The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-11-27
! MORNING, G, NOVEMBER ~, 1868.
THE GnosrLY 1oBBER.
Story q he Black Yore...

Astoy q The Black Forest.
On q fine evening In the Spring Of 1880,
q stranger mounted on noble lookln,
horse, passed slowly over the snow-whlt,
limestone road leading through the BlacI
Forest. ,'.
Just as the sunwas going to rest for tn,
day, when the gloomy shadows were
beginning to stalk, he drew rein as he
said: t'3 ".
"Thls must be near the spot, surely
III stop here, anyhow, for while, and
see what ! can learn" .s,- r
He thcreupon dlsmounted and entered
the parlor Of the Inn, where he sat down
before small table," e.
SLOW can serve you, mlenheerr' said
the landlord. ' ~, 49,. ..-....---
.See to my horse outside" replied the
| guest, carelessly, but at the same time
eyelng the landlord from head to foot;
and let mo have some wine-Rhlne will
do" 10y. -. o. j.. ,,r.... ..... ID. 80.
The landlord was turning to withdraw
from the strangers presence, when lie
stopped and said:
(which way, micnhecr, do you trav-
elP" a.H ,.,r.,-s
ITO Nanstadt," replied the guest.
You will rest here tonight, sup
poseT continued the landlord. ..
~ will stay here for two or three hours,
bat must then be of, so Us to reach my
destination there In the morning. ! am
going to purchase lumber for market"
Sand you have considerable money
with you, 10 doubtY' asked the landlord,
lnnocently.
"Ycs, considerable" replied the guest
slipping his wine unconcernedly.
"Thcn. If you'll take my advice" said
the landlord you'll stay here till MORN
Ing"
"whyH" inquired the stranger, looking
up, curiously.
"Bccause," whispered the landlord,
looking around rs II he was disclosing n
great secret, aud was afraid of being heard
by somebody else, "evcry man that pass
cs over the road between this and Nam
s,adt at midnight, for the last ten years,
has been robbed or murdered under very
singular circumstances"
"What were the circumstances asked
the stranger, putting down his empty
glass, and preparing to I'LL 1t again.
"why, you scc," tho landlord went on,
while he approached his guests table and
took seat, NJ have spoken with several
who have been robbed, and all l could
learn of them Is that they remember meet
Ing In the lonellest part the wood some-
thing that looked white and ghastly, and
that frightened their horses SO that they
either ran away or threw their riders;
,hcy felt choking sensation aud sort
of smothering, ana finally died, as they
thought, but .awoke In an hour or so, to
find themselves lying by the roadside,
robbed of evcrythlng"
''Indeed, calculated the stranger, look
Ing abstractcdly ut the raftcrs In the cell
Ing, rs though he was more intent upon
counting them, than he was on the land
lords story. ..-T.-r
The innkeeper looked Mt him In aston
ishment. Such perfect GOODNESS he had
not witnessed for long time.
"You will remain, theny' suggested the
landlord, after waiting some tiuc for Ills
guest to speak.
'.I?' cried the stranger starting from
his fit of abstraction, rs though he was
not sure he was the person addressed.
"Oh, most certainly not: I'm going
straight ahead, ghost or no ghost, to-
night" "'
Half an hour later, the stranger and
guide, called Wilhelm, were out OH the
road, going ut a pretty round pace toward
Nanstadt.
During flash of lightning the stranger
observed that his guide looked very I'M
easy about something, and was slacken-
Ing his horses pace US though he Intend
cd to drop behind.
"Lead on" cried tic stranger, "don't
be afraid" ..... ...v.
I'm afraid 1 cannot" replied tho person
addressed, continuing to hold his horse
In until he was now at least length be-
hind his companion. my horse Is cow
ardly and upmanageable In thunder
storm. Ifyou will 90 OH through, think
I can make him follow close enough to
point out the road" ..a.a i-m"
The stranger pulled UP Instantly. A
strange light CLEANED In his eyos, while
his hand sought his breast pocket, from
which lie drew something. The guide
saw the movement and stopped also. ''.'
- .'Guides should lead, not follow" said
the stranger quietly, but with q firrnness
which seemed to be exceedingly unpleas-
to the person addressed. ar.i I
"But," FILTERED the guide, "my horse
won't CO." ,z'e'f. - l.a llg
won't her" queried the stranger, with
mocking simplicity In his tone. ..o.
The guide heard sharp click, and saw
something CLEAN In his companions right
hand. He seemed to understand perfect
ly, for he Immediately drove his spurs In
to his horses fanks and shot ahead Of his
companion without another word. ,J
He no sooner reached his old position,
however, than the stranger saw him give
sharp turn to the right and then disap-
pear, as though be had vanished through
the thick foliage Of trees that skirted the
road. .1ul - r'Ui. l7ol i7-Sa''' aiqe ,''p.i
He heard the clatter of the horse as he
galloped or Without waiting another In
'stant, he touched his horse lightly with
the rclns, gave him q prick with the row
els, and or the noble animal started like