The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-07-20

Alb lJ Ouu.
But the old woman did not seem to
hear her. She looked straight at the
fire. Her fingers worked nervously
and her lips moved.
Tell about EN- l said. and Dolly
nodded shyly. Then Mother She1o ut
tered in rapid monotone the words she
seemed to have been saying to her.
self. Her eyes were still on the flames.
The wind shrieked in the chimney as
she spoke.
"'Twas Becky and Mary Anna Steele
and Marthy Allan-your mother, Ke-
ziah"-
Aunt Keziah nodded
''All a-bakin' in the kitchen, a-gettin'
ready for the weddin'. Big cakes and
little cakes, an hams, an pies, an
chicl1ens-rows an rows of en-. Mar4hy
Allan a-reddin' up n putin spruce and
pine over the pictures, an wipin' chiny,
an me in the winder All day in the
winder, loolSin' cross the bay. Break
ers like them a-roarin' now. Hear 'enl!
Listen to 'eml That's the kind! They'll
wash 'em in! 1t was John Allan come
runnin' up the path. l saw the wind
bring him along. He burst in with the
wind and spray, an Marthy Allan
| dropped the best blue bowl.
"'There's q boat yonder,' he says
his boatr
"'Hushr says Mary Anna, noddin' at
the winder, an John Allan throws up
his arms and runs out, N l after him,
an Marthy an Mary Anna comm be-
hind. Ay, but twas gettin' dark, an q
monster sea was roarin'. We all stayed
out a-waitin' for the boat. 1t got
mighty dark, dark as night, an we
couldn't see a thing. l got a lantern
out O the kitchen an climbed the bel
| fry stairs unbeknown to 'em all. Ugh,
| but the bats hit hard an screeched
like all of 'em was dom out yondcr on
shore! They hit my face and blinded
my eyes, but didn't mind. l set the
lamp in the winder ar went down
again-down, down. 1t shone far out
to the boat. Ugh, how the breakers
fought that night! He always could
manage boat, couldn't he, Keziah?''
| Aunt Keziah nodded.
"Then all of sudden the light went
out-clean out, Keziahn' The old wom-
ans black eyes flashed.
$50 I've heard TELL" said Aunt Ke-
ziah.
'All were screechin' for light They
might ha' reached 'en. John Allan said
| So They wouldn't let me go out n the
| water with one. I'd ha' done it, but
twas all John Allan a-holdin' me on
shore. But they were all washed in
with the mornin'. Aha, they couldn't
| hold me then! Don't let her go!' cries
| Marthy, a-hangin' to me. But didn't l
fling her down, an away l went to
| meet em all a-layin' on the sand
| Come early to the weddin'! They
wouldn't let me carry him, John Allan
wouldn't, but 1 went along. an my hair
BLOWN on his face. put on my white
| frocls, an my wreath on my hair
| pretty hair, Keziah-"
And again Aunt Keziah nodded.
''An' laughed at Marthy Allan an
Mary Anna a-cryin' an wringin their
| hand Twas nice mornin. Go look
the old woman suddenly turned her
| eyes from the fire, with return of rea-
| son in them-''go look if it's set;" and
again went to the window, and again
saw the line of light streaming from
the belfry tower.
YES" said ''it's there"
SAY, then I'll get home" she NUT
tered, and, reaching her stick, she
wrapped her cloak around her and hob
| bled to the door.
''Are you going to ride in the air?'
asked Dolly, whose eyes were heavy
with sleep
'Aye aye! Hear the pretty babyl
Yes, honey, I'll go on puff O wind!'
Maybe you'd best stop here" said
| Aunt keziah. But Mother Sheflo was
at the door.
Captains awaitin'," she said, and as
lifted the latch she gave me tap
with her stick mice boy, he don't
throw stoncs-no, nor
The wind rushed in and swept her
outward into the darkness. l heard
the breakers lash the beach, and the
| door slammed
Did she really first set the belfry
light?" l asked, once more by the fire
Aunt Kezlah nodded.
''Long before nay time Qhey say it's
saved many vessel, too"
what put it out that night?" again
asked.
"Your grandmother used to say no.
body ever knew. Owls or wind, most
likely. They say the ship might ha'
| kept off the cape rock if there been a
light, but before another could be set
| it went down"
''Ohr' l exclaimed, and thought
awhile, Dolly's curly head had dropped
forward, and in the freight her cheek
was the color of the big roses Aunt
Keziah kept for her jar of leaves.
''What did she mean by wedding?"
I asked, presently. "Whose wedding
was it?"
Her own" said Aunt Keziah, wind.
ing her yarn, sit was hts boat, That's
| when her mind went, that night She
set light in the belfry every night for
many year, till she got so old the
parson got her out O it and had it done
She's got some eense left, but she likes
to tell the story over and over. Now,
go to bed, both O your
But Dolly could not get awake, and
took her in my arms, Her head dropped
on my shoulder, and, as l started up
stairs slowly, she murmured:
Coin to ride up N up with the
doves" Resting a minute on the steps,
l kissed her rosy cheek, and looked
back at Aunt Keziah,
II wish / had known about 1t be-
fore" said.
'Why?" she asked
| tbI.ayHr cf Of f0if