Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-09-04
Continued.

"A bad night, sir" said the waiter
respectfully, as he made up the fire.
bad indeed, but 1t gives a wonder
full charm to blaze like this, SAID
Armathwaite lazily from out OF the
cozy depths of his chair.
And he sat gazing into the mass OF
dark rocks and glowing cayerns,
watching the spiral flames as they shot
up amidst clouds of black smoke, I'M
til he fell into that pleasant dreamy
state induced by warmth and light
after cold and darkness, and began to
fancy that he felt again the rough
iolting of the market cart, that he
heard the jingling of the sleighbells,
the sharp trot of the horse on the
frozen snow, and the lady's bright
laughter; that he saw again the beau
tiful sparkling face peering out from
it's nest of rich furs. But then, even
as his open eyes seemed to gaze upon
the tints of rose and cream and the
red, moist lips, the face appeared sud
denly to change, the vivid colouring
to fade and grow duller, the bright
blue of the eyes to melt into q soft
brown, the classical, senruous mouth
to alter in outline and the whole
countenance, while it seemed to recede
before his fixed and eager gaze, so
that It's very features were dim and
hardly to be discerned, assumed an
expression of mournful, desperate
longing that sent throb of impulsive
compassion through the young mans
heart He tried to move, uneasily
conscious that his most strange and
touching experience was only the re-
suit of rather disorganized magma
ton; but he seemed to feel that he
was powerless, while at the very same
moment the face changed once more,
and became near and clear to him;
he was gazing again at the handsome,
happy face OF Lady Kildonan. And an
impulse of another sort, of strong,
hearty, involuntary admiration, moved
the young man as the face reappeared
in his fancy, only to change again in
moment to the shadowy unknown
countenance that seemed, this second
time. to be further off and DINNER in
outline than ever. while the sense of
sadness with which the vision filled
him was stronger than before.
Another and wilder gust of wind
shrieked round the house, and shook
the window-sashes in their frames
Frank Armathwaite started to his feet
and stared about him like a man who
is wakened from q heavy sleep by a
violent shock. He listened to the
dying wall of the blast which had
reused him, and glanced at the fire,
the flames of which were now rising
more steadily from the glowing mass
of coal. He was alone in the room.
The loud tick of the clock on the
high mantlepiece above his head
caused him a strange irritation. while
the remoter sounds of the voice of the
landlord in the hall, the laughter
which came family from the bar. or
step of maid upon the stairs. seemed
to fall upon his ears like noises heard
in a dream. Hardly knowing what
he did. and conscious only of an odd
murmur in his head, which seemed to
direct his movements in spite of
himself, he walked towards the near.
est window, unfastened the shutters,
and was on the point of throwing IN
the sash. when the grave waiter, hav.
ing heard the chatter of the falling
bar. entered the room and came up to
him.
"You had better not open the win
dow. sir" suggested the man, re
spectfully. THE wind blows on this
side of the house. and the room woult
be half full of snow in a minute"
The traveller desisted from his at
tempt at the first word, but he stood
with his face close to the glass. peer
ing steadily out into the blackness Of
the night, from which the large whit;
snowflakes seemed to detach them
selves as they We're whirled against
the window. and falling. swelled the
high drift upon the ledge.
You are right" he said. after 6
pause. Then he added, in a briske,
tone, You know DR.. Peele. Of Brank
someg"
"oh. yes. sir; everybody in the !,
parts knows DR.. Peele."
How far is 1t to his house from
here?"
-Four miles. sir. | should say. It's
Just through Branksome. and up Il
the left little way"
Have YOU a saddle horse you could
let me have? IL have decided that
had better not wait till the morning:
| must get to Branksome tonight"
There was some anxiety in hi.
manner. which the grave waiter in
terpreted according to his knowledge
Il hope, sir" he began with som'
concern. that you haven't been SEN
for to the poor old doctor! We heac
IL was nothing more than a bad cold
There isn't a man in the district but
would be sorry to hear that anything
had happened to DR.. Peele"
mo. no. | haven't been sent for:
that's all right" answered Armath
waite quickly. But knew him years
ago and--Just see about the horse
as fast as YOU can, viii your"
The waiter withdrew. and Armath-
waite. again possessed by the over.
powering restlessness which hal
driven him like an evil spirit through.
out the day. prepared for his col