The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-10
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TWO TERRIBLE TALES.

TWO TERRIBLE TALES.
1 10 9sa.s ,.rt - -------' -. ... :.-r
T The following legend, with which the
writer was diverted by travelling &C
lquaintance at an English hostelry one
stormy night in 1865, may also amuse
MS readers nj sbuats rat.....r. -.. .ef,.
/ In the hunting season some seventy
years ago. in one of the northwestern
counties of England, four gentlemen sat
in an inn, picking their teeth. and crack
ling jokes after dinner The landlord en-
tered politely, and announced hungry
jstraneer.....The four filled. banqueters
lelected him to q seat, and bade the land
lord return the joint already roasted
Lifting his hat the guest gave his enter.
}tainers greeting and thanks, drew up his
csair, and then seizing and sharpening
the carving knife, with a violent semi.
Icircular switch around and across the
table, slitsall their weazends. He sliced
his mutton and eat it to the sound OIL
four crimson cataracts fpwing over foul
shirt fronts to the floor. Re-entering the
room, and observing, as he thought, nap
kins of strange color, mouths wide
open to the flies, and regards strangely
bent upon the greedy guest, the landlord
started.
"Come here" said the interesting
stranger, gobbling his meat. The land
lord approached do you see anything
| odd in nay eye?'
The landlords stare became intensi
fed. : .''
Because" said the maniac, II see
something so obnoxious to. me in yours
/ that think you'll have to stop looking
He drew the knife from the joint and
unerringly thrust it between the land
lords second and third ribs. Solacine
himself at desert with the gurgle Of his
fifth victims hearts blood, he was moi
pleased by the appearance of the meek
head-waiter, to whom, beckoning with
the knife while he hid the masters body
with an, outstretched leg, he said silly
! Have you pistol?" Ia,
"Good Lord, sir; why ?"
"Hayen't you" with an exquisite in
tonation "a revolver about the premi
ses ?"
,"Why, yes, sir; think there is one
yes, sir" 1924 's-'
"Do you see that rat2
"Rat, sir? No, sir? What rat?"
TN the corner, there" mi aats1bc
The waiter crouched and gazed, and
gazed and crouched again. .s!'iTda igs
tNo, ir."GE91no agt .gaUnoga9 eG.
.Ah,"l said the stranger, gracefully
waving his fork, she's gone into his hole
He'll be OUT presently. Fetch the re-
volver." ela}i rs si-
The revolver having been produced
the guest asked, smiling terribly: "Whc
lis the manufacturer OF this weapon?''
| .Disliking the speakers manner, the
servitor forgot to answer, '''s,i ''i1
How big mark is required for it, at
say your distance ?" - ;" 9Fs.s'
Waiter perplexed and almost paral.
yzed. - l'e',s9 'y 'i'i,9
4 naYou scoundrel! will you be my
, mark?" ~ '5''s'ts iiis p
The waiter,iu tone like a catacomb
echo, pleaded: :, :. =. =
/ 20, dear, sir" a-3 a3'
i sWhat!' shouted the mailman, in ,
voice that rang shrilly through the inn
lyou have come here to teaze me, hav,
|you? You have, come here to bear(
me! You are here to Illustrate my pur
pose. Down to the carpet-down,I Il say
You villain, knaye. scoundrel, miscreant
limp, vagabond ,ruflian, incendiary rogue
outlaw, reptile. You utterly monstrou
and irreclaimable wretch. Down"
Down on his knees, trembling.
"Vagrant al d rascal, pray !" =
i An indisting Unstable humble.
"Pray -
/ The Lords prayer rose to the lips Q
the doomed old man, who had been thil
ty years in his dead masters service, ,an
was now fascinated by this human base
llisk, sour Father which art in Heaven
hallowed be thy name; thy" 80.
"Faster!" oas ~. ~. -.
!. tHIThy kingdom come, thy" = I
s'Faster,r
, so, sir!) Thy will be done in cart
as it is in heaven. =,
'sDamn you, say, tasterr' ~ -
"Ah, sir, put down che pistol, in, hi
holy namer' .......s....t' - -
'.As WELL" said the bedlamite, care
fully cooking his weapon, and, while hi
eyes still glared awfully, speaking in
low, musical key, "as well ask the, bir
to forsake her young. My sray-haire
old friend, continue your pray yer,for 500
you will have here no time to pray in u
) so, sir, let me uncock your pistol"
+ 80, sir" (mockingly and never ur
loosing his eye, "you are a novice i
: bloody affairs. You dislike them -pe
haps you misconstrue the meaning {
them. Iperceiye that, menial as yo
. are, you are a, person of mean and fin
Q sy intellect. You interest. me, howeve
You are at present the delight Of m
eyes. In you l shall presently fin
peace, because / shall slake in your Gu
}. rents an unextinguished thirst for bloc,
shed. l am about to butcher ,you-n,
without a certain art See /; with sing
gesture ], have set four corpses rottin
and with an accurate aim l have Sc
your master { kicking his body into view
to my friend, the red and handson
Devil
"NIercy, sirp' said the old man, ,feelin
the pools under bis knees" " 49,
! The pistols muzzle was at his head
Suddenly Withdrawing it the murder
uttered a horrid cry, which degenerat,
gradually into still more horrid laughte
Then adjusting the cooked revolver
his own heart, and pointing with his Ill
le engaged'hand at oAe after the ether
his FIVE victims, he said, in tones as, Sc
emn as King, Arthur's. over prostra
:, Guinevere: aai,r..4 a,.3v eg.jlnf.,=
:" Il have made my dead / leave "
to weep for them. There sits the last
kof x1lla ho,,,n Il