Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-02-02
"But l need shelter" I cried; ..my

"But need shelter" cried: I'm,
good fellow. am nearly drowned"
/ "You da look as il you'd been making
vet goods Of yourself" he drawled. open
ing his mouth and showing his frightfu
tusks.
l. Don't keep me here. my good fellow, >
exclaimed. looking anxiously at III.
IRE; Il only want feed for nv horse and
shelter for myself; for both Of which yot
shall be well paid I"
There's barn at the end Of the hui
for the 'oss," said he. jerking his head il
the direction. "You had better 90 aud
put him up. stranger. and then come
here"
As1 saw there wss no help for Il.
led my horse to the barn. made him as
. comfortable as | could, and then taking
my saddle-bags over my arm, entered the
hut.
l; was wretched hovel, composed OF
rough hewn logs. rudely put together. and
plastered with mul, great masses of which
had fallen away. leaving the logs exposed
to view, and the sharp wind whis,le,l
through the chinks in miserable man-
ner. The hearth was composed of stones
beaten into the earth. and upon this blaze,l
; a large FIRE, which, although it filled the
room with smoke, was, in my condition,
most acceptable.
My newl y made acquaintance appea- ed
to have fallen fast asleep before the fire
so giving one look at his disagreeable
countenance. took off my coat and waist
coat, laid them out to dry. ami placing
the saddle bags for pillow, prepared to
go to sleep.
"Wal. stranger" said my host, start
ing up with snarl, Il da think you
might be more pcrlitc. and just hand over
the news. guess it isn't often we get
any down in these parts. and therefore We
don't lose chance Of rising any whcn we
can
Il must beg your PARDON" l replied !;
Il thought you were asleep. and there
fore was quiet in case | might disturb
you"
"Air you hungry 2" he demanded.
AS hunter" was my emphatic re-
ply.
Il guess you won't object to this bit of
corned beef then" said he. pushing some
coarse bread and salt meat toward me.
''On the contrary Ireplied, nothing
could be more acceptable"
Il guess you're thirsty" he said, after
watching NE devour the meat.
Sahara is nothing to me-" 1 avowed.
Il don't know anything about your Sa-
rah, he replied. ..but | du know a girl
named Polly. who does drink. she du
patent double-prcssure engine is nothing
to her. that it amt; she takes in more IL
quid than Mississippi steamboat, and
when she's at high pressure guess she's
as dangerous.
expressed my sorrow at Miss Polly's
failing and asked him if he had anything
to drink
"Wal, yes /: here's some Bourbon wlis-
key, put yourself outside that, and yen
won't feel your soaking"
needed no second invitation. for in
spite of the huge fire. was shiveriny with
cold and as had most Important bust
ness To execute, was most anxious at anv
risks to keep up my strength, so as to ac-
complish my journey.
As drank the whiskey nv companion
lapsed.into silence, and began to ponder
upon the weakness OF human Judgment.
and the unfairness Of what people call
impressions" in particular.
Here is man.. thought that eve
rybody would proclaim scoundrel from
his al hol,cal .nno,opapoa ;,J,;. g..
that. you would say that he was mean.
cruel aud unprinciplei; yet. although |
have not seen him before, he not only
gives me the shelter of his roof. but also
shares his supper and whiskey with mo.
| vii! never trus, To appearances again"
Whilst had been making these rciiec-
tions. | again prepared for sleep; but INV
doing so evidently displeased my CON-
panion. for stretching on, his long legs to
their full lcngth-evidently to kick mine
he gave a terrible yawn
'.Darncd if you amt the slowest cuss
I've met on this side of creation" he
growled Amt you got no news p
Half angry and half amused Mt his
strange manner, I replied:
Il am extremely sorry that I have no
news to give you, and unfortunately hare
not the imagination OF some Of our New
York papers, or | would invent some for
your amusement.
NOW, look here, stranger, none Of
your impertinenee l guess you are a
Bostoner. which accounts for your infer
nal siown s.. What's the good Of paper.
it there isn't something new in it! Srose
there's a murder or robbery. and it's
real one. wal. ysu read it and enjoy it
But s'pcse it's false enc, bout people
who YOU know nothing about. wal. YOU
enjoys it, and there isn't half the darne,l
sight injury done. You laff or cry as
much over one as the other. and YOU dom,
know the people therefore. what can il
matter to you whether it is true or false :.
it does just the same"
Not feeling inclined to argue with nv
friend over the matter. especially as
could see that he was a man who would
not take contradiction quietly. readily
owned that was wrong aud he was
right.
.sp"se you don't wans,.o sleep direct
". stranger :"
"lndeed do. for I am very tired"
Il guess i''s not safe TO sleep in these
psrts. unless You can manage TO keep one
eye open"
"Whys Surely We are safe here -
81 dent know that. l cale'la,e vou
air stranger in these parts r
/ eel am"