Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-12-26

liam was delightcd 10 know that hau riu
den Selm without accident or Ill behavior
on the part OF the horse. His partiality lo'
the orchard caused him TO 5c lett there Ia
the clover. and tho next day he was stolen
Tho hill separated him from our sight, and
q breach "a. made in tho fence, and he wa'
taken away about mid day.
Ny father had been to the village. three
miles distant. aud was returning. just rs
he Left the village, ho came to piece OF
woody ground. Recent rains had filed
puddles into the road that were NINA turc
ponds. As ho entered the woods. 40 saw
Sclim approaching. backed by strange RI
der. even the Ill looking fellow. who had
jus, succeeded in stealing him. In the mid
die Of on, Of the largest pools Of water, Sc
lin very deliberately lay down. and rolled,
~ as TO dc,ach his rider ; bo then rose sud.
denly. and sallopcd away at the top OF hi-
speed. Tho fellow 90, up. IIo was the
knight of the rnsiul coun,enanc, " and
ruciu coat. and oil other habi!lments, when
my father met him.
/ My horse has thrown ne. said he,
using some adjective. 10 SclIm's discredi,.
Where did you got the horse q said
my father.
II boush. him on farm abou. three
miles from here"
=" How much did you give ~ asked my
father.
Twenty. pounds; and III have back
my money viii never keep such u
brute "
/ William Cumming had paid one hundred
and twenty five. and he valued tho horse .,
twice that sum.
Tha, STORY can; impose upon me.
said my father. Only two persons were
ever ON that horses hack before and when
! you rteal another horse. you will do vel 10
find out beforehand whether you can ride
/ him. IL Is not nice 10 be split ia q mud
puddle; but you may congratulate yourself
,ha, you deserve IL"
/ lie drove on. leaving the crest fallen vii
lain dripping with dirty water.
Not long after thi. We heard Of the arres,
and pnviction OF - hor'c thief, and. on IN.
auIry. we learned that he was the same per.
con who had been treated ~ unecr.monious-
+ ly toa mud bath by Sel'm. lie was n
tenced 10 the State prison for iOdr ycar-.
Daring this time felt very secure abou
Selm and William used 10 tell ne that
though, there was only one ra.eal IN tho
world The days aow by. for my youth
WAS happy. Four years lSd, and | was IN
/ my eighteenth year. William Cummin:
had been my instructor IN many ihins.. and
my friend in all during this time. al
ways called him Uncle William and 1t
never occurred to me ih:t our relations
could DO changed. People asked why We
did no, marry. lie said that his old bach.
elorism was chronic complaint. and would
probably never bc cured. remember one
night. u. lay in bed. that the thought oc'
currvd to me What If William Cumming
should marry? Il is surely no harm tn
speak Of i, now. for he has been married
se-eral years, and l.. But will not an.
,icipa.e.
The pretty widow, Mrs. Jameson. had
! been staying month with friend IN our
neirhborhood, and William had often been
very polite to her, and what was worse than
all. he had promised 'ha, she 'hosld ride
Sellm. Tho mex, day was appointed for her
10 ride. and by u not very strange colnci'
dencc, I this night asked myself the ques'
ton: why canno, be married to Will
liam Cummlrg?' The answer was. he Is
old enough to be your father.
The beautiful Mrs. Jameson was still
Young. bu, nearer Williams age than
was. My pulse bea, fast. and the long vi''
Ia Of my future life looked gloomy and ter.
riblc. After tormenting myself till
thought I wanted to dle, | fell asleep.
awoke in kind OF thuddering horror.
had heard sounds. tho like OF which had
never heard before; they seemed compounds
ed OF tho squeal of horse and the groan'
and erie, of human being. | vas sure
had heard the.e sounds. and il was not u
sleeping fancy but when l was fully
awake. | heard them no more. IL was
warm night in the latter part OF June. and
nv windows were raised. slept on tho
second door. aud two large Windows OF my
room faced the .outh. Half mile. in d.
rect line from these windows, was . pos
road. | vas. suro that the sounds has
heard came from the road, or near vicinity
tls,ened earnestly, but all was still. Sud
denly there aoated into the room. filling 1t
as it were. with m odor that was perfect
ly sure was from human blood. l shranI
down into my bed. and shook with horror
then. with great effort OF my will. arose
threw on q dressing gown, aud hurried Il
my fathers room.
. a. -. f.,l.. iv criaJ .. emma ~ nj