The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-07-06
5elertra Sturu.
The Intrepid Mother.

The diligence from Pans to Chalons
stopped one evening, just after dark some
miles hey"nd the ittie town Of Ruuvrav,
10 set down AT EmglIsh lady and her chnld
At lonely roadside d"Lerqc. Mrs. Mar
tin expected To find carriage ready to
tax" her 10 Chateau DE Seuart, distance
OF snrne lcagu 5, whittier she was repair
ing ON visit, but VAS tod that il had
not vet arrived The laudiadv, a tall,
coarse looking woman, who showed her
int" the vast hail that served at once AS
tltmg room aud kItcuen, observed that
the '""d~ were SO muddy aud difficult a
night, there We're cut little chance Of heI
irienGs arriving e'"re morning.
You had better therefore, she said
make MP your mimd to sleep here. We
have good room to offer you and you
will hc more comfortable between pair
Of CLEAN, warm sheets, than knocking
about III cur rough coun:rv, especially as
your dear clnid seems sckly.
MIS- Martin, though mush fatigued by
her Journey, he>itated. A good nights
rest was certainly tempting prospect,
but she felt So confident that her friends
would n"t neglect her. that after a mo.
menl she replied Thank YOU madam,
will sit up for AN hour or so-it is not late.
aud the Carriage may come after ALL
Should II not, shall be glad of your
room, which YOU may prepare for ine AT
any rate
sl he hostess, who seemed anxious tha,
her guest should not remain in the great
front room, suggested that fire might
be made above :; tut Mrs. NJ. found her
self so comfortable where she was-a pile
OF hggols WAS blazing Oh the vast hearth
that she declined NJ first To move. Her
daughter. about five years of age, suon
went to sleep in her lap and she herself
found that whilst her ears were anxiously
listening for the roll Of carriage wheels.
her ewes occasionally closed, and slumber
began TO make It's insidious approaches.
ln order to prevent herself from giving
way, she endeavored TO direct her atten
ton to the objects around. The apart
nent was vast. and lighted more by the
glare Of the fire than 10y the dirty candle
stuck into filthy candle sick that stood
on ohe ni the long tables. Two or three
huge beams strs,ched across half way up
the walls, leaving space filled with fit.
ting shadows above. From these depen
ded rusty gun or two, n sword, Several
bags, hanks Of onions, cooking utensils,
&c. There were very few signs that the
house was much visited, though E pile of
empty wine bottles lay in one corner. The
landiady sat at some distance from the
fireplace. With her two sons, who laid their
beads together and talked in Whispers.
Mrs. Martin began to feel uneasy. The
tdes entered her mind that she had fallen
into resort OF robbers; and the words
lC'este eie,' (t is she) which was all she
beard OF the whispered conversation, con
uibRted To alarm her. The door leading
into the road was left sjar; and for a
moment she felt An inclination to start up
and escape on foot. But she was far
from any other hsbitalion, and If the peo
pie Of the house entertained any evil de
signs her attempt would only precipitate
the catastrophe, So she resolved on pa
iiepce, but listened attentively for the an
proach Of her friends. AL she heard
was the whistIing OF :he wind and the
dashing OF the rain, which had begun to
fall just fter her arrival.
About two hours passed in this uncom-
forlable way. At length the door was
thrown open and man dripping wet
came in. She Lreathed more freely, Tor
this new conner might Illustrate the evil
designs OF her host, II they entertained
any. He WAS red haired jovial faced
looking man, and Inspired her with con.
fidence, by the fraukness and ease OF his
manner.
"A fine night Tor walking cried he,
shaking himseifIike dog who has scram .
bIed out Of pond. What have YOU to
give met Salute mesasurs ct n,esdo.