The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-01
spring should that moaning WIND
mean real northwestern.

spring should that moaning WIND
mean real northwestern.
Louise was awakened by sudden
shrek of wind that swept through the
slight aperture left by the raised win
dow and sent something crashing to
the floor. She lay for moment drowsi-
ly wondering what had fallen. Was
it anything that could be broken? She
heard the steady push of the wind
gainst the frail frame building, and
knew she ought to compel herself suf.
ticiently to be aroused to close the
window. But she was very sleepy.
The crash had not awakened Mary.
She was breathing quietly and deeply.
But she would be amenable to touch
just a light one-and she did not
mind doing things. How mean, though.
to administer it in such a cause. She
could not do it. The dilapidated green
blind was tapping dismally. What
time was it? Maybe it was nearly
morning, and then the wind would
probably go down That would save
her from getting up. She snuggled
under the covers and prepared to slip
deliciously off into slumber again.
But she couldn't go to sleep after
all. A haunting suspicion proved on
her waking faculties that the crash
might have been the water pitcher.
She had been asleep and could not
gauge the shock of tie fall. 1t had
seemed terrific, but what awakens one
from sleep is always abnormal to
ones startled and unremembering
consciousness. Still, it might have
been the pitcher. She cherished no
fond delusion as to the impenetra-
bility of the warped cottonwood floor
ing. Water might even then be trick
ling through to the room below. She
found herself wondering where the
bed Stood and that thought brought
her sitting up in hurry only to re-
member that she was over the musty
sitting-room with it's impossible car
pet. She would be glad to see it
soaked-it might put little color into
it, temporarily at least, and lay the
dust OF ages. But, sitting up, she felt
herself enveloped in a gale of wind
that played over the bed, and so wise
ly concluded that if she wished to see
this court through without the risk of
grippe or pneumonia complications,
she had better close that window. So
she slipped cautiously out of bed. ner-
vously apprehensive of plunging her
feet into pool of water. 1t had not
hnnp tho Nit of
the window was closed there seemed
to be much air in the room. The
blind still tapped though at longer in
tervals. If it really turned cold, how
were they to live in that barn-lika
room, she and Mary? She thought of
the campers out on the fiat and shiv.
cred. She looked out of the window
musingly moment. 1t was dark. She
wondered if Gordon had come home.
OF course he was home. 1t must be
nearly morning. Her feet were get.
ting cold. so she crept back into bed.
The next thing of which she was con
scious, Mary was shaking her excit.
edly
What is it?" she asked, sleepily.
Louise! There's fire somewhere!
Listen"
Some one rushed quickly through
the hall; others followed, knocking
against the walls in the darkness.
Then the awful, heart-clutching clang
of bell rang out-near, insistent. me-
tallic. 1t was the meeting house bell.
There was no other in the town. The
girls sprang to the floor. The thought
had found swift Judgment in the mind
of each that the hotel was on fire, and
in that moment Louise thought of the
poisoned meat that had once been
served to some archenemies of the