Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-26
Night Call
At the Ferry
BY Charles Sloan Reid
Copyright. iaR. by T. &. Mcclure

ftHl-tshtf ii -iNh
The hills the sky. the rocks and the
trees all we're lost in one formlcss sea
Of darkness outside. hut this was occa
sionaliy riftc,l 10y ZigZag streakS Of fire
from the heavens and Mat found 4
grim sort of enjoyment in watching
these.
Hal lon-c eli hoo
For the third time the call for the
fcrryman came sterling through the
darkness Mat looked back into the
cabin To where an old man lay stretch
ed across II bed
Poor old dad" she murmurcd. Its
pity TO wake him. He's 81 tired. and
the old boats n load. Seems To me the
Teller could Just rs well 20 back and
stay the night at Amos Salter's as to
want to make the crossin' on n night
like this
''Iialloo-ch hoo
Mat arose reluctantly.
81 reckon there's nothin' else for t."
she said In herself. hut it's hard on
dad
She wen, TO the bed and put her hand
on the mans shoulder.
dad" she called in his ear. leaning
forward
But there was no response. She wait
ed n moment. then dropped her hand
upon his forehead.
'O-h. dad she exclaimed and fell TO
her knees. with moan. by the side of
the bed. The forehead was clammy TO
the touch. and an instructive messenger
Of the truth had darted TO the girls
heart-the old man was dead. Mat laid
her ear over his heart. and another
moan of horror escaped her lips.
"Hal- loo-eh- hoo came over the riv-
er. floated in through the cabin door.
way and fell upon the girls ears.
The ferryman would never more car
~ the boat over the river. and the ter
rible loneliness which came to Mat with
the thought almost Frustrated her.
Alone. alone. alone with the dead. with
the storm gathering outside and the
voice on the breeze calling from over
the river
"Hal-lOo-e h-hoo. Hal-loo- eh- hoo!' II
came again.
But this time II brought n mite Of
lieved n little Of the loneliness. a sud-
den thought came to Mats mind. and
she rose and staggered to the doorway.
Initiating her lungs. throwing ont her
chin and tiptoeing with the effort, she
called out through the night:
Hal loo oh hal loo ell hoo"
1t thrilled through the blackness Of
the sky. every tremor OF II bearing the
suffering of her breast. Mat wanted
the compa nionship of living human
being through this night. and she had
determined TO take the boat over the
river for the traveller. She had done It
before In the daytime. and she did not
fear the trial at night.
Dad" she murmured. kneeling
again by the bedside. you will forgive
me for leavin you-you'll forgive me
in heaven. know. for leavin' you this
little while. but | am so lonely"
She pressed her lips TO the clammy
brow and went out. closing the door
behind her. Down the rugged ravine.
with nothing TO guide her footsteps.
she made her way. She knew the big
tree where the boat path led or from
the main road To the landing place at
the edge Of the water. and she knew
every inch of the path. which was now
one with the unbrok Ell darkness Of ev-
erything. The roar of the river grew
louder as she approached until she
could hear the waves tapping the sides
OF the boat NJ her feet.
Hal loo eh- hoo Mat called softly.
and "Waitin' " came the answer from
over the water.
Mat showed off In the long bateau
and carried IL with all her might
against the current of the stream
Hal -loo-eh-h she called again
when near the opposite shore. and the
travellers answer told her she was
making the landing safe
But when the keel touched the sand
Mats strong arms gave way under the
! strain they had had to sustain.
Get in. stranger" she said: hut
must rest before we go II is days
since | brought the boat over"
WV INV tilt u IakP neT
back myself said the man. Il can't
see We. little un. hut I can toll by yer
voice we're a woman. | knew IL the
moment heard yer answer from the
hill on the other side. But where's the
ferryman that we're sent to bring me
across:'
The stranger had pulled the boat in
to the stream. but II was some time be-
fore Mat answered his question. She
was sitting in the stern end Of the
boat. with her chin on her BOSOM
shedding silent tears
"The fcrryman-the ferryman." she
stammered at last, lis deadr'
'Since when:'
Tonight
AN ye're alonc?"
yes"
"H'm, When We answered me TO-
night from over the river the CRY
brought n sadness to me heart. But
who was the ferryman:"
"Ahe Wellesley my father"
HIM. him." muttered the man after