The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-07-20
THE BELFRY LIGHT.
a Touching Romance and Tragedy
of the Sea-.

NOW. who's that ut the door this
time o night?" said Aunt Keziah with
out stopping her needles.
But we spoke not word; only Dolly,
who sat on the stool beside me,
clasped her hands on her blue-checl1ed
apron and her eyes looked large and
bright in the freight.
'Welr'--Aunt keziah peered over her
spectacles-'why don't you get up'n
see?'
Then Dolly turned her gaze on me,
and put down the wood I was whit
Ting into boat and went to the door.
AS | unattached it another knock
sounded, and then gust of wind
swung it open and pushed me behind
it, and at the same time blew in a
queer, witchlike figure. who. with her
long cloak Tapping about her, seemed
swept straight to the fire on the gale.
She stood there, her black eyes snap
ping first ut Aunt Keziah, then at Dol
ly, while forgot to close the door.
why, Mother She1o, how did you
get across the meadow this night? Da-
vid, shut the door," said Aunt Keziah.
with the wind! With the wind!"
the little old woman spoke in a cracked
voice; and as she reached to stand her
stick in the chimney corner, Dolly
shranll back almost off the stool.
well, it's a wonder you don't get
your death, that's ALL" said Aunt Ke-
ziah, still knitting. David, fetch q
chair"
Mother Shefo perched herself on the
proffered chair. Her feet did not reach
the floor. Her quilted hood showed
loose strands of sparse gray hair. and
her eyes blinlzed sharply as she seized
my jacket sleeve with one hand, which
thought looked like birds claw.
Nice boy, good boyr' she said, peer
ing into my face. "He don't throw
stones-no, mop
flushed holly with guilt, and re-
fused to meet her piercing eyes, for the
day before had thrown stone at
Captain, Mother Sheho's cat, as /
passed her cottage; and all the village
knew that Mother Sheflo's cat was
wondrous wise
''No! mol" she repeated.
mol" said Dolly, and then put her
finger in her mouth.
Mother Sheflo's eyes blinked rapidly.
Bad boys stone Captain, and he knows
'em! Ay, he knows 'em all, every one!
He follows 'em about! He knows a bit,
does Captain! Nice boy, good boyl"
The last words were addressed to me,
and she smiled sidewise as she released
my arm. I drew back, relieved, into
the shadow of the chimney. Dolly was
twisting her apron into knot, but her
great eyes were on Mother Sheho.
''Get my death, you say, Keziah Allan?
Get my death?" croaked the old wom-
an. Not this night! There's death
out yonder on the sea; there's life on
land-life, life!" She began to Groom
to herself. Her skinny hands were
locked together and her eyes were on
the fire
"You must ha' caught it, then" said
Aunt Keziah, "or you'd never ha' got
way over here in a wind like this. ?"
II ride! l ride!" muttered the old
woman.
"'Tisn't broom" said Dolly, putting
q plump finger on the cane in the Chin
ney corner and drawing it back sud-
denly.
"Ho! no! Hear the baby! Would
you like to ride some night, my pretty
one, up, up, up where the doves Wills
per in the belfry?"
Dolly shook her head with fright
ened look aud drew back nearer me.
"Ah! you're afraid the naughty
boys will stone you Tor white doye2
Naughty boys, not good ones, like
hin!' She pointed skinny finger at
me, and in the shadow l felt her black
eyes reading my thoughts, for that
very day had stoned belfry dove,
and the doves belonged to Lefty, the
parsons housel1eeper.
''now they chatter and whisper. the
doves that fly through the village, and
carry away the words and doings of
men! know EN-! They've told me
many thing o wild nights when I've
gone to see if the lamp was set Nights
like this-the kind that washes em in,
washes 'em in! Go look"-she nodded
at me-''go see if the lamp is set in the
belfry,"
went to the window and drew the
curtain. A great wind shook the
house. heard the breakers battling
far off, as loved to imagine them in
the night, making through the dark
ness the sounds of drum and cannon.
Outside was solid blackness, save for
one streak of light which shone
straight outward--the light in the bel
fry tower.
"It's there" said l, returning to the
chimney corner
$50 that's what brought you," spoke
Aunt Keziah to the old woman. ~
thought as much Why don't you keep
in your bed night like this? The
parsonll have the light set, never
fearr'
u couldn't lie quiet this night, not
this night of AaIlowmas, for thinking
of 'em being washed in. The other
was such as this, and the light went
out-the light went out!
She chanted the words, gazing into
the fire.
what put it out?" l asked, sitting
down beside Dolly.
''Spiritsl Bad spiritsr
'liumph! Owls and bats, more like.
ly," said Aunt Keziah.
They don't trouble it, you know
that, Keziah Allen! 1t don't stay set
unless keep my eye on it, for the
night they all washed in, it went out!
'fhc light went outT
SIT has gone out more than once
when you were the first to notice it,
that's the TRUTH" said Aunt Keziah,
her needles flying. 81 don't believe
you ever sleep o nights"