The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-09-07


lights and shadows
were SO swiftly sue
~ ceeding each other,
q and while h S e
three mi lie S,
drifted together by fate, were shaping
each others destinieg and working out
in their own fashion the strange, intri-
cate ends of human life, there were
human eyes which watched over every
stage of the performance, and which
were keenly critical Of every actor on
it. Across the road beyond the green
palings and the clOse-cropped lawn, be-
hind the curtains of their creeper-
framed windows, sat two old ladies,
Miss Bertha and Miss Monica Williams,
looking out as from a private box at all
that was being enacted before them
The growing friendship of the three
families, the engagement of Harold
Denver with Clara Walker, the engage
ment of Charles Westmacott with her
sister, the dangerous fascination which
the widow exercised over the Doctor
the preposterous behavior of the
Walker girls and the unhappiness
which they had caused their father, not
one of these incidents escaped the
notice of the two maiden ladies'. Bertha
the younger had smile or a sigh for
the lovers, Monica the elder a froWn or
a shrug for the elders. Every night
they talked over what they had seen,
and their own dull, uneventful life took
a warmth and a coloring from their
neighbors as a blank wall reflects a
beacon fire.
And now it was destined that they
should experience the one keen sensa-
ton of their later years, the one mem
orable incident from which all future in
cidents should be dated.
1t was on the very night which sue
ceeded the events which have just been
narrated when suddenly into Monica
Williams head, as she tossed upon her
sleepless bed, there shot a thought
which made her sit up with a thrill and
a gasp.
Bertha said she, plucking at the
shoulder of her sister, Il have left the
front window OPEN"
mo, Monica, surely not" Bertha sat
up also, and thrilled in sympathy.
II am sure of it. You remember had
forgotten to water the pots, and then I
opened the window, and Jane called me
about the jam, and 1 have never been
in the room since"
Good gracious, Monica, it is mercy
that we have not been murdered in our
beds. There was a house broken into
at Forest Hill last week. Shall we go
down and shut it?"
81 dare not go down alone, dear, but
if you will come with me. Put on your
slippers and dressing gown. We do not
need a candle. Now, Bertha, we will
go down together.
Two little white patches moved
vaguely through the darkness, the
stairs creaked, the door whined, and
they were at the front room window.
Monica closed it gently down, and
fastened the snib.
What beautiful moon!' said she,
looking out. I'VE can see as clearly as
if it were day. How peaceful and quiet
the three houses are over yonder! 1t
seems quite sad to see that TO Let card
upon number one. 1 wonder how num-
Der two will like their going. For my
part l could better spare that dreadful
woman at number three with her short
skirts and her snake. But, OH Bertha, |
look! look!! look!!" Her voice had fall |
len suddenly to quivering whisper and |
she was pointing to the Westmacotts' |
house Her sister gave a gasp of hor- |
arm, staring in the same direction.
There was light in the front room, |
a slight, wavering light such as would |
be given by small candle or taper
The blind was down, but the light |
shone dimly through. Outside in the |
garden, with his figure outlined against |
the luminous square, there stood man, |
his back to the road, his two hands upon |
the window ledge, and his body rather |
bent as though he were trying to peep |
in past the blind So absolutely still |
and motionless was he that in spite of |
the moon they might we'll have over |
looked him were it not for that tell-tale |
light behind.
Good hearsa!' gasped Bertha, sit is
a burglar"
But her sister set her mouth grimly |
and shook her head. I'VE shall see,''
she whispered. 1T may be something
worse"
Swiftly and furtively the man stood
suddenly erect, and began to push the
window slowly up. Then he put one
knee upon the sash, glanced round to
see that all was safe, and climbed over |