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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1885)
348 THE WEST SHORE. Tho shutter opens a little. " You cnn't come in here," the voico answers peevishly, " my masters are away, and they don't harbor strangers." Mary thrusts hnr arm desperately through the oKin ing. "Only let mo in and dry my clothes," alio aaya; "for tho love of (Jod havo pity on mo! " Tlio shutter is again oponod. " Mnylo I'd aliow more pity in keeping you out," tlio woman snys. "Thny're a wild, rough gang, and they may return any minute, and if they find you hero, I wouldn't givo much for your chances, my girl." "Oh, 1ft mn in, if only for a few minutes," cries Mary, " or I aliall porish of cold" "Oomo to tlio door," the woman aaya. The rough door ia unbarred and tho girl staggers into a good-sizd room, whore a fire of logs ia blazing on a atono hearth. Mary full into a sent nnar tlio rod glow, the water trickles off hnr till it Milken a jxiol on the floor. The woman stares at her in wonder, liut alio asks no quos tioim; alio seta a (Kit of colToo on the hearth to warm for her dripping guest " You'll get your death in thoao clothes, and alio lookg compassionately at the girl'a Blender figure and and face, then alio giN into a closet opKsito tho firo and com eg hack with a blanket over her arm. " Tnko off your akirta quickly," alio aaya, "ami wrap thia round you, whilo I dry 'em a bit" Mary feels too stuiiofind to move, but with an effort alio dm what alio ia bid, and then alio sita wrnpod in tho blanket Whilo alio drinks tho hot coffee given hnr, tho woman hold tho girl'a dripping clothes chme to the binning loga. The woman ia aundl and ugly; alio looks aa if drink and hard usage havo dulled her faculties. Every now and then, however, alio gives hnr visitor a keen glance, and then alio turns away and annum almorliod in listening. All at onre alio start. " They are ooming don't you henr them?" alio say oxoitodly. "Yea it's thorn, aafo enough I linnr tho signal you're not aafo," hnr Toice sinks to a whisper; " if they find you they'll shoot you or worse -you must hide in there oomof" She thrusU Mnry'i clothes into hnr arms and hurries her to the plane from which alio has taken the blanket The girl finds herself pushed post rows of shelves and within a second door, which tlio woman closes on her, and thou the girl hears her also close the first door into the Mom. Mary finds herself in a veritable black hole, .seemingly hung round with blanket; there ia hardly room to turn, and yet she does not feel stiuVL Looking up alts see gliinMtea of starlight through the chinks of the log roof. As the girl stands still trembling with cold, she Invars a tramp of foottes outaido; the tramp comes nean-r, and then got round the cabin. Next minute she hours loud voices in the room she has just quitted Mary has not shared her hostess' terror. The shock she has undergone has taken away all emotiou. ller dulimss makes her insensible of danger. All at mine her heart boata fust; through the rough iiaimeti iiixirs alio invrs voice more distinctly. There las Iteen first a continual dialogue, now a lml.1nl ,.f sound, iiow several voice jeer at one of the party, who seems to keen silence. These voices are coarse and ruf. fiauly, and Mary at laul feels afrai.L A fierce iwth, and then a fist strikes the table with vehemence, and silences the clamor of the nt " Hold your jaw, every one. I have the awag safe; let them laugh who win." Mary's heart seems to stand still, and she sinks back agaiust the wall of the cabin. It in Somerfiftld's voice. The wretched girl does not lose consciousness, but for a time she is deaf to what is happening. While she lay half drowned among the tree roota, it had seemed to her that a sudden frenzy had seized on her lover, and she had forgotten the existence of hnr money; now the horrible fact is clear. She rouses from her stupor to hear a hubbub of voices, some of them eager and clamorous. Somerfield's sounds brutal and defiant He calls loudly for more drink; and after this there comes a lull in the talk. Soon this changes into wild songs and laughter, choruses with loud blows on the tnblo, quarrels, at which she turns faint again, and amid it all one of the loudest she hears Homerfield's voice. After what seems to her a long time, these sounds subside, sink by degrees into still ness, and soon it is plain by the snoring and heavy breathing that the revellers are sound asleep. Overhead the stars have paled, and a chill air coming in slowly with gray glimmer warns poor Mary that dawn is breaking. Moving very quietly she manages to dress herself in the confined space in which she Btauds. She has scarcely finished when the closet door opens gently, and the woman beckons her forth: " They are all asloop," she whispers in the girl's ear. The miserable creature is trembling; but without a word she lends the way to the cabin door. There is only a dim light coming from the log fire. The woman noise lessly opens the door, and the fire-glow mixes strangely with the pale gleam that comes in from the doorway, ana falls on the faces of the men who lie sleeping in varied positions on the floor. Somerfinld lies nearest the fire, but his face ia hidden in the blanket he has rolled himself in; his frieze coat lies besido him. Mary shrinks away as she passes him; she has nearly reached the door when a strange idea comes to her. She will take his coat If she ever reaches Englnnd again this will be a proof to his friends that her terrible story is true. Sho turns back, takes the coat from beside him, and then, pressing the hand of the woman as she glides past hnr, she Dins out into the cold morning air. Mary was never able coherently to relate how she reached Now York and the steamer she had come out in, tho day before it started on its homeward journey. She had a confused memory of walking through the chill dawn and waiting wearily and half-doad at the small station bouse, and when sue got to the steamer she was too ill to be questioned. To the captain's eager inquiries she answered, "Not now, captain; I'm dreaming still. I'll tell you when I wake;" and the horror tl her eyes checked the good man's questions. For several days she lay in her berth almost uncon scious of what hnpponod, but at Inst she roused and looked dreamily about hnr. Presently her eyes fell on the friozo coat she had car ried away. She lookod at it in wonder; then, as all came Imck, she shivered with horror. How could she have brought away such a witness of the terrible story ? After a little she lifted it down; its weight surprised her. Then suddenly she thrust hor hand into ono of the pockets and drew forth her money, given by the captain to Somerfiold. The main farts of this story are not fictitious. There are 'rms still living who knew Mary Abbot and Willie Somernold. and who have heard Mary tall the tragic end lug of the tryst sho traveled so far to keep. Katharine 8. Macqpoid.