Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-02-11
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"STnL WATERS"
BY F. Lindsey.
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THE sun was setting in crimson
splendor over the sea. flushing
the white sails Of schooner rich
pink, and glorifying every little detail
in her rigging. Annette Lane stood on
he breezy downs looking out to sea.
her admiration of the beautiful scene
before her rendering her quite oblivieus
to the time as she waited aud watched
until the deep, rich colors faded from
the horizon, and were followed by more
>ubdued ye'lows and piuks and grays.
rs the sun went down.
She was an artist. and lived in the
little Isle of Wight village Nesting un-
der the downs. AS the light faded from
The sky she realizsdthe lateness of tn e
'sour and that she had still d long walk
down the steep hill roads to her home
As She turned into the struggling viii
}age street at the bottom of the hill a
cab passed her laden with luggage. 1t
was such sleepy little place that
strange faces were always interesting,
and she wondered who they could be:
none If the people she knew---and she
knew every inha:,tant of the quaint
little villagc-haG been away from
home.
It must be going on to some house at
:, distance. she thought, and then for
got all about the incident. 1t was grow
ing chilly in the evenings now. for Sep
tember had come; so she walked on
i,riskly, and, opening the door of her
cottage with her iatchkey. went in.
The next evening Annette was upon the
downs again, and this time she had
canvas with her. and was busily en-
gagged trying TO catch one of the fleet
ing sunset effects. They glowed and
faded SO quickly as they followed each
other i'll varying succession that her
c,ever brain and brush found it more
difficult task than usual to get au eff
feet. However, at last the light was too
bad to paint any more, SO she packed
up and started home in the gathering
twilight. determined to come again and
again until she succeeded.
AS she walked home the next evening,
an idea struck her; that cab last night
must have been taking the new tena is
10 the Red Cottage. Annette popped
the painting materials she was carry
ing on her hall table and resolved to
stroll on past the Red Cottage and see
if her conjecture was correct. A red
shaded lamp was alight in the front
window. and there were curtains up. so
the cottage was evidently tenanted.
The front door stood open. and as An
nette passed the gate fat spaniel pup
py hustled out, aud, barking loudly
trotted after her, trying, puppy like. to
bite her skirts. Annette stopped in per-
plexity. She did.:'t want to appear too
friendly by going in so soon. but the
puppy persisted on following her. just
as she was about to stoop down and pick
the lii tie thing up and shut it inside the
garden, girl Of about 20, with tiny
figure, pretty curly hair aud big, dark
eyes, ran out calling: Max, Max: you
naughty puppy! Come in"
Then, noticinga stranger standing by
the gate. she caught the puppy up in her
arms and ran in, slamming the door
hastily after her. Annette felt quite
hurt: it was so abruptly done, and the
behavior of the girl was so incon-
sistent with her appearance, which was
extremely ladyIike and refined.
Annette puzzled over it, ard, hap
pcning to meet the agent next morning
who had left the Red Cottage, she asked
who the new tenants were.
They are Miss Leprimaudier and
her servant.1 crusty old Scctchwoman,
apparently devoted to her young mis-
tress. and they have taken it furnished
for the y-ar."
Annette thanked him. and thought it
very starnge that she should have be-
iiaved so brusque!y. Perhaps there was
some mystery, ard she didn't want to
be Intimate with any of her new neigh
bor:.
She tried to dismiss the cubject from
l,er thoughts. but whether she was sit
ing at her easel in her studio at the /
bsck Of the cottage. Or UP or the downs ,
irving to catch the sunset effects, it |
iept recurring to her memory. She got
mite annoyed about it At last. What
lad the manners of total stranger 20
q with her. Why need she keep think
10 about the incident? Perhaps, after
n. she was mistaken, and Miss Lep
ina udier had not seensher in the dusk