Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-12

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II was cleaning when Janet Goudie
crept TO the white gate leading to he'
fathers farm. On the ridge between
her and the west she saw the two long
shafts of a tilted roller standing up
dark. saunt. The sight made her sud
denly afraid. She thought OF her IA
ther. Was II he who had been work
ing with the roller-who had left II
there an hour sincef She paused with
Q beating heart.
After a little she opened the gate
and slipped quietly through. holding y
carefully In her hand ~ she turned to
faxten Il. She remembered how II a.
WAYS swung to the post with clap
and. though she was far from the
house. she shrank from making
noise. Then she turned up the billy
road.
when she came out upon the bare
uplands. they were flooded with I'M
canny light. II da1sled Janet 10 that
abe could scarcely see the house lying
straight before her. Her whole body
felt how visible TO the farm folk u
must be, coming on illumined In the
yellow glare. She covered so closely
to the xtunted hedge that the strag-
Cling brambles tuRged at her. A burst
of terrible splendor came athwart the
world. an awful dying gloom. Far and
wide fiamed the red and silent moors
like affairs lighted for the end OF time.
Janet crept on. feeling mean and little
In the great desolation.
At last she stood within the long
shadow that was cast toward her by
the house. So dark and silent were
the buildings that her heart stopped
beating with q sudden dread. But
presently a familiar sound fell on her
ear. and she breathed with relief on
looking round. Over 10 the little croft
the ducks were waddling home. late
az usual, and clattering away to them
selves. When the drake stood up and
fiapped his wings, the white round OF
his breast shone vivldly.
The farm road led to the square close
at the back OF the dwelling house. The
front was to the sunset. Janet stole
to the corner Of the barn and peered
down through the shadows to the
kitchen door. She was shaking with
fear. Her father had threatened that
II ever she came back he would hound
the dog ut her. She hoped II would
not be q new dog. Baldy, she knew,
would not blte her. The tall white
wooned pump giimmered IKE ghost
In the gloom. She remembered every
feature Of the place ~ II II were yes
terday she went away. Yet she felt
she was hooking at II athwart an eter-
nifty. The double feeling Of familIari-
" and strangeness made her conscious
Of her physical abasement- Every
thing at home was the same. II was
she who was different, different.
A stall tied COW lowed loudly In the
empty byre, and the mournful sound
was echoed by the gaunt buildings.
Janet shivered and drew her poor
shawl about her shoulders. At last
she ventured out. creeping down the
close on her tiptoes tremblingly.
When she reached the step Of the back
door, she stood and listened for q
sound within. The house was silent
as death.
Twice she raised her hand to knock.
and twice she let II fall In cowardice.
Then self pity came over her with ;
burst In the throat. and her lips whis-
pered In dull repetition: "Oh. It's pity
O. me! It's q pity O me! My God. aye!
It's gsyan pity o. mer She knocked
family. There was no response. As
she craned to listen she heard the old
fashioned kitchen clock tick with a
dreary loudness.
She knocked again. The scrunt OF
chair being pushed backward on the
stone floor made the blood prick her
veins suddenly A silence followed
and then the shuttle Of sllppered feet
coming slowly. Would II De her Ia
ther? And would he curse her? Her
tongue was dry In her mouth.
A bolt clanked to the wall. the door
creaked on It's hinges, and somebody
peered out at her. hand over eyebrows.
"It's your'isaid her mother at last.
The woman stared at her daughter
for awhile and then turned away with
out word. leaving the door open, be
hind her. Janet followed to the kitch-
en- with timorous foot that was ready
to start backward But her father was
not In the kitchen.
There was Z strange stiffness. The
rich light came streaming through the
bare window and fell full upon the
dresser. The dishes shone weirdly
against Il. There ON It's old hook
Janet's mug was still hanging. her
name on II. With . sudden stab OF
memory she thought Of the night her
father had brought II home to her from
the winter fair 1T Carbie. coming u
from the wonderful darkness. with
suowAakes on his coat, to his httls giri
By the great Ore; how blithe had Oeen
hts dark eye, how cheery and red the
middle or his cheek. She could still
feel his finger rough and cold benesth
her chin and the bsnsdictjon Of hid
eyes booking down at hse. But now-
Oh, Christ! l-
Airn Goudie had put away In the
window sill her great Btbls and bet
heavy white Fimmsds sDsctscies atop
Of It. Jaaet wss still stasains.
ltsit doun.r esd ~ mother care
leesiy.
Janet mt down On d. sdgs ~ I
chair close to the door. Rab. the cd
che had reared. was sitting near her u
Z blank hand ,of suaehIns Hlnl
aahwart the aaa1s HI lses propped y
frouk - hin Ne tve eussy hftis pil