The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-06-11
CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.

Already had she stepped several
fines to her daughters room and
boxed in, only to meet Reuthers I'M
OBlet eve turned toward hers in silent
inquiry. Was her own uneasiness in
fictitious? Was the child determined
10 share her vigil? She would watt a
little longer this time and see.
Their rooms were over the parlor,
and thus as far removed as possible
from the judges den, In her own,
which was front, she felt at perfect
ease, and 1t was without any fear of
disturbing either him or Reuther that
she finally raised her window and al
lowed the cool wind to soothe her
heated cheeks. The moon emerged
from Scurrying clouds as she quietly
watched the scene.
Perched, as she was, in a window
overlooking the lane, she had but to
lift her eyes from the double fence
That symbol Of sad seclusion) to light
on the trees rising above that unspeak-
able raYine, black with memories she
felt strangely like forgetting tonight.
Beyond how it stood out on
the bluff! it had never seemed to stand
out more threateningly! the
bifurcated mass of dismal ruin from
which men had turned their eyes
these many years now! But the moon
loved It; caressed it; dallied with it,
Lighting up its topping chimney and
empty, staring gable.
Spencers Folly! Well, it had been
that, and spencer's den of dissipation,
TOO! There were great tales-but it
vas not of these she was thinking, but
ofthe night of storm-(of the greatest
storm Of which any record remained
n Shelby when the wind tore down
Branches and toppled down chimneys;
Wien cattle were smitten in the field
and men on the highway; and the
oluf towering overhead, Jared into
name, and the house which was it's
glory was smitten apart by the de-
sending bolt as by a Titan sword, and
0aaed like beacon to the sky.
This was long before she herself
mad come to Shelby; but she had been
Od the story so often that it was
quite vivid to her. The family had
Deer gone for months, and so no pity |
mingled with the excitement. Not till
ne following day did the awful nature
q the'eVent break in it's full horror
upon the town. Among the ruins, in !
closet which the flames had spared, |
lacy found hunched up in one corner |
'ae body Of man, in whose scared |
lalOat a wound appeared which had |
Ivy been made by lightning or fire. |
spencer! Spencer himself, returned, |
y asy knew not how, to die of this self.
aacted wound, in the dark corner of
As grand but neglected dwelling.
out as she continued to survey it the
aOaas came trooping up once more,
saa inc vision was wiped out. and |
ls'l y all memories save those of
eessity. s ne
=. Withdrawing from the window. she
S1spt again to Reuther's room and
psefed carefully in. Innocence was
ss,sep at last. Lighting a candle and
!, salsaing it with her hand, she gazed
~ and earnestly at Reuther's sweet
.ass- Yes, she was right. Sorrow
Is - slowly sapping the fountain Of
u Earrings youth. If Reuther was
~. g saved hope must come soon,
rs. ,s'a q sob and prayer the mother
- ~ 'ne room, and locking herself into
esn Ogn sat down at last to face the
ss,.l psrplexity, the monstrous enigma
= nag come into her life.
,,cs uau followed in natural sequence
n, proposal made by the judge
aOlle attention should be given