The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-01-04
wayer from her purpose.

me with ner TO the door; there she
hesitated until voice-a womans-
murmured song then with sudden
resolve born of Intense nervous excite
ment, she pushed it open.
In the dimly lighted room with her
back toward us stood woman, very
slightly and delicately formed; she
turned spinning wheel quickly with
one slim white hand, and as the hum
ming of the wheel died away in a moan
she sang few snatches of song. Her
blonde hair was tied loosely with blue
ribbon and hung In ringlets over her
shoulder; a white ruin ed kerchef was
gracefully knotted over the waist OF
her light dress.
The distaff fell to the floor, and a,
she stopped to pick 1t up she saw us.
For an instant the smile died cut of her
eyes, then she slowly approached. Her
face grew less and less fair as she came
nearer, until / saw with horror an
elderly woman's visage, framed In gray
hair, still family yellow.
Come Income In !" she cried in a
voice still soft and sweet, her vacant
smile returning 81 am making my
wedding clothes, for | am to be mar.
ried when Willie comes home. He's
coming soon, so I must make haste.
Do you know Willis Noblel He's tall
and straight and handsome; his hair is
black, like yours
she raised hor wIthered hand to
touch Maud's blue-back curls; but
Maud, her nerves overweight, uttered
piercing scream.
The poor creature shrank back
frightened.
81 wouldn't hurt you," she said. "Whc
are you twol" her manner suddenly
changing. "You have beautiful
face" turning to Maud. "Do you think
you can take Willie from me2 No
no, that is impossible!"
She tossed her poor faded head and
laughed. ] had an impulse to run, and
my strength would perhaps have held
out little longer, but fore ! could
turn the tall thin form of Miss Perdir
passed swiftly in at the door. She did
not look at us, but going to the CIR
now at the wheel, put her hand on hei
shoulder.
"Annie dear, do You know how late
1t isln It will soon be morning."
The poor crazed creature turned
toward the speaker, letting her finger.
slip from the wheel, and leaning hel
light weight against her
"You look tired, dear; you don't wan
that, do your
mo, mol Do I look badlyl" She
glanced at the dim glass opposite
"Poor Willie! hope he won't find m,
changed.
ono, dear; then take some rest-do
for his sake"
Meeting the look of love in the elderl,
woman's eyes she smiled-not vacant,
this time, but like a tired child WHIT
had found Its heaven of rest, and pas
u
When our hostess returned she extin
guished the light, and reckoning us t,
follow, went out swiftly and dowl
stairs to our room.
NOV get into bed as quickly as yor
cam" she said peremptorily, almost
pushing Maud in between the blankets
then she tucked the wooden covering
snugly around her as If she were
COLD.
Neither of us said a word the woman
face was stern, unyieldlng, but through
the hardness indescribably sad fel
the m,ment saw her In Annie Peri
denis room that we had infringed upoi
sacred secret, and my humiliation
was great. When she was Statistic,
that we were warmly covered she stoo
in silence for a few seconds. thin
she saw tears in Maud's eyes, for sh
asked her If she were still frightened
Without waiting for an answer, sh
put the light on the bureau, came L
the bedside and began to tell us of he
sister.
"Since you have seen tonight tn
secret of the Perldin house think
Will tell you Annie's sad story. Yo
may keep silence concerning it or yo
may not do not know; you are strau
gers to me, although once knew you
father. Everyone thinks Annie die,
years ago, and we would much rattle
have 1t so; my father had the ston
put In the family lot in memor
: of the daughter whe died to hin
when her reason fled
, "When her lover went to the war
many years ago, Annie Peridln was
young and lovely girl. With heart full
of hope, and thrilling with yeuthfu
ambition, Willis Noble marched away
For over year we heard of him a
hghtipg bravely, then one night hi
colonel came 10 tell us that Willie wa
dead, he had died like brave soldier
doing his duty.
AT first Annie would not believe II
but hope sank into awful fear; she fel
Ill, ravlng and praying for Willie's re
turn When her bodily strength cam
back her mind was almost a blank
memory had ceased just when the shoe
came. BY and by she resumed her oil
work at the spinning wheel. In wa
times, you know, no one could bu
enough clothing; the cloth was made a