Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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8 The AGAWAM MIRROR AN UNINVITED VISITOR Closing my book, I shut off the light, and lay back in my chair with a sigh of relief. I wanted to enjoy the fire-light, but the book still held me. It seemed as though I could hear some one softly saying, “The French windows in the rear opened, and Miller stepped cautiously into the room.” These words kept running through my mind, until the least sound seemed a pistol shot. At last, although I would have declared that I was not nervous, 1 decided to face the French windows. As I was about to turn my chair around, my glance fell on the mirror above the fireplace. By the dim light, I saw the windows stir a little, then they were pushed open by some one on the porch out- side. I wanted to scream, but my throat was so dry that I could not utter a sound. As the logs sent a shower of sparks up the chimney, I saw a woman step cautiously into the room. Her clothes were dark, and a veil hid her face. Further I was unable to distinguish. As she turned to close the windows, I rose from my chair, and slipped stealthily to the table on which the reading lamp stood. As my visitor turned from the door, I gave her an unexpected welcome by putting on the lights. Dazed by them, she did not stir, but stood alert waiting for me to speak. Ready for adventure, and seeing that she was unarmed, I decided to enjoy her com- pany. if such a thing was possible. “Won’t you sit down?” I asked. “If you would do so, I might be able to enjoy your company, which you have so suddenly thrust upon me.” At this she gave a quick, nervous laugh, and perched herself on the edge of a chair. Keeping my eyes on her. I carefully locked the windows, saying as I did so, “Two is company, three is a crowd, and I, at least, don’t want any more visitors tonight.” Much to my surprise, this action seemed to put her more at her case. She set back in her chair, and gracefully crossed her feet. As she did so, I noticed that she did not wear rubbers, and that her feet were wet. This fact showed that she had walked some dis- tance. “You are a stranger to me,” I said, draw- ing two chairs toward the fire, “but you must come and dry your feet. You arc now my prisoner and won’t be allowed to escape while in this condition. So give up whatever hopes that you may have had.” She took the chair that I had placed for her, and, at my command, tried nervously to take off her shoes. Unable to do this, she sank back into her chair, and promptly fainted. In her exhausted condition, the heat of the fire had proved too much for her. I was about to call for help when I remem- bered that the folks had all gone out, and that the maid had gone to spend the evening with the maid next door. Therefore, I pro- ceeded to take off the stranger’s coat and hat. She was a light, frail bit of humanity, and I carefully picked her up, and carried her to the couch. I left the room to get some water to bathe her head, and when I returned, her eyes were open, but she was too tired to talk. Her big, hazel eyes seemed to be trying to tell me something, so I drew a chair near the sofa. The more I watched her, the more my cur- iosity was aroused. Where had I seen her before? The ringlets of her auburn hair against the blue of the sofa-pillow reminded me of a familiar face. But where had I seen her? A shiver passed over her body, making me realize that I had forgotten all about the comfort of my unwelcome guest as she ha F fallen into an exhausted slumber. I felt safe in leaving the room to get some dry stock- ings, and a blanket for her. As I was making her more comfortable, a quick step on the porch outside made me sud- denly remember the fact that I was har- boring a stranger, for some reason which I myself did not know. Acting upon some unexplainable impulse, I grabbed her coat and hat, and put them in the hall closet. Taking a book off the table, I sat down to await results; but nothing happened, and I was about to blame my over-wrought nerves for playing such a trick on me, when I heard two voices talking low, then steps on the porch, and some one turned the door knob. I was panic stricken. Who were these people that I heard talking? What business had they in my sun porch, and to all ap- pearances trying to enter my house? Were they following this strange girl that I was harboring? Oh, why had I taken her in with- out even notifying the police? As I rose from my chair, my knees seemed to give out from under me, and I feebly