at midnight. | declare
that, for a few seconds after | rat
tied the stair-rod. you might have
cut the silence with knife If the
house held n clock it ticked lnaudibly.
Upon this silence, at the end OF
minute, broke a light scund-the
clinE, clink of decanter on the rim
of wine-glass. 1t came from the
room where the light was Now, per-
haps, it was the very thought OF
liquor thut put warmth into my cold
bones. II is certain that all OF
sudden Strengthened my back, took
the remaining stairs at two strides,
and walked down the passage as bold
as brass, without caring a iot for the
noise / made. In the doorway |
halted. The room was long, lined
for the most part with books
bound in what they called ''di-