The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-22
THE BELltal LIGHT.
a Touching Romance and Tragedy
OF ths Soa-


time a. night" said Aunt kezi.,h. with
ont stopping her needles
l;ut We spo t not word; only Dolly,
Who sat on the stool beside me.
cia-pct her hand~ on her bluc-chccilei
apron AMI her eyes looked large and
bright IN the freight.
eir--AunI krliah peered over her
#pcct.scie~-'-sv don't you get up'n
.,,.c.'''
Then Dolly turned her gaze on me,
and put down the wood / was whit
thing into Il boat ami went To the door.
As ! Unattached it another knock
sounded, and then gust of wind
swung it open and pushed me behind
II, and at the same time blew IN
queer. witchlilse 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 at Aunt kezian. then at Dol
ly, while forgot to close the door.
WHY, Mother Shetlo. how did You
get across the meadow this night? Da-
vid, shut the door" said Aunt kcziah.
with the wind. With the yyiud,"
the little old woman spoke in a cracked
voice; ana AS she reached to stand her
stick in the chimney corner Dolly
shraull back almost off the stool
We'll, its u wonder you don't get
your death, that's all" said Aunt ka-
Eidh, stiil knitting. David, fetch
chair
Mother Sheflo perched herself on the
protfsrsd chair Her feet dill not reach
the floor. Her quilted hnoI showed
loo-, strands "f sparse gray hair. and
ler eyes hiiulscd sharply u she seized
my Jacket Sieve with one hanl, which
l thought looked l!ll,, Il birds claw.
Mice boy, god boy" size said peer
ing into MY face He don't throw
~tuHe>-nu. no.
/ flushed hotly with guilt and re
fused 10 meet her piercing eyes. for the
day before | had thrown "a stone at
Captain. Mother Sheho'~- cat, as
passed her cottage; and all the village
knew that Mother SheG9's cat was
wOnJrous wise.
No. no. she repeated.
Mo- said Dolly, and then put her
finger in her mouth.
Mother Shetlo'S eyes blinSed rapidly
lad boys stone Captain, and he knows
'cm, Ay. he knows EN- ali, every one,
lie follows 'eui about He knows bat.
does Captain! Nice boy, good boy
The last words were addressed to me.
and She smiled sidevise as she released
my arm | drew back, relieved. into
the shadow Of the chimney. Dolly was
twisting her apron into a knot, but her
great eyes were on Mother Sheno
Get my death, YOU say. Keziah Allan?
Get my death?' croalled the old wom-
an. Not this night! There's death
out you,ier on the sea; there's life on
land-life. life, She began to Groom
to herself Her skinny hands were
locked together and her eyes were on
the fire
''Hou must ha' caught it, then" said
Aunt keziah, or you'd never ha' got
wav over here in wind like this
Il ride. | ride.'' muttered the old
woman.
'''Tisn't broom" said Dolly. putting
plump finger on the cane in the Chin
Gey corner and drawing il back sud
denly.
.'Ho. no! Hear the baby! Would
YOU like To ride some night, my pretty
one, up, mp, no where the doves whis-
per in the belfry?"
Dolly shook her head with a fright
ened iooI, and drew back nearer me.
''Ah, you're afraid the naughty
boys viii stone you Tor a white dove?
him.' She pointed 4 skinny finger at
me. and in the shadow | felt her black
eyes reading my thoughts, for that
very day l had stoned belfry dove,
and the doves belonged 20 Lefty, the
parsons houseiseeper
How they chatter aud whisper, the
doves that ny through the village, and
carry away the words aud doings of
wa. foil
many a thing o. wild nights when I've
gone to see if the lamp was set Nights
like this-the kind that washes 'en in,
washes en- iul Go iooil''-she nodded
at me-''go see if the lamp Is set in the
beifry."
/ went to the window and drew the
curtain \ great wind shooil the
house 1 heard the breakers battling
/ far of rs | loved to imagine them in
the night. making through the dark
ues, the sounds of drum and cannon.
Outside was solid blacllnesS, save for
one streak of light which Shoue
straight outward-the light in the Oel-
! Try tower.
| Its there" said |, returning to the
! chimney corner.
| $50 that's what brought YOU" spoke
! Aunt keziah To the old woman. Il
! thought Us much! Why don't you keep
| IN your ted a night like this? The
| parsonll have the light set, never
| fear
Il couldn't lie quiet this night, not
/ this night of Hallowmas. for thinking
| OF EN- being washed in The other
was such as this, and the light went
uut-the light went OUT
| She chanted the words, gazing into
the FIRE
down beside Dolly.
Spirits, Bad spirits.'
''Ilumph. Owls and bats, more like
Iy." said Aunt Keziah.
They don't trouble it, you know
that. Keziah Allen! 1t don't stay Sc
unless keep my eye on 1T, for tho
night they all washed in, it went out
The light went out!'
1T has gone out more than once
| when YOU were the first to notice 1t
that's the truth said Aunt keziah
| her needles flying Il don't believ'
/ You ever sleep o nights
Not nights like this, l can't lal
qniet in my bed. " said the old woman.
why not?'' | asked, growing bolder
Spirits she cried, with suddei
flame in her eye. They're about sucl
nights, boy, and they move the light
and in the morning they're all washes
in-washed in on the sand.
Law. Mother Sheflo. there amt bee
any wrecks washed in for long time
and no spirits have been about in IN,
day" spoke Aunt Keziah. soothingiy