The Lincoln County herald., 1872-07-03

"Oh, Mrs. Chesterfield, our fate is follow.
ing US in his shape"
CLARA" said Mrs. Chester, as nearly
angry as she ever could be, "I never saw
such ridiculous superstition iu my life. "
"But the diamonds" muttered Clara,
as If speaking to herself; "their slitter
was interviewer through it all It must
be-yes, it must be that he watched you
when you got them from tho unk--that
ho is on our track T.
CLARA, hush! l tell you I will not
have itr'
And Mrs. Hyde Chester's fair, plump
face actually looked. f,r the instant, al.
most pale. Clara turned towards her
with an eager, vistful glance.
1--WE 60 as far as Terriswode by train,
ben Terriswode is twelve miles from
Daingerfeld."
"Yes; We take . conveyance .honos. 4"
"What kind Of road is it?"
Very wild and picturesque.
"And lonely ?"
"Yes," Mrs. Chester admitted almost
unwillingly, "it is little lonely"
"Do we pass over it by daylight2"
"Mostly, if the train is in time"
at will not be in time to day." said
Clara, quietly.
"Clara, how can you tell p
II don't know, but l am quite sure
of it,"
II wouldn't have my head so full Of
Old World notions as you for its weight
in gold, Clara Champfort," said tho elder
lady. trying to repress little shudder,
which, in spite Of herself, would thrill
through her frame.
But Miss Chamiort, strange to say was
right The trains due at Terriswode at
five, did not arrive until some minutes
after six, owing to delays consequent
upon repairs on the line.
81 knew it," said Clara, quietly, while
Mr.. Chester stared at her, almost be.
ginning to believe that her old house
keeper was right, and Clara Champfort
was "uncanny." -
There were several rusty eouipayes
waiting at the out.of.the way railroad
station to carry passengers in various
directions and Mrs. Hyde Chester en-,
gagged the most civilized looking of all to
carry herself and her young eompsnion
to Dainger6eld.
There |" whispered Clara, as she
took her seat beside Mrs. Chester, "Did
you see that man glide past on the plat.
form? | told you he was following US t.
Mrs, Chester stretched her plump neck
but she could only see the back of the
passer's head.
"After all" f." she said, argumentatively,
- railroad station is free to all"
Clara did not answer, but leaned back
in the vehicle.
Mrs. Hyde Chester chatted merrily, as
they rolled a,ong over the uneven coun-
try roads but Clara answered but little
she was iu no mood for conversation
The November night, chill and star
less. had closed quite dark over the glen
Of the the autumnal copses, as they began
to ascend the long, wooded hill that lay
between 1erriswode and Danger6eld
Both ladies, wearied with their long
journey, were quite silent Mrs Hyde
Chester had fallen into doze, When she
was suddenly aroused by the vehicle com
ing to a full stop
Dear me-" said Mrs Chester, sitting
upright, "what can be the matter r?'
I'm sorry, ma'am," said the Jehu,
his facs appearing as it were in a black
foam at the window Of the squipage,
"but we've broken down u
"Broken DOWN.
"Yes'm; it's the axle tree broken
clean in halves"
But cannot you mend i'll"
"Not unless had tools, ma'am, and
there Is not shop this side o Terris
wode."
"But what are We to do? We can't
s,ay here all night We mus, walk tho
rest Of tho way to Dainger6sld -
"It's six miles ma 'sm, and a mortal
bad road besides"
"You might stay at Toby Woojen's,
just hsysnd don't you see the light
O. atwiukliu' ?"
"Is it public houss?"
"Wsll, no, ma'am, not exactly, but
they does take folks in whom they can
get 'em. And I could ride one Of the
horses back to Tsrriswode and get an
other trap, and you'll be at Dainger6eld
at good time in the morning"
"Oh, dear" said Mrs. Chester, despair
ingly, "l wish now that l had followed
your advice, Clara. l shall not reach
Daingsr6eld to night, after ALL"
Toby Wosdsn's proved to be ruinous
old farmhouse built on q hillside in the,
woods, aud distinguished msinly by it's
high peaked roof and dilapidated porch.
"Well, / s'pose l can take ye in," was
Mrs. Woedsn's puzzled rejoindsr to their
petition for q nights shelter. There's
the up stairs cham bcr-Simson can take
tho seed corn out. We've got two men
here a'rsady. and"
1.-TWO men ?" lutsrpossd Clara, eagerly.
"What sort Of men p
"One Of ems Dan Gilbert the psddler,
and ths othes's . likely fellow enough.
J don't know what he is, but hs squiuts
dreadful bad with oue eye"
r