Avon Fantasy Reader No. 13 — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

I conquered an impulse to open my eyes and ask them what they meant by this late visit, deciding to wait and watch. It did not occur to me to be frightened at this midnight intrusion. There swept over me instead a sense of unutterable peace and safety, a feeling of being watched over and guarded by some benevolent angel. : : : _ They stood for a long moment without speaking, and then the little girl, bending close to me, gently caressed my hand, which was lying on the cover- let. I controlled a start with great effort. | Her little hand was icy cold—not with the coldness of hands, but with a peculiar windy coldness. It was as if some one had merely blown a breath of icy air on me, for though her hand rested a moment on mine, it had no weight! : Then, still without speaking but with gentle affectionate smiles on all their faces, they tiptoed out in single file. Wondering at their actions, I dropped off at last into a serene sleep. : _ Mary brought my breakfast to my bed next morning, and sat chattering with me while I ate. I dressed leisurely and made ready to catch my ten oclock train. When the time drew near, I asked Mary where her family was—they were nowhere in the house and I had seen none of them since the night before. I reiterated how charming they were, and how happy my visit had been. That little glow of happiness lighted my friend’s face again, but at my next words it vanished into one that was certainly frightened plead- ing. I had merely asked to tell them good-bye. That odd unfathomable expression flitted across her face once more. “They ... they're gone,” she said in a strained whisper. And as I stared at her perplexedly, she added in confusion, “I... I mean, they're away. They wont be back until . . . nightfall,” the last word was so low it was almost unintelligible. | | 2 So I told her to. give them my thanks and farewells. She did not seem to want to accompany me to the train, so I went alone. My train was late, and I wandered to the ticket window and chatted with the station-master. “Miss Allison has a charming family, hasn’t she?” I began conversationally, “They seem so devoted to each other.” Then I saw the station-master was staring at me as if I had suddenly gone mad. His wrinkled face had gone very pale. “You stayed there last night?” His voice was almost a croak. “Why yes!” I replied, wondering at his behavior. “I did. Why not?” “And... you saw .. . them?” his voice sank to a whisper. “You mean Mary’s family?” I asked, becoming a little annoyed at his foolish perturbation. “Certainly I saw them! What’s so strange about that? What’s wrong with them?” | My approaching train wailed in the distance, but I lingered to hear his reply. It came with that same reluctance, that same hesitancy, after a long moment. : | “They died last year,” he whispered, leaning forward toward me and fix- ing me with wide intent eyes. “Wiped out—every one of ’em exceptin’ Mary—by smallpox.” 103 , : im) Comilchookssecom a i 4 ¥ Zz : CE" OO _