Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-12-19
The Pine Tree House.
An Adventure in the Wes,.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

'"o NY nurse aIong the DISMAL country
road. anxions to reach place of shelter
before the threatened storm should begin
in earnest. Three miles back had pas
sed the last house: the next would be
The Pine, Tree House," an old forest inn
where | was to pass the night
That was ten years ago, and Of course
| was younger than am now, aud the
prospect of spending the mig It in ques-
tionable locality had all the charm for me
which anything partaking of the roman.
tic has for the mind of youth. was en-
gagged as travelling agent for a mining
company. dividends, collecting
dues. and extending the business of he
corporation generally. I always had more
;or less money in my possession but |
went wei! armed, and in those days fat.
tered myself that at least | was not a
coward This WAS ia The far West. where
villages are scattering. and human hahi-
tations the exception rather than the rule.
All day long | had travelled through the
excessive mud. over the abomina bic roads
of that section. for the most part through
,impenetrablc forests, broken only at in
tervals by the rude huts of the adycptllr-
oul settlers
The Pine.Tree House was respectable
enough, had been told 1T the last cleot.
Ing, in reply to my inqnires but it'wis
tumbie-down old Affair." and was said to
be haunted.
A haunted house The vey place |
ID been hoping for all my life lw,s
delighted with the prospect of passing a
night with the ghosts: and, as rode
along through the gloom amused N.Y.
self with recalling all the weird stories !
had heard Of lonely travellers murdered
At wayside inns of trap doors leading
to cavernous unknown depths, of sliding
p nnels and trcacherous landlords, when
my employment was interrupted by the
gleaLi Of a bright light through the place
few rods ahead Of ne Was near the
inn. My weary h rec prickel mp his ears
and uttered whinny of delight, ANNA
ted by the prospect of food and shelter
The light shonc from a square uncurtaiu
cd winaow. and showed me was ridins
up to the door of large, low. singularly
built house, sinaularly lacking in win
dows. and guiltlcss Of paint or shingles
Before the door grew. an immense pine
tree, and from its lowest limb swung will
u dismal creak the proverhial weather
be,tcn sign. impressing the public tha
here was to be found entertainment 70
man and beast.
: The door nnelosed as the tramp of m,
horse announced my coming; aud bur
ly, coarse. featured man appeared. He re
moved the stump of pipe from hi
mouth. aud addressed me in a not uncivi
} toue of voice.
"Ruther d.eary even, stranger.
Decidedly" returned, getting off tn
: saddle. Take good care of my horse
, my friend, and let me have something no
for supper. have travelled far, an
> have sharp appetite " f.f
He pointed to the house with jerk
! his thumb.
"Go 10 thar: the old woman will al
= tend to you
a Accepting the invitation. | entere
/. what answered for parlor aud kitchen ,
8 large. unfurnished room the rafters bar
J, and strung over with dried pumpkin DR.
). ed apples herbs. red peppers, to 50,
y y nothing of dust and SPIDERS webs
hu !e fireplace extend the whole leng'
: of the apartment, in which burned glor
. ously pile of logs the light making re
!, aud cheerful the remotest corner IN
rickety arm chair before che IRE SIT q
% q landlady,---a thin faced, middle aged W.
. man. with black eyes. aud hight h'x
y. hair. know that poets rave about '
or charm attending women whose hair nj
h. eyes are thus consrasted {; but ior So'
ne reason, il is harm which always rep'
me. feel asif nature had made N
:, take. aud put her work together unsk
It. fully. ~ H e @
VI i looked round for cat; search
q q inevitably make when J 60 '"to
n. arrange house. for | have a sort oil lal