Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-07-09

i least for that community of early ris-
/ ing and early retiring, and few lights
/ were to be seen in any of the cluster of
! farmhouses. A faint CLEAN from one
| OF the upper rooms of the house across
| the way showed that Mrs Loring was
wooing slumber under the protection of
her night-lamp. She and her niece, hav-
| ing arrived that day, were now in full
possession of their new quarters. Both
had stood the journey we'll Mrs. Lor-
ing, in fact, was never more cheerful
than when on the wing. The invalid
had greeted me with effusion, while
Miss Gray had displayed a cordiality
that was almost too full OF friepdliness
and too lacking in self-conaciousness to
please my fancy. Cheerful good-fel-
lowship was, perhaps, all that had rea-
son to expect in her; yet it was very
tiattering result of many a tete-a-
tete in the moonlight of the tropics.
The night was clear, and, though
there was no moon, it was pleasant to
stroll along, reviewing the events of
our acquaintance and specializing upon
the effects OF its renewal | was fol-
lowing the path to the knoll, and so en-
crossed were my meditations that on
raising my eyes from the ground l was
surprised to find myself close to the
base of its landward slope. was on the
point of turning back, when / heard
voice recognizable as Lamar's, which
seemed to come from the northern
side of the little hill, at the base of
which, as has been set forth, was one
of the saltwater creeks. The words
were not to be distinguished, but his
tone gave evidence that the business
he was engaged in had nothing alarm
ing about it, although, from the hour
selected for carrying it on, it was likely
that he desired 70 avoid observation.
1t might be we'll to prove to him that
even at such time and place he could
not be sure that some loiterer was not
about, and to give practical illustra-
ton of the need of a sentinel; at least
that was the excuse framed for adyane-
ing. Cautiously / stole by the spring
and up the ascent. On the dark surface
of the creek the still darker outlines of
boat could be made out The craft
was moored to the rocks, to which a
laan was trant ferring number Of cases
and packages. A little way up the
slope, directing the operation, stood
Lamar. Intent as he was upon the task
in hand. his quick ear caught the sound
of my steps, and he turned toward me
like a flash.
It's NORRIS / called out. 1t was
too dark to perceive his motion clearly,
but l thought detected swift move
lnent of his right hand toward the
breast of his coat.
"Ah! You are a rambler until late
ne answered. Startled as he must have
been by the Interruption, he spoke with
all his usual deliberate GOODNESS.
"Yes; was wakeful and happened
to walk this way. Hearing unusual
sounds, | pushed on to investigate.
There was chance, you know, that
reinforcement might be acceptable"
There was nothing in has manner to
indicate whether the explanation salts
fled him.
johnson brings a small cargo, sup
plies that might cause talk if obtained
through the village" said he. "He will
place them presently in the house,
An excellent plan. He buys them at
the larger ports up the coast, sup
pose"
yes"
'There seems very little danger that
anyone should stumble upon you while
the goods are being landed" said /,
but my experience tonight shows that
it is possible. 1t might be advisable
to post sentry, for if a rumor of these
midnight labors got about it would set
the village by the ears"
Hereafter the precaution shall be
taken. Remain a little" he added. as
was about TO go. II. too. am wakeful.
Let us converse"
lie led the way to the front of the
house and seated himself on the door
step.
How of your medical practice?" he
asked, when l had found a resting place
near him.
l told him of Mrs. Loring's arrival
and of the probability that she would
remain considerable time in the
neighborhoood. She was an old ac-
quaintance, / added. That l had met
her ON the voyage from Rio seemed
to be detail which it was as well not
10 mention. Had he learned it he might
have displayed livelier interest in the
matter. As it was, however. he mere
" said that it was to be hoped that she
would recover her health, and then
changed the subject to remark that he
desired me TO bring him a considerable
sum of money in day or two.
at is for Johnson" he condescended
to explain.
every we'll; you shall have it," said
1. by the way, is your telegraph line
to his house still in working order?"
Yes but it is not telegraph. only
a simple signal" he answered. Enter,
If YOU choose, and viii elucidate il"
We stepped into the liying-room, on
one wall of which he showed me knob,
/ so tiny as hardly TO be noticeable Bv