St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-07-07


: 1 sing OF nothing but myself.
Arthur Grissom. in Halo
THE BELFRY LIGHT.
A Touching Romance and Tragedy
Of the Sea
NOW, who's that at the door this
time o. night?" said Aunt Keziah. with
ont stopping her needles
But We spoke not a word; only Dolly,
who sat on the stool beside me.
clasped her hands on her bfue-checked
apron and her eyes looked large and
bright in the freight.
''Welr'-Aunt keziah peered over her
spectaclcs-'why don't you get up'n
seer"
Then Dolly turned her gaze on me.
and put down the wood l was whit
tling into = boat and went to the door,
As | unattached it another knock
sounded, and thcn q gust OF wind
swung it open and pushed me behind
1t. and 1t 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 Shefio. how did you
get across the meadow this night? Da-
vid, shut the door," said Aunt keziah.
with the wind! With the wind!''
tho little old woman spoke in = cracked
voice; and rs she reached to stand her
stick In the chimney corner. Dolly
shrank back almost of the stool
Well, it's = wonder you don't get
your death. that's ALL" said Aunt Ke-
ziah. still knitting. "David, fetch =
chair"
Mother Sheflo 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 blinked sharply rs she seized
my jacket sleeve with one hand. which
thought looked like birds claw.
mice boy, good boyw she said. peer
ing into my face. He don't throw
stones-no, no."
l flushed hotly with guilt, and re-
fused to meet her piercing eyes, for the
day before / had thrown a stone at
Captain, Mother Sheho'S cat, as
passed her cottage; and all the village
knew that Mother Shedo's cat was
wondrous wise.
mo! no." she repeated
''Now said Dolly. and then put her
finger in her mouth.
Mother Shefio's eyes blinked rapidly.
''Bad boys stone Captain, and he knows
'em. Az, he knows 'em all. every one!
He follows 'em about. He knows q bit,
does Captain! Nice boy, good boy"
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 Shefio.
''iet my death. you say. keziah Allan?
Get my death?" croaked the old wom-
IN. mot this night! There's death
out yonder on the sea; there's life on
land-lifc, lifer' She began to Groom
to herself. Her skinny hands were
locked together and her eyes were on
the fire.
lyon must ha' caught it, then" said
Aunt Keziah, ''or you'd never ha' got
way over here in wind like this"
II ride. ride muttered the old
woman.
"'Tisn't a broom" said Dolly. putting
. plump finger on the cane in the Chin
ney corner and drawing it back sud-
denly.
'.Ho! no! Hear the baby.e Would
you like to ride some night, my pretty
one, up, up, up where the doves whis-
per in the belfry?"
Dolly shook her head with fright
ened look and drew back nearer me.
"Ah: you're afraid the naughty
boys VIII stone you for a white dove?
Naughty boys. not good ones, like
him!" She pointed a skinny finger at
me, and in the shadow felt her black
eyes reading my thoughts for that
very day 1 had stoned belfry dove,
and the doves belonged to Lefty, the
parsons housekeeper
''How 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 a thing o. wild nights when I've
gone to see If the lamp was set Nights
like this-the kind that washes 'em 10.
washes 'em in. Go look--she nodded
ut me-''go see if the lamp is set in the
belfry."
went to the window and drew the
house. l heard the breakers battling
far on. 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
straigkt ontward-the light in tie bel
fry tower
.It's there" said I. returning to the
chimney corner.
$50 that's what brought YOU spoke
Aunt Keziah to the old woman. Il
thought as much. Why don't you keep
In your bed night like thise The
narson'll have the light set. never
fear.'
.I couldn't lie quiet this night. not
this night of hailowmas, for thinking
of 'em being washed in. The other
w.s such rs this, and the light went
out-the light went out.H
I. She chanted the words, gazing into
%he Are --'s '-
.what put it out'' l asked. sitting
down beside Dolly.
..Spirits. had spirits."
..Husnph:s Owls and bats, more like
W. said Aunt keziah.
..They doqtt trouble it. you know
.h.t. Kezish Allen It don't stay set
.rie.s .. r'Elep nyssEe on II. for The
S:.s, ,hexxlapasind'n IN, IL Went. out.
The light went oat.
she crooncd the words over and over,
-:.h her cysS upon the fire
49,