The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-24

N'"i'9' smoothing the creases
with trembling hands.
It's wild night, Miss Elizabeth .
she SAID with a shudder. orhe storm
eot INTO me blood, miss. and sleen
oou'uh lur thinking of them I knows
VINO are maybe out on the sea so
sot me shawl and started fur me-
prothers 'ouse to see if q 'ad got
oihe sale and sound: but I couldn't
sit Gown the bluff, Miss Elise. the
WIND being that vi'lent it clean drnv
me pack And stumbled. Miss Gabri.
enc, and 'urt meself ag'inst the side
Vi 'he ouse, miss. as you kin see fur
SerseH. Ow, but it's a night, God
save them out on the wide water"
Mary Anne paused for breath and
looked curiously at us.
but what are ye all in the kitchen
iurE she inquired in a more natural
way is it afraid we are. too, and
come out ere to look fur me to kee1
We comp'ny?"
we told her about our fright, and
she promptly treasured us, saying she
mad locked everything securely early
III the evening, but would go down and
investigate.
II go with you and hold the light"
volunteered; but Mary Anne declined
my society more firmly than politely.
And what good would you be, Miss
hlise-jumpin at yer shadder and
| 1rirpin' candIo oroo-o 49,. - -.
floor? No, thank we kindly, III go
alone; full well know there's nothin'
bigger than rat down there"
1t was very pleasant to hear her
moving about, and when she called I'D
to us with laugh that the hanging
shelf had fallen, coming down upon
the coal shovel and scuttle, we
laughed also, and felt a weight lifted
from our hearts.
Them ropes was rotten" announced
Mary Anne, laboriously ascending the
stairs, and it's mercy l didn't set
the cream there to raise as usual,
which, praise be given, didn't. Don't
you worry no more, but go to bed, and
I'll make some chocolate to warm you
like, for it's very comfortin' to the
innerds on night like this"
1t was acceptable advice, and we
gladly followed it, but as we left the
kitchen | CHANGED to glance back and
saw Mary Anne at the cellar door
her head bent and her whole bearing
tense and alert-much the attitude OF
dog who waits an expected command
in its masters voice.
Yet when she appeared upstairs a
little later, carrying tray with three
cups of steaming chocolate. and filled
with motherly solicitude as to our com
fort, she was merely a respectable
middle-aged servant, whose opinions
one would receive with due respect
She had rearranged her dress, and hel
posed as she drew aside the curtain
and looked into the night, with a com
ment on its wildness.
We joined her at the window, ant
as we stood looking out a beam O.
light pierced the enveloping darkness
casting a broad path across the blacl
water, and we could see a little boa
making its way around the point o
the island-now riding the waves gal
lantly, now tipped so far to one sidt
it seemed certain to capsize
Our friend the searchlight," re
marked Gabrielle in the tone of ONT
who welcomes an old acquaintance
but a smothered sound as the littl'
boat careened dangerously caused MI
to glance curiously at Mary Aanne.
, She was leaning against the window
frame, and was evidently in pain, TO
, her face was liyid and her breath cam
/. in short gasps.
IT'S nothing, Miss Elise" she nut
!. tered, as she caught my eye. "Th
, dyspepsy ketches me around the ear
now and then. And to think of som
mothers son in that little cockle-shel
tonight Come, now. get into be-
and drink your chocolate Will
it's 'ot."
Il think" remarked Elizabeth, a
she slipped appreciatively, that MI
Benefits boat will be beaten to piece
against our slip tonight. l wish W
could get into the boathouse for sue
emergencies. You must make you
brother get us a key, Mary Anne"
Eyes, MISS" said Mary Anne quietly
| tried to say something. but foun
+ myself suddenly too sleepy to articl
t late, and saw Mary Anne retreat wit
, the empty cups as though through
veil
f slept heavily that night, an
t dreamed that Gordon Bennett made
boathouse of our cellar in spite G
orr remonstrances to the contrary.
! also had a curiously vivid impressio
of Mary Anne and a candle passln
: and repassing my door, but when
tried to call out and ask her what sh
wanted | could make no sound, an
could only struggle with the oppressed
smothering sensation which Elizabet
said always accompanied nightmare
I was willing to take her word for 1
; never having experienced it myself
but I did not like it, and mentally r.
solved to drink no more chocolate a
night if it produced such unwelcom
after-effects.
F. (To BE CoNTINUED)