St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-03-25

| Gnu VI Iue Sldue, anu LnlUner the CIR
hurried, while Everett followed slowl,
behind her. She left the door open
and the bright freight which twinklet
and beckoned into the night sent +;
glow of pleasure with it.
He did not shout again, for h,
thought that the girl would send som,
one to him. AS he approached, h,
found the house to be rude. two
roomed log-cabin; through the opeI
doorway he could see the dirt floor
the rough furniture, and rude walls
but no one was in sight.
"Her people must be out in the
woods" he thought, "and she's alone
here. Jove, see now! I've fright.
ened her out of her senses! Hello
MISS" he continued, aloud, as he
raped on the rude decreasing. "You
needn't fear me. I'm tourist-an
artist-and l was out sketching when
l got lost. l can pay for my enter
tainment. II am unwelcome, I'll just
get my directions from you and go on. y
There was no reply; the inner door
l
ued, impatiently, "don't be foolish!
I'm cold, and I intend to come in by
the fire, whether you invite me or not.
I can't stay out in the woods all night. I"
| He suited his action to his words, and
entered the cabin.
| Everett was a strong man, modern
and material, and not given to melan-
cholia nor dreams. Nevertheless, a
| deep, unaccountable shuddering seized
him, and cold chill ran through his
nerves; his hair tingled, and he cast
frightened glance behind him. He
mastered his emotions at once, and
went to the wide fireplace, where big
blaze roared up the chimney. Drawing
| a chair to the hearth, he sat down and
warmed himself The inner door re-
NAMED shut, and after a moment he
arose and raped.
"Are you there?" he asked. "Come,
come; don't be foolish. This is no
way to treat stranger"
He listened moment, but no reply
came. Then the same low voice be-
gan singing again:
''Abide with me-. fast falls the eventide:
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me
abide"
Everett uttered an impatient ex-
clamation, and ratified the door.
"Are you crazy?" he shouted. Then
he gave start, and again the cold
SILVER ran through him. That's it,"
he muttered, stepping back, that must
be it. What pity! How hard it must
be on her people No it's mott"
He went slowly toward the outer door.
IF she were insane they wouldn't
leave her alone. Something is wrong
here; I'm sure of it."
He stood in the doorway and looked
out into the glade. Already it was
dark, and the clear sky twinkled with |
stars. When his eyes became accus-
toned to the night, he could see quite !
plainly, and in moment he fancied
that dark figure stole by in the |
shadow of the trees.
"Hello," he cried. anybody there?"
A low voice responded voice so |
low and distant that it seemed to float |
up from the bottom of the gulch.
Minnie" it called. "O-o-h, Min
mel"
eyes, papa" answered the girls
voice. Everett started and whirled
around. Surely the girl was in her
room; and yet the answer came from
somewhere to the right of the house.
h0 no
thought. "Why, of course there is.
The girl has been trying to mystify
me; I see it all now; she's been
laughing at me-"
He felt immensely relieved when he
reached this conclusion, for, despite
himself, strange fear had been tug
ging at his heart. Now the half-mys-
terry had resolved itself into a young
girls frolic, and so amused did he feel
over his late fears that he laughed
aloud as he went down the glade. The
girl, he could see, was walking on
ahead Of him, and presently she joined
her father, and together they came up
The path.
Everett's smile faded as he neared
Them, but he stopped and barred his
head.
"You see an intruder" he began,
who must beg your hospitality for the
hight. My name is Martin Ev-'
He stopped suddenly, and once more
IN icy chill ran through his nerves.
He stood face to face with the own
rs of the cabin. They were shadowy
md unreal in the dusk. but Everett
Gould see that the man was old and
'ent, with long, white hair and a gray
'eard, and that he was dressed in some
ough and uncouth garb. But it was
he eyes that caught Everett's atten-
ion and sent the SILVER of horror
through him. They seemed to CLEAN
With phosphorescent radiance, and
heir expression was gray and lifeless.
hey were not human eyes; they were
Without intelligence.
Still struggling with his terror, Ev-
rett turned toward the girl, only to
meet the glitter of another pair of
yes that burned into his very soul.
lie started back with an inarticulate
ry, and the father and daughter
assed him and went on into the
abin.
Everett sat Imply upon the ground,
strong fit of shudderfng seized him, I
nd he covered his face. with his l
ands. For some time he fought with
Is fear, but at last his strong will con- |
uered, and he looked up. Almost at J