The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-09-26

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be fading. or, rather. the features
seemed to be passing from youth to
age. Nor was this all. That which
was stealing over it was not only age.
but disagreeable age Anne Church.
or. rather. her likeness was being
slowly transformed into an old wom-
an, bedizened with jewels and wear
ing on her face the expression OF Il
bag.
Major Varick. who was passing into
slumber, made an effort such as one
would make to throw Off nightmare
and awakened The candle had been
nearly consumed, but was still burn
ing with steady flame. TO his hor-
ror the change that had come over the
picture was not the result Of night
mare There were the innocent fea-
lures. but they We're blended with the
lineaments of a coarse. crafty. covet-
Gus Old woman Of German cast.
Varick knew that Anne, through her
mother. had German blood in her
veins. He assumed an explanation OF
the phenomenon of the picture-an ex.
PLANTATION such as one Is liable to make
on awakening after midnight and "
ing alone. To him it seemed as IL his
guardian angel was giving him
warning. He was being shown what
the woman he was about to marry
would be when she became old
This idea. once it found Judgment
in Vnrick's head. took n hold there
that would be impossible for 1t to at
tain under the influence of bright
sunlight. There was more supersti-
ton in those days. even among the
most intelligent. than there is now.
and Varick was himself more or less
subject to 1t.
Major Vnricl was seized with as
veritable a panic as ever entered the
breast of a raw recruit on the field OF
battle. For few moments he con-
templated escaping from the house and
ingloriousiy nbsenting himself from the
ceremony In which he was to be one
of the contracting parties. But the
duration of the thought can scarcely
he called few moments; 1t was rath-
err instantaneous. The face of the com.
mander in chief. who would in a few
hours be on his way to the wedding.
came up before him, regarding him
sternly. even cOntemptuously. The
young man withdrew his gaze from
the picture and buried his face in the
bedclothes.
He could not sleep, and he dare not
look again on that vampire face lest
he bring disgrace upon himself. One
l.,nI, hnu t,r>A
die was pickering in the socket. casting
ttfnl glare on the blended faces Of
saintly youth and the devil In age. the
latter OF which now seemed to take on
n malicious triumph
A faint dawn appeared through the
windows before Varick slept He was
awakened by n knock ut the door and
negro calling:
Hot water TO Shawn, Mars Major.
Missy Church tole me to tell yO'
courier just come from Morristown
with a note from Mars Washington
sayin' dat he be henh at 'lebcn o'clock.
It's 10 now"
Vnrck sprnng out of bed. While
dressing he looked ut the picture of
his bride and wondered what could
have caused the vision of the night
before. Not n trace OF the bag was
there, only the fresh and innocent
bcnuty whom he was to marry that
day. flush OF shame ut his thought
of flight during the night came over
him and OF thankfulness that 1t had
only been Il thought. All fear that his
bride would grow to be the creature
she had appeared in the vision had left
him.
He found time during the morning
to speak to his father in Ia W. to-be Of
the nights experience.
"What! exclaimed Mr.. Church. "Do
you mean that that picture got into
your room? ! ordered 1t long ago put
in the garnet. Either fool or some
one with malicious intent must have
moved it. The original picture was
the portrait Of one of those old hags
whom George |. took over from Ham
over with him to London. They lived
only to plumber the British people.
This woman was cousin Of my wife's
mother. A travelling artist about six
years ago came through here and paint
ed over the original picture portrait
Of Anne. 1t is we'll known in this
household that when a light strikes the
canvas ut u certain angle it shows u
blending Of the two portraits. shall
inquire into this matter, and whoever
is responsible for it shall be punished"
At this moment Anne burst into the
room. wild with excitement, and ex-
claimed:
Ills excellency General Washington
is coming down the road with his aid.
Colonel Hamilton. I've been watching
for him and was the first to see HIM.
They are riding into the grounds now.
Come; we must be on the porch to re-
ccive him."
That was a gala day in Anne Church's
life but she was obliged to divide with
the general in chief the attention of
those who crowded her home. lie in
tended to remain only for the ceremo.
ny in the afternoon. but was persuaded
to stay for the festivities in the even
ing. When the guests were assembled
In the ballroom the general opened the
dance with the bride.
C-A1-NS-