Thankfuls Inheritance | Page 9

time. Phew! I can almost smell wax
wreaths and hair-cloth, even though they have been took away. No, this
is an empty house all right, but I'll make good and sure for your sake,
Emily. Ain't there any stairs to this old rattle-trap? Oh, yes, here's the
front hall. Hello! Hello, up there! Hi-i!"
She was shouting up the old-fashioned staircase. Her voice echoed
above with the unmistakable echo of empty rooms. Only that echo and
the howl of the wind and roar of rain answered her.
She came back to the apartment where she had left her cousin.
"It's all right, Emily," she said. "We're the only passengers aboard the
derelict. Now let's see if we can't be more comf'table. You set down on
that sofa and rest. I've got an idea in my head."
The idea evidently involved an examination of the stove, for she
opened its rusty door and peered inside. Then, without waiting to
answer her companion's questions, she hurried out into the kitchen,

returning with an armful of shavings and a few sticks of split pine.
"I noticed that woodbox in the kitchen when I fust come in," she said.
"And 'twa'n't quite empty neither, though that's more or less of a
miracle. Matches? Oh, yes, indeed! I never travel without 'em. I've been
so used to lookin' out for myself and other folks that I'm a reg'lar man
in some ways. There! now let's see if the draft is rusted up as much as
the stove."
It was not, apparently, for, with the dampers wide open, the fire
crackled and snapped. Also it smoked a little.
"'Twill get over that pretty soon," prophesied Mrs. Barnes. "I can stand
'most any amount of smoke so long's there's heat with it. Now, Emily,
we'll haul that sofa up alongside and you lay down on it and get rested
and warm. I'd say get dry, too, but 'twould take a reg'lar blast furnace to
dry a couple of water rats like you and me this night. Perhaps we can
dry the upper layer, though; that'll be some help. Now, mind me! Lay
right down on that sofa."
Emily protested. She was no wetter and no more tired than her cousin,
she said. Why should she lie down while Aunt Thankful sat up?
"'Cause I tell you to, for one thing," said the widow, with decision.
"And because I'm well and strong and you ain't. When I think of how I
got you, a half invalid, as you might say, to come on this crazy trip I'm
so provoked I feel like not speakin' to myself for a week. There! now
you LOOK more comf'table, anyhow. If I only had somethin' to put
over you, I'd feel better. I wonder if there's an old bed quilt or anything
upstairs. I've a good mind to go and see."
Emily's protest was determined this time.
"Indeed you shan't!" she cried. "You shan't stir. I wouldn't have you go
prowling about this poky old place for anything. Do you suppose I
could stay down here alone knowing that you might be-- might be
meeting or--or finding almost anything up there. Sit right down in that
chair beside me. Don't you think it is almost time for that driver to be

back?"
"Land sakes--no! He's hardly started yet. It's goin' to take a good long
spell afore he can wade a mile and a half in such a storm as this and get
another horse and wagon and come back again. He'll come by and by.
All we've got to do is to stay by this fire and be thankful we've got it."
Emily shivered. "I suppose so," she said. "And I know I am nervous
and a trial instead of a help. If you had only been alone--"
"Alone! Heavens to Betey! Do you think I'd like this--this camp-
meetin' any better if I was the only one to it. My! Just hear that wind!
Hope these old chimneys are solid."
"Auntie, what do you suppose that man meant by saying he wouldn't
enter this house at night for anything?"
"Don't know. Perhaps he meant he'd be afraid of bein' arrested."
"But you don't think we'll be arrested?"
"No, no, of course not. I'd be almost willin' to be arrested if they'd do it
quick. A nice, dry lock-up and somethin' to eat wouldn't be so bad,
would it? But no constable but a web-footed one would be out this
night. Now do as I say--you lay still and give your nerves a rest."
For a few moments the order was obeyed. Then Miss Rowes said, with
another shiver: "I do believe this is the worst storm I have ever
experienced."
"'Tis pretty bad, that's a fact. Do you know, Emily, if I