Tempest and Sunshine

At last she rose up and a malicious smile of exultation passed over her

features. She looked at the clock and saw it was already half-past ten,

and then stealing softly to the bedside where Fanny lay quietly sleeping,

she bent down and assured herself that her sister really was unconscious

of her movements. She then hastily threw on her overshoes, cloak and hood

and stealing noiselessly down the stairs, was soon in the open air alone

in the darkness of the night. Just as she shut the door of the house, the

watch dog, Tiger, came bounding furiously toward her with an angry growl.

She silenced the fierce animal by saying, "Down, Tiger--poor Tige--don't you

know me?" After quieting the dog, she proceeded on her strange errand,

which was to obtain her books from the schoolhouse, which was more than

half a mile distant.

The mud, which was very deep, was not more than half frozen, and at each

step she sank into a mixture of mud, snow and ice. Still she kept

fearlessly on, till at last she found herself in the midst of the thick

woods. Here her courage somewhat failed her, for she called to mind all

the stories she had ever heard of runaways, who were said to walk abroad

at this dark hour of the night. Once she thought she saw the giant form of

a negro standing in her path, but it proved to be a black stump, and she

was about laughing at her fears, when her ear detected the sound of a

light, rapid tread coming toward her. Almost paralyzed with terror, she

stood perfectly still and listened for the sound to be repeated, but all

was silent, and again she went on her way, and soon reached the school

house.

But here a new difficulty presented itself. The house was locked and the

key was in Mr. Wilmot's pocket; but the old adage, "where there's a will,

there's a way," came into her mind, so she felt around on the half frozen

ground till she found a long rail, which she placed against a window; then

climbing up, she raised the sash, and in a moment was in the schoolroom.

The atmosphere of the room was still comfortable and she stopped for a

moment at the stove to warm her benumbed fingers, then groping her way to

her desk, she easily found her books and made her way out of the house in

the same manner that she had entered.

Just as she reached the ground a large, dark object sprang toward her and

two glittering eyes looked up into her face. She uttered a loud shriek and

was answered by a low whine, which she instantly recognized as belonging

to Tiger. "Why, Tiger," she exclaimed, "how you frightened me! What did

you follow me for?" It seems Tiger had thought there must be something

wrong, or his mistress would not be out at this unreasonable hour, so he

had followed on after her. She was noways displeased at this, for she

liked not the idea of again going alone through the wood, but with Tiger

for a companion she went fearlessly on and reached home just an hour after

she had left it.