Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-05-08
SELECTED STORY.
THE EIDNIsET PERIL; Or SAVED BY A
PHANTOM.


shall ever forget its pitchy darkness,
the roar of the autumnal wind through
the forest, and the incessant pour down
of rain? Pc
<sThis comes of short cuts" I mutter-
ed petulantly to myself as 1 plodded
along, keeping close to the trunks Of
the trees to avoid the deep :ra' inc
through which I could hear the roar Of
a turbulent stream some forty Or fifty
feet below. Ny blood ran cold as I
thought of the possible consequences of
nlisstep or move in the wrong direc-
ton. Why had not been contented
to keep the right road7
Hold on! Was that light, or are
my eyes deceiving me? 10
stopped, holding ON to the low re
sinous boughs, of a henllock that grew
on the edge of the bank; for it actually
seemed as if the wind would seize me
bodily and hurl me over the precipitous
descent. 80
1t was light-thank Providence-it
was light, and no ig,sis .fatssus to lure
me on to destruction and death.
''Halloo-o-o!"' f.'-. il, - -.
MY voice rang through tho woods
like a clarion. l plunged onward
through the tangled vines, dense briars
and rocky banks, until gradually near,
ing, l could perceive figure wrapped
in an oil cloth cape Or cloak, carrying a
lantern. As the dim light fell upon his
face / almost recoiled Would not
solitude in the woods be preferable to
the companionship of the wrinkled
w1thered old man? But it was too late
now. r.... ...-
"What's wanting?" he snarled forth,
with peculiar motion Of the lips that
seemed to leave his yellow teeth all
bare. -.
81 am lost in the woods; can you
direct me to RI station?"
eyes station istwelve miles
from here" ..+ae.s,
''Twelve miles!'
| stood aghast.
"Can you tell Of any shelter could
obtain for the night =" -@
"No." wit
"Where are you going'" ,...,.
''To Drsw's, down here by the maple
swamp" n3i" a.
'Ts it tavern 2"
'.No,"
''Would they take me for a night7 /
could pay them we'll" -,
His eyes cleaned; the yellow stumps
stood revealed once more.
II guess SO; folks do stop there
sometimes" -......} -.r 9.lI
SIS it far from here?" a.a.
ssNot very; about half mile"
'.Then let us make haste and reach
it. | am drenched to the skin" 3
We plodded on, my companion
more than keeping pace with me. Pre-
sently we left the ravine, entering what
seemed like trackless woods, and keep
ing straight onward until lights cleaned
fitfully through the wet foliage.
1t was ruinous old place, with the
windows all on one side, and the pillars
of rude porch nearly retted away.
A woman answered my companions
knock. He whispered word or two
to her, and she turned to me with
smooth voluble words of welcome to
them, such as they were VI. ..s
She regretted the poverty Of the ac-
cominodation but / was welcome to
them, such as they were. II
"Where is Isaacf' demanded my
guide. = ~ NV has .,ss 81 sdi La.
"He has not come in yet" seeing b.
/ sat down on wooden bench beside
the fire, and ate a few mouthfills Of
bread. Ef-A E..
+ 81 Should like to retire as soon as
possible" said l, for my WEAKNESS was
excessive r1 (, ~ go ''' si
Certainly" the woman started up
with alacrity:,,, ...sa ...7, .s-
"Where are you going to put hirn?"
asked my guide. G8WUf5 g.
Cup chamber" ,. Fan s
/ "Put him in Isaacs ROOM" e
ats the most comfortable. arx "A
|, 81 tell you no. -rox.ygst - .
But hero interrupted the whispered
colloquy.
81 am not -particular-I don't care
where you put me; only make haste,
please. ,s.-
z So / was conducted up steep ladder
that stood in a corner OF the room into
an apartment ceiled with sloping
beams and ventilated by one small wia.
dow, Where cot bedstead, crowded
closely against board partition, and a
pine table, with two chairs formed the
sole attempt at furniture.
The woman set the light-an oil lamp
-on the table. :.
"Anything more ! can get ycu, sir9'
said she. -