Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-14

htlL I1NT eyes NtIt BUM Ch VIZ A~N'
The wind shriekcd in the chimney as
she spoke.
"'Twas Becky and Mary Anna Steele
and Marthy Allan-your mother, Ke.
ziah"-
Aunt Keziah nodded.
"All a-balsin' in the kitchen, a-gettin'
ready for the weddin'. Big cakes and
little cakes, an hams, an pies, an
chickens--rows an rows of'em. Marthy
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, lookin' cross the bay. Break:
ers like them a.roarin' now Hear 'emi
Listen 10 'eml That's the ltindl They'll
wash 'em inl IL was John Allan como
runnin' up the path | saw the wind
bring him along. He burst in with the
wind and spray, an Marthy Allan
dropped the best blue bowl.
There's a boat yonder,' he says
his boatr
"'Hushl' says Mary Anna, noddin' at
the winder, an John Allan throws up
his arms and runs out, m | after him,
an Marthy an Mary Anna comm be-
hind. Ay, but 'twus Pettin' dark, an
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 q thing. got a lantern
out o the kitchen an climbed the bel
/ fry stairs unbelSnown to 'em all. Ugh,
/ but the bats hit hard an screeched
| like all OF 'em was doin out yonder on
shorel They hit my face and blinded
my eyes, but didn't mind. ] set the
lamp in the wlnder an went down
/ again-down, down. 1t shone far out
to the boat Ugh, how the breakers
fought that night lie always could
manage n boat, couldn't ho, dieziah2'
Aunt Keziah nodded.
"Then all of sudden the light went
out-clean out, Keziahl" The old wom-
ans black eyes flashed.
80 I've heard tell" said Aunt Ke-
ziah.
"All were screechin' for light They
might ha' reached 'em. John Allan said
so, They wouldn't let me go out n the
water with one I'd ha' done IL, but
twas all John Allan a-holdiu' me on
shore. But they were all washed in
with the mornin'. Aha, thoy couldn't
hold me thenl Don't let her go" cries
Marthy, a-hangin' to me. But didn't
fling her down, an away went 10
meet 'cm all a-layin' on the sand
Come early to the weddin'l-They
wouldn't let me carry him, John Allan
wouldn't, but went along, an my hair
BLOWN on his face. | put on my white
frocli, 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 u nice mornin.' Go look"
the old woman suddenly turned her
eyes from the fire, with return of rea-
son In thcm-"go look il 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"
"Ay, then I'll get home" she NUT
tered, and, reaching her stick, she
wrapped her cloak around her and hob
bled TO the door
"Arc you going to ride in the ARP
asked Dolly, whose eyes were heavy
with sleep.
AYE! aye! Hear the pretty babyi
Yes, honey, I'll go on puff o wind'
maybe you'd best stop here" said
Aunt Keziah. But Mother She1o was
at the door.
Captains awaitin'," she said, and as
l lifted the latch she gave mo tap
with her stick. mice boy, he don't
throw stones-no, nor
The wind rushed in and swept her
outward into the darkness | heard
the breakers lash the beach, and the
door slammed.
: Ibid she really first set tho belfry
light?" asked, once more by the FIRE.
Aunt KeAah nodded.
!, "Long before my time. They soy it's
saved many n 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 II there been q
light, but before another could be set
I, II went down"
"Ohw 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 a weddingP"
;. l asked, presently. "Whose wedding
was it2"
:, "Iler own" said Aunt Keziah, wind
= . ing her yarn; 'it was his boat That's
!, When her mind went, that night She
set q 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 sense left, but she likes
~ to tell the story over and over Now,
90 10 bed. both o. vOup
"a But Dolly could not get awake, and
y. took her in my arms. Her head dropped
on my shoulder, and, us | started up
4 stairs slowly, she murmured:
q Coin TO ride up N up with the
,r doves" Resting minute on the steps,
n kissed her rosy cheek, and looked
back at Aunt Keziah.
10 81 wish / had known about 1t be-
fore" l said.
.g "Why?" she asked.
Before | threw stones at Captain. "
"Oh, yes; the cats all she's got now y
o. Aunt Keziah looked up, with the
hearth-broom In her hand.
w David" she said, you'd best re-
et member always that when folks are
,e cranky in this world, there's most times
n been heap to make 'em SO, only Other
folks don't think o. that part Out
90 look.
u Bin Dnlton's Remains.
h. ARDMoRE, !. T., June l2.-The body
'e of the dead bandit was identified last