Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-09-05

and many ! thine had che stolsn out
In the darkness to listen 81 His VIM
dow to see that her dazzling Was
sleeping we'll, and to indulge In .
long moment OF adoring Worship. Is
she strained her eyes to sec the pale
face on the pillow. II will go
around the veranda now. dear" she
said, as Allen smoked. land bring
your things for the light. The couch
Is very comfortable, and 1t will be
lovely to have you back"
The chill air struck her unpleas-
antly as she opened the door. She
shuddered little and drew her shawl
closer.
what fogl" she exclaimed.
1.-THE beans will be again delayed.
It's worse than the conflict OF hay
making and showers in New Eng
land.
Coming out of her sons room few
moments later, with her arms full Of
his clothing she was startled by .
slight noise across the court. 1t
seemed like some heavy thing drop
ping with less sound than Its weight
would suggest. In the misty dark
ness she could see nothing.
Mary Livingstone was known far
and near as q woman OF unbounded
courage and self reliance. During
her husbands frequent business
trips to San Francisco she stayed and
ruled the little kingdom like queen.
Not man on the ranch but was glad
when Mrs. Livingstone was boss.
The house in the canon was her cas-
tle where she and Allen, with the
faithful Sing, abode in security which
none dared to modest. IL anyone
had told her a week ago that this
night she would be haunted crea-
ture, trembling and unstrung, tor
mented by an evil presentiment and
dreading she knew not what, she
would have laughed the prophet to
scorn.
The parlor door had been left lit
tie ajar, and she pushed through 1t
and on to her own apartment.
please shut the door, Allie. My
hands are full. I'll be ready for you
sOon."
Drawing the shades, she set reso-
lutely to work about making her sons
room comfortable for the night. She
dared not think, or she felt that she
would scream from sheer nervous
ness.
The dainty silver toilet articles,
which were his pride, she arranged
on the broad desk, and soon had the
low lounging couch transformed into
an inviting bed, with even hot water
bag tucked in at the foot. She
took from her closet shelf his lit
tie toy like night lamp, which had
been one Of his childish idols, and
lighted it. and, after one or two little
final touches here and there, she
called him.
Its time small boys were asleep.
Lock the front door, dear, and come.
i have such a funny story to read
to you"
Allen hobbled in, q slight frown on
his delicate face at being babyed, and
the little room.
It's as cold as q barn here" he
said. "What makes it so cold? !
don't want to 60 to bed yet"
"Oh, yes. you do. It's getting
late. You'll soon be nice and com.
Portable in your old nest. You will
find it warmed.
''Oh. well, suppose there's Moth
ing else to do" he complained.
Where's the story?"
"I'll begin it right now, while
you're getting ready" and Mrs. Liv-
ingstone settled herself by her lamp
to read.
In less than half an hour she
quietly peeped in to find her boy fast
asleep. She wanted to stoop and
kiss the white forehead, but she de-
MED herself lest she waken him.
Nearly closing the door she walked
restlessly about her room few mo-
ments. aimlessly touching this and
10 oking at that.
She took her account book out Of
the draggled dress she had worn
down the canon and looked it over
little, soon putting it aside. She
tried to read, but the words followed
each other under her eyes i'm an I'M
known tongue. She took up her
Bible, and even that seemed to hold
no word Of peace.
Something as people in great peril
60 over their past life, she fell to
of hers, but she was soon
brought back face to face with the
present. The thought that she was
so TO keep in allegiance at
last seemed to break its bounds and
fill her soul with an irresistible fas-
cination; she dwelt upon it and did
not try to put it aside.
Three nights ago, at midnight, she
had awakened suddenly, being con-
scious OF a noxious presence near. and
slowly there had grown from it two
dark, glittering eyes close to her own.
which held her gaze with terrible in
tentness. The evening in the canon
they had been there before her all
the way, and she had almost sue
cumbed to their terror. For the first
time she had noticed that the brows
and corners Of the eyes had been
upturned, like the Mongo-
lian. What did It all mean? The
end was not yet. What would it be?
These thoughts seemed TO enthrall
her.
1t was nearly IL o'clock. Would
it come to-night2 Outside, the
night was so deathly still, and so
lonely. Why didn't the wind blow
Anything that would break the spell