The Forrest City times., 1894-05-11


 many thing O wild nights when I've gone to see if the lamp was set Nights like this-the kind that washes 'em in, washes 'em in! Go look"-she nodded at me-''go see if the lamp is set in the belfry."
 went to the window and drew the curtain. A great wind shook the house. l heard the breakers battling far off, 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 straight outward-the light in the oel- fry tower.
 Its the-e." said l. returning to the chimney corner.
 ''So that's what brought you" spoke Aunt Keziah to the old woman. II thought as much. Why don't you keep in your bed night like this? The parsonll have the light set, never fear!'
 ''I couldn't lie quiet this night, not this night of Hallowmas, for thinking of 'em being washed in. The other was such as this, and the light went out-the light went out!"
 She chanted the words, gazing into the fire
 What put it out?" I asked, sitting down beside Dolly.
 Spirits! Bad spirits.''
 "Humph! Owls and bats, more like ly," said Aunt Keziah.
 "They don't trouble it, you know that, Keziah Allen! It don't stay set unless keep my eye on it, for the night they all washed in, it went out! The light went out!"
 She crooned the words over and over, with her eyes upon the fire.
 Ut has gone out more than once when you were the first to notice it, that's the truth said Aunt Keziah, her needles flying. ''I don't believe you ever sleep O nights!'
 Not nights like this, can't lay quiet in my bed,' said the old woman.
 "Why not?" l asked, growing bolder.
 Spirits she cried, with sudden flame in her eye. They're about such nights, boy, and they move the light, and in the morning they're all washed in-washed in on the sand."
 'Law, Mother Sheflo, there ain't been any wrecks washed in for long time, and no spirits have been about in my day" spoke Aunt Keziah, soothingly. "rve heard tell of lem often enough, but they must have left these parts d many year ago. It's nothin' but the wind and the bats that puts the belfry light out"
 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 'em," I said. and Dolly nodded shyly Then Mother Shetlo 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-balxin' in the kitchen, a-gettin' ready for the weddin'. Big cakes and
  chickens-rows an rows of 'em. Marthy Allan a-reddin' up m putin spruce and pine over the pictures an wipin' chiny, an me ip the winder. All d1y in the winder, looixin' cross the bay. Break CTS like them a-roarin' now. Hear 'em. Listen to 'e:n. That's the klnd. They'll wash 'em in! It was John Allan come 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 boat yonder,' he says 'his boatr
 "'Hush!' says Mary Anna, noddin' at the winder, an John Allan throws up his arms and runs out. m l after him, an Marthy an Mary Anna comin' be- hind Ay, but twas gettin' dark. an a monster sea was roarin'. We all stayed out a-waitin' for the boat It got mighty dark, dark as night. an we couldn't see thing. got lantern out O the kitchen an climbed the bel fry stairs unbekuown to 'em all Ugh, but the bats hit hard an screeched like all of lem was doin' out yonder on shore! They nit my face and blinded my eyes, but didn't mind. l set the lamp in the winder ar went down again down. down. It shone far out to the boat Ugh, how the breakers fought that night He always could manage a boat, couldn't he, Keziah?' Aunt keziah nodded.
 "Then all of sudd en the light went out-ciean out, Keziah.' The old wom- ans black eyes flashed
 .'So I've heard tell" said Aunt ke- ziah.
 "All were screechin' for light They . might ha, rcnehed 'eIn John Allan said