Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-02-04
CHAPTER x..-contlnued

After q moments indecision / crept
across the room and looked out from
behind the drawn curtain. There was
nothing in sight. In the clear moon
light / could see quite as distinctly
as by day, and the white stiffness was
wonderfully comforting. 1t was rather
awesome, too, and while l felt the fas-
cination of the night l was also con-
scious of the rather creepy sensation
one experiences when the world sleeps,
leaving one wakeful and alone with
nature.
Out before me stretched the path
leading to the village and my eyes
followed it unconsciously until 1t
turned sharply and disappeared. AS
l looked two shadows fell across it,
seeming very black against the sur
rounding whiteness. One was short,
fat, and shapeless; the other long,
thin, and somewhat like an elongated
pair of tongs-a very specter of a
shadow. They moved, merged them
selves into an indiscriminate mass,
separated and came together again, a
black streak marking their progress
around the corner,
/ chung to the window frame, de.
irving some comfort from contact with
the solid wood. A pricking sensation
ran up and down my spine and / was
incapable Of moving or uttering a
sound.
In a second was glad had not
spoken, for the shadows again de-
tached themselves. heard the
crunching of gravel and familiar
figure appeared around the turn of the
path. 1t was Mary Anne, red shawl
held over her head, and no words can
express the relief and comfort at see.
ing her ample figure prosaically pro-
ceeding toward the kitchen door.
was rather indignant, too, and went
down to ask her what she meant by
such nocturnal rambles.
found her collapsed upon kitchen
chair, breathing heavily. Upon see.
ing my white-clad form close beside
her she uttered stifled scream, then
Immediately stole my thunder by re.
preaching me for prowling around the
house in the dead of night and fright.
ening people out of their wits.
In fact, she became so eloquent that
instead of the dignified rebuke I had
intended to administer / found myself
apologizing for my presence and prom.
Using to be more considerable in the
future.
But, Mary Anne" ventured to re.
mark, where have you been? ] was
frightened to DEATH"
Mary Anne at once became pro.
pitiatory and sympathetic.
pore child" she exclaimed, "oi
course you was upset! 1t was Miss
Elizabeth's ring-I got to thinkin
about the best way to find it. So
went to my brother Dan. i'm as lives
in the little 'ouse jest below the bluff
(Which you know is gospel truth
Miss. And begged i'm to take is
boat and go round them rocks early
miss, and see what e could find. Fur
I wanted to give 1t to 'er fust thing
when she wakes"
Mary Anne paused for breath and
felt thrill Of conjunction, for, after
all, she had been out on our account
and solely to do us a service.
"And that was your brother with
you, I suppose" / remarked. Does
he think he can find the ring?"
She looked at ne moment without
replying, then walked to the door and
bolted 1t.
Yes, miss" she said; Dan as
'opes. Not that they're very Ugh
'opes, fur Dan amt much at lookin' at
the bright side. But ell do is dooty
miss, and think Miss Elizabeth may
find her ring, though OF course / can't
be sure--no more can Dan. Now you'd
better go to bed, Miss Elise, fur you
need your sleep and need mine"
/ was very willing to follow this
advice, and felt hopeful that morning
would bring good news to Elizabeth
for Mary Anne's brother had inspired
me with a feeling of confidence Cor
don Benefits diver had not produced
AS I lay thinking dreamily of him
and wondering whether he would get
his boat out early and go to work a
sudden recollection Of his appearance
overpowered me.
We were all familiar with Mary
Anne's brother. He was a short
stockily built man. with very broad
shoulders and short bowed legs. II
seemed improbable that he could cast
a shadow like pair of tongs, but
then as every one knows shadows are