The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-07-01

Yes, miss
She picked mp her shawl and folded
it carefully, smoothing the creases
with trembling hands
ITS a wild night. Miss Elizabeth"
she said, with shudder. The storm
got into me blood, miss. and sleep |
couldn't fur thinking of them | knows
who are maybe out on the sea, so
got me shawl aud started fur me
brothers 'ouse to see If e 'ad got
'ome safe and sound; but | couldn't
git down the bluff, Miss Elise the
wind being that vi'lent 1t clean druv
me back. And ] stumbled, Miss Gabri-
ellie. and 'urt pieself ag'inst the side
of the 'ouse. miss, as you kin see fur
yerself. '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 We all in the kitchen
fur?" she inquired in more natural
way rs it afraid ye are, too, and
come out ere to look fur me to keer
we comp'ny?"
We told her about our fright, and
she promptly treasured us, saying she
had locked everything securely early
in the evening, but would go down and
investigate
I'll 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
Elise-jumpin' at yer shadder and
drippin candle grease over me clean
floor? No, thank we kindly, I'll so
alone; full well know there's nothin'
bigger than a rat down there"
1t was very pleasant to hear her
moving about, and when she called up
to us with a laugh that the hanging
shelf had fallen, coming down upon
the coal shovel and scuttle, we
laughed also, and felt weight lifted
| from our hearts.
Them ropes was rotten" announced
| Mary Anne, laboriously ascending the
| stairs, land 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
innerds on a 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
| a dog who waits an expected command
| in it's masters voice.
Yet when she appeared upstairs a
little later, carrying tray with three
cups of steaming chocolate, and filled
with motherly solcitude as to our com.
fort, she was merely respectable,
middle-aged servant, whose opinions
one would receive with due respect
| She had rearranged her dress and her
manner was quite natural and COM
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, and
| as we stood looking out a beam of
| light pierced the enveloping darkness,
| casting broad path across the black
| water, and we could see a little boat
making its way around the point of
| the island-now riding the waves gal.
| lantly, now tipped so far to one side
| it seemed certain to capsize.
| Our friend the searchlight," re-
marked Gabrielle, in the tone of one
who welcomes an old acquaintance,
| but a smothered sound as the little
boat careened dangerously caused me
to glance curiously at Mary Aanne.
She was leaning against the window
frame, and was evidently in pain, for
her face was livid and her breath came
in short gasps.
IT'S nothing, Miss Elise" she NUT
| tered, as she caught my eye. THE
dyspepsy ketches me around the cart
now and then. And to think of some
mothers son in that little cookie shell
tonight! Come, now, get into bed
and drink your chocolate while
it's ct"
Il think" remarked Elizabeth, as
she slipped appreciatively, that Mr.
| BENEFITS boat will be beaten to pieces
against our slip tonight. l wish we
could get into the boathouse for such
emergencies You must make your
| Drotner get us Key, Mary Anne.
yes, miss" said Mary Anne quietly.
| | tried to say something, but found
myself suddenly too sleepy to articu-
late, and saw Mary Anne retreat with
the empty cups as though through a
| VEIL
/ slept heavily that night, and
dreamed that Gordon Bennett made a
boathouse of our cellar in spite Of
our remonstrances to the contrary. I
also had curiously vivid impression
of Mary Anne and a candle passing
and repassing my door, but when
tried to call out and ask her what she
wanted l could make no sound. and
could only struggle with the oppressed.
smothering sensation which Elizabeth
said always accompanied nightmare.
4 1. r. IA