Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-17

once, but that one of the animals at
tracted HaTry's attention. He turned
back to look at him, examined him
from head to foot, turned red and pale,
and suddenly clutched Ned's arm.
You remember the horse we bought
for Charles Chester?" he asked
Yes" said Ned.
Look at the fellow" said. Harry
Yes, the very one The star on his
forehead, the scar on his fOre-leg, the
color, the height. Ned, it's Charley's
horse ~
''It is,the horse" said Ned, slowly.
" Harry. if nharley had lived to go,
his horse would have gone with him"
The owner of this animal may
know all we need to hear" said Harry.
1t won't be good news, Ned"
Ned shook his head, and sadly and
slowly the men went toward the house.
j hey found the dancing at its height,
and that this was the homecoming Of
the farmers bsiGe, pretty young wo-
men with rosy cheeks and sparkling
eyes, of whom the stalwart bridegroom
seemed very fond and proud.
''Sit down strangers" said an old
/ man near the door. you've come at
a merry time, and don't get much at
tent,on. My son is jest the happiest
! fellow out, / beleve-got no eyes for
anybody but that gal. You see they've
| been waigin' quite a spell, and he had
| no luck, none al all, and it seemed he'd
| got 10 give up; but six months back
| he had streak. Wonderful!-eX-
| planned il, bat don't remember. so he
sends for her and me from COnneCti
cut. Shes an orphan gal and as soon
as her school term was oversize was
| teaching, ye knOw-they come. This is
| house warming, and them's the neigh
bors. They all like Ike. lhe's good
fellow-a real good fellow, though l
say it. Take a nip, strangers-don't
be afraid of the jug. I'll fill it again.
Why, what ails your dog ,"
The dog left outside was bowling
rather fearfully.
Wants to come in, perhaps" said
Ned, but it mightn't be agreeable to
the ladies.n
Bring him in" said the old man
but the dog would not come.
He stood beside patch of grass in
the garden, howling woefuliy, and
scratching and tearing with all his
might. Leave spot he would not, and
the friends as they saw him remem-
bGlGu TIC l-OlSt III llIC SltlblNY lNAb IllI
blood curdle in their veins.
Whose horse is that with a white
star on the forehead and scar on his
fore leg-a handsome brown horse,
with wonderful eyes J" wills DGTed
Harry to the old man.
THAT'S my sons horse" said the
old man.
Where did he buy it?" asked the
other
Don't know" said the old man,
laughing childishly. Come to him
with the rest of his good luck, six
months ago"
Again the dog outside began to
howl. Again the friends felt cold |
chills creep over them.
"NVhere are we to 0sleep?" asked Ed |
ward OF the old man. 1--WE don't |
want supper-we resd rest"
"IIl show YOU" said the old man. !
"The house will be full tonight. but |
you'll not mind roughing it."
And he led the way 10 an upper |
room, where the rude bed was already |
spread.
"JuSt lie down here strangers" he |
said. There's a blanket if you're |
cold. and there's a candle. Good nigh. |
And he left them. But not to sleep. |
The two men had sought solitude, that |
they might commune with each other |
Yet now they could only say, What |
does this mean?" They had said IL III |
as many ways dozen times, when |
Harry, by accident, lifted his eyes to |
n peg i'm the rough wall. On it hung |
something which filled his gaze with |
horror. Yet it was an object quite |
common and innocent in itself-Only |
a pair of brown saddle bags, rather |
new in appearance, and with the let |
tiers &C. e." on the side.
Look ~ he cried. Look, Ed !
ward J"
The other in turn, stood mute for a |
time, then gave spring toward the
Deg. tore the bags down and opened |
Them. Within they found garments |
they new their friend had worn, an |
empty belt, and the daguereotype OF
Young girl of whom they had known |
him to be very fond.
d" His horse il the stable, his saddle |
bags and belt here, the dog howllng
on the turf, withOat-what does 1t all
meal ?n cried Harry, again.
And Ned answered, I'VE shall soon !
sge.n and strode into the great room
where the dancing was going on, and !
up to the bridegroom, standing at the
head of Virginia reel, with his
br .de's nand in his own.
stop Bit cried Ned furiously. !
'we have a question to ask. Whose
horse is that in the stable-the brown |
one with a star on the forehead ?"
" Mine,u said the farmer, turning
deadly white.
And the saddle bags up stairs mark
ed c. CO"
The farmer turned paler.
"Gentlemen," he said, ''wait until |
morning and l Will explain every
thing"
I'VE choose to learn the truth for |
ourselves" SAID the young man, fierce |
ly. i
you had a mysterious streak of
luck, six months ago, | understand |
from the old man there" said Harry |
Bray.
Not very mysterious, p" said the |
farmer. 81 went to the diggius, ami |
fell in with a nugget. As !or the horse, |
| found him and the saddle-bags TOO. |
If you know to whom they belong he's |
welcome to them"
"Thev belong to the man you muir
dered for his money. and buried in |
the ground yonder where the dog |
stands howling," cried Harry Bray.-
I'VE are going TO dig here and Hea |
ven help any man who hinders usW
dig where you choose" said the |
farmer. 81 am too we'll known here |
to be afraid of two madmen. 1 mur- |
der a mani TheIe Pm fool to care /
for such words! Dig, confound you
MopV "a lOrza StrayS i'm the woods |
many man has found one, as we'll as
|. Come. neiehbors, set the fiddle /
Going. and let these nIadmen dig"
And the spades sank into the turf, 1
and the terrified guests gathered round, /
and the bride clung to her husbands /
arm. and the musir was dumb. and the /
dogs long melancholy vail filled tile
air; aud, at last. just as the rising 1