The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-01-06

1--WE must be near the Ford" Maud
said, and at that moment the carriage
stopped.
Jerry appeared at the door, lantern
in hand. In the pouring rain both he
and the Light looked dim and far away.
tThe bridge is gone, he said, looking
scared
Chris, what shall we do?"
This from Maud
There amt but one thing fur you to
do, and that's to stay at Peridin's TO-
night.p
That's out of the question" Maud
said, emphatically.
eNo Twin creature could ever drive
through that ragin' ford, an we can't
go back till morning. I don't see as
there's much choice"
Jerry would not argue long with US;
the rain was coming down in binding
sheets, and the wind continued to howl
! 6ercely.
81 know them Peridins," ne added by
way of consolation. "Me sister worked
there fore Miss Annie died. l don't
credit them stories about the young
leddy's ghost, meself. I'll be some
where in the house, an I'll stick by ye,
thick or thin"
Jerry had grown old in the family
service. His advice had great weight
with us, and ended in our driving
through the stubby, water-soaked field
to the remains of the Peridin gate,
where we waited while he asked at the
house for shelter. There was no alter
native.
Come ono shouted Jerry, soon re-
appearing
He began to collect our wraps and
umbrellas, Maud gathered the fullness
Of her silkeu skirts in one hand, and
with the other kept her cloak about
her. Jerry essayed to hold the family
umbrella over her head, but the wind
turned it inside out and whirled it out
of his grasp. Our feet sank above the
ankles in water, and the rain beat upon
us under our huttering cloaks. With
difficulty we made our way up the ir-
regular path to the house.
At the hall enrance stood a tall,
thin woman, shading the pickering lamp
she held with one transparent hand; the
wind blew her long black dress closely
about her spare form.
Come in she said, as we hesitated
upon the threshold, the driving rain
pelting in upon US. cit is a dreadful
night" shutting the door. II am glad
to offer you shelter" But she did not
look glad.
Our footsteps sounded hollow and
strange in the gloomy hall; hers were
soft and silent. She ushered us into a
large room, empty save for a few
chairs and table, and without further
words went to make ready a chamber
for us. We sat in silence, peeriag out
into the inky darkness of the sky; only
the sound of the storm broke the in
tense stiffness of the lonely house.
eff you should get scared in the
night" Jerry whispered at last, 'jist
you yell fur me. I'll be somewhere
near. After l do what l can Cor the
horses, I'll jist hint fur to have the
room next yours, or a pallet in the
hall"
Presently we followed our hostess up
wide flight of stairs, which creaked
ominously with the unusual weight.
Probably for twenty years only her
soft footstep had been pressed there.
She ushered us into room at the foot
of the upper stairs.
81 hope you will be comfortable" she
said, putting the candle on the bureau.
"Now goodnight"
Comfortable, indeedr echoed Maud
miserably, when the door closed be,
hind her.
She took up the light and walked
slowly around the room, trailing her
wet garments after her; first she
pressed softly on the walls, but found
no door other than that by which we
had entered then she searched dill
gently for some hidden thing in the
large dark wardrobe; but it was filled
to OVERLOOKING with bed linen, yellowed
with age. She opened every drawer
looked brhind it, and behind two trunks
but discovered nothing in any way
: mysterious.
.tOh Chris - she cried in 6ismav