Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-01-25
BY Kennedy Bing.
A Vivid Sket h OF a Girl Who
Had Erred Returning
TO Her Parents.
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# was cleaning when Janet Goudie
crent ia the white gate leading to her
fathers farm. On the ridge between
her and the west she saw the two long
cbafts of tilted roller standing up
dark gaunt. The sight made her sud
denlv afraid. She thought of her IA
tber. Was it he who had been work
in,, with the roller-who had left it
there an hour since? She paused with
beating heart.
After "A little she opened the gate
and slipped quietly through, holding It
carefully in her hand rs she turned TO
fastcn IT, She remembered how 1t al
WAYS swung to the post with clap,
and though she was far from the
house, She shrank from making q
noise. Then she turned up the billy
road
When she came out upon the bare
uplands. they were flooded with I'M
cauny light. 1t dazZled Janet so that
size could scarcely see the house lying
straight before her. Her whole body
felt how visible to the farm folk 1t
must be. coming on illumined in the
yellow glare. She covered so closely
to the stunted hedge that the strag-
Cling brambles tugged at her a burst
Of terrible splendor came athwart the
world. an awful dying gloom. Far and
wide famed the red and silent moors
like affairs lighted for he end of time.
Janet crcpt 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 a sudden dread. But
presently a familiar sound fell on her
ear and she breathed with relief on
looking round over in the little croft
the ducks were waddling home, late
as usual, and Gathering away to them
selves. When the drake stood up and
tapped his wings, the white round or
his breast shone wildly.
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
If ever he came back he would hound
the dog at her. She hoped it would
not be new dog Badly, she knew,
would not bite her. The tall white
wooned pump glimmered like ghost
in the gloom She remembered every
feature Of the place as if it were yes
terday she went away. Yet she felt
she was looking ut it athwart an eter-
nifty The double feeling of familiari-
" and strangeness made her conscious
of her physical AMUSEMENT Every
thing at home was the same. 1t was
she who was different, different
s stall tied cow lowed loudly in the
empty byre, and the mournful sound
was echoed by the gaunt buildings.
Janet shiyered and drew her poor
shawl about her shoulders. At last
She yenturcd out creeping down the
close on her tiptoes tremblingly
When she reached the step OF the back
door she stood and listened for a
sound within. The house was silent
as death.
Twice she raised her hand to knock
and twice she let it fall in cowardice
Then self pity came over her with q
burst u the throat and her Inns "his
peEel iu duh repetition: ooh, T. 5 pity
o me, It's pity o me! My ID, aye
Its govan pity o. me" Shc no. kec
iatlly There was no resp e As
She Grained to listen she hear ne old
fashioned kitchen clock tic Nth
aieary louduess.
She knocked again. The of
caa.r being pushed backwar th'
SION. H0or made the blood hel
VEN. uddenly. silence owe'
and then the shuttle Of slipu fee
coming slowly. Would 1t do IA
1..r Aud would he curse D He
tongue was dry In her mouth.
bolt clanked 10 the wall dooi
oF"1a.d on its hinges, and bod!
ia-I out at her hand over rows
YOUR said her mother 81.
t woman stared at her ghte
t"r awhile and then turned av with
.#' q word, leaving the door IN be
Aa4 her. Janet followed to th, kitch
WITH @ timorous foot that was read.
n start backward But her father wa
ha. the kitchen
here was a stranee stiffness. Tn
ssA light came streaming through III