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

had found its heaven of rest, and pas
sively allowed herself 10 De led away.
When our hostess returned she extin-
/ guished the light. and beckoniug us 70
follow, went out swiftly and down
stairs TO our room.
! NOW get into bed as quickly as you
can" she said peremptorily, almost
pushing Maud in between the blankets;
then she tucked the wooden coverings
snugly around her as if she were a
COLD.
Neither of us said a word the woman's
face was stern, unyielding, but through
the hardness indescribably sad. felt
the moment l saw her in Annie Peri
denis room that we had infringed upon
a sacred secret, and my humiliation
was great. When she was satisfied
that we were warmly covered she stood
in silence for a few seconds. think
she saw tears in Maud's eyes, for she
asked her if she were still frightened.
Without waiting for an answer, she
|
the bedside and began to tell US of her
sister.
"Since you have seen tonight the
secret of the Peridin house ! think
will tell you Armies sad story. You
may keep silence concerning it or you
may not; do not know; you are stran-
gers to me, although I once knew your
father. Everyone thinks Annie died
years ago, and we would much rather
have it so; my father had the stone
put in the family lot in memory
of the daughter whe died to him
when her reason fed.
''When her lover went to the war,
many years ago, Annie Peridin was a
young and lovely girl. With heart full
of hope, and thrilling with youthful
ambition, Willis Noble marched away.
For over year we heard of him as
lighting bravely, then one night his
colonel came TO tell us that Willie was
dead, he had died like brave soldier,
doing his duty.
"At first Annie would not believe it,
but hope sank into awful fear; she fell
i'll, raving and praying for Willie's re-
turn. When her bodily strength came
back her mind was almost a blank
memory had ceased Just when the shock
came. BY and by she resumed her old
work at the spinning wheel. In war
times, you know, no one could buy
enough clothing; the cloth was made at
our homes. She seemed to think that
when a certain amount was finished
Willie would come back to her
Gradually her work absorbed her at
tention altogether. She sat up night
after night TO spin and in day time
slept. Day after day l cut the cloth il
the loom and took away little rolls Of
thread, so that she should never finish
"She would not walk out in the sun
shine; sometimes, late on moonlight
nights, she stole out alone to sit in the
shadow of the lilac tree by the gate
where she and Willie stood when he
babe her good-by, 50 long ago. Super
stitious people thought her a ghost
father could not look at her, the SHOCK
almost killed him. She did not seem tc
care for him any longer. in the old af
fectionate way. She has not seer
| him for years, but often, when she
sleeps, he drags himself YEARLY up tC
her chamber to look upon her Poor
father For many years they have
called the Peridin house haunted, ant
have kept away from us, but it i.
better so-better that no one shoulC
know but our poor Annie lies at rest II
the churchyard."
She drew long breath and pause.
Forgive me- Maud entreated
"You were so good to US, too-but We
were terribly frightened
! "My child, there is nothing to for
give. Your terror was but natural
I should have taken You into my room
but she was so quiet that I did no
think she would rise and dress again.
"How sorry ami" Maud said softly
! tears filling her beautiful eyes.
!. Yes, dear bur remember she is no
always unhappy. Sometimes | thinl
that before very long the graciou
) Father will give her light, for sh,
J grows more fragile every day"
! She rose to go; the tragedy Of he
| life vvae indeed ron dear, for taars