The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-11-21

| Ou dunk ycu must go on tonight ?''
SAID my host, while We were eating.
" Yes" told linn, . wish to see my
friend. and shall gain considerable time by
reaching his place to night"
" i he cXpvctin' We - Groope asked.
No." answered.
" Perhaps he don't know that your in this
section at ALL"
No. he DOESN'T" said and expected
! my host would urge ne to stay with him UNI
| I'll morning, So | had my answers all pre-
pared.
Bat was mistaken. Iie didn't urge any
such thing. Ga the contrary. he SAID he
| thought was wise in my determination
lie would ike my company, bat it woull be
better Tor me to push on. | was quite re-
| ieyrd.
1t wanted quarter to seven when my
horse was brought to The door. | took out
my wallet and asked what was to pay g
Half dolar." paid it and then asked
what was the NEST direct route
" You sec that big tree, jus. over the barn
there! %
Yes" said
Wal, that's right in the best road When
you strike that you cant miss the way"
Bntisn't there another road one which
follows this stream right down to the mills z"
! asked 'or! had zen informed by the young
man who had taken charge of my horse at
noon that Groope'S inn was right by the very
stream which gave Forest his mill power.
and that the road followed the stream direct.
Oh" Said my host, turning and looking
oil toward the stream, " that road amt lit to
travel now. T'othcr ones the best"
Bat what 5 the matter with it e asked.
! Why the bridges are all washed away
an then there's been winllalls acloss't. |
| tried it last week, and lad to come back
| The upper road is matter Of mile or two
| iUrdcr, but !liatS nolhin.' Your beast is
good for 1t, guess"
told him my horse would stand il well
enough and then asked where the Other road
struck the stream.
"About th!,e miles tnis SIDE Of the mills, ="
he replied.
las all clear and direct 2"
- Yes. You cant miss the way"
babe my host goodbye. and then started
ON. didn't like the idea of ncw road a.
"li The youth above mentioned Lad told
me what an excellent road it was from
"i""pe to the nill by the river road. He
Sau 1t followed the stream which was very
near straight, and that it was hight and opcn
Ihc Whole distance. However, Of course
ticoEc knew, SO | must make the best Of it,
looked back as reached the edge Of the
wood. | was upon gentle cmuynre, ard
could overlook the slnUborly | had passed.
IooEod and saw Ike going from the house
70 itg barn; lie had q saddle upon his aIIn.
was strn it was Il sadGIc--pelnaps he had
an GRAND To do.
Ere long | entered the wood and found it
thcN and GLOOMY. Tic path was plain
enough aud had l,idenlly been at some time
Travelled road. Aye / remembered, muw,
Of having heard my Informant Of The noontidp
| speak OF the ''oid road' lie said there used
10 h" a road leading to Book river, but when
Forest commenced his srl,icm,nt new road
| opened by The stream, and the old one Wa,
discontinued lie had said nothing about
any bridges.
At the distance Of two miles came to q
| Place where bed o? sand lay across the road
1t YVES sort Of gully, and a stream mU,i
at some time liaye ran llj,rc. | looked, but
.aw no track upon it. Water had swept
across since any living thing had troadir II,
Sid ilom nay saddle aDa examined thul.
uugnIy; but could lind no tlUcNs
| VI course, The father q! my nuoatimc's host
could not have gone this way! And yet he
had gone to Forest 5 mills. | began to sus
pcct nisch,f There had been an uneasy
sensation lurking in my bosom ever since
lott The IAN. Something was wrong. | re
gained my saddle and looked about. lhr
sun was nearly down, in twenty MINUTES at
| the furthost, it would b. gu, OF SIGHT.
ln>iroc;iyrly drcW che Of lny pistols from
ihe holster. raised The hammer, and found
,he cap i'll It's place. wa, just putting it
back, when noticed It mark upon The Gult
/ twas peculiar knot il, the wood. ihal ni>.
tOl | always carried in the l,rl hul,trr /,