The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-11-10

tantrum ever since this mornin,' and all
last night heard him scratchin' and clawn'
at the winder here, and yellin' enough to
set body crazy. What evil sperit's got
into him I can't guess"
cts only that he smells so'thing a
comin," responded her lord, with a grim
humor. "You know it's said cats can smell
when there's agoin' to be a corpse in the
house, and no doubt this critter scents beef
and bacon on the way from Knoxville.
Dom. you, now, Derrick ?''
Derrick only responded by snarl which
exhibited every one of his long, sharp
fangs and straightway commenced knead-
ing and clawing on the floor, with his nails
projecting an inch from his great paws.
In his whole aspect was something 80 fierce
aud malicious that it aroused the ire of
even his master.
"Quit that now, you ugly black rascal ~
he shouted "aud ;arn to behave yourself
afore folks - And seizing the iron poker,
he flung it full at the animal. The creature
gave yell like that of wild cat, sprang
upon the bed where lay its mistress and
there stood, Kissing and spluttering like a
fury, until the old woman, with what
feeble strength she possessed, s.rove to
fling it aside. She would probably not
have succeeded but for her husband, who,
coming to her aid with a good sized stick,
hunted the creature round the room, and
finally, seizing it by the TAIL flung it
through the window into the yard. But,
before Our meal was concluded, saw again
the white fangs and great yellow eyes
cleaning in at the window.
81 would shoot that cat, if l were you,
Burnett" said.
$50 often tell him." chimed in the
wife, 'tand don't know but what I'll do it
myself, if he won't. He amt o. no airthly
use, even to cotch a rat for himself, aud he
eats as much as any human critter, besides
bein' always in the way, worriting round,
and stealing everything he can lay his
claws On-"
A dash against the glass and fierce
snarl drew our attention to the window !;
but before the host could reach il, the
creature had again disappeared. As rode
away in company with the strangers,
caught glimpse Of the cat perched upon
the ridge Of the roof, tail erect and teeth
gleaming-like spirit of evil brooding
over some doomed dwelling.
That night we reached stopping place
about half way to Knoxville. Here we
found the wagons ol6 Burnett was expect
ing; he having received information from
some ono who had passed them on the
road. The teamsters told me they bad
stopped some hours earlier than they might
have done, in consequence Of an appre-
hended change in the weather. And in
fact, upon rising the next morning, found
a heavy snow had set iu-one of those slow,
steady falls that last generally for days
together, covering the ground to the depth
of foot or two everywhere, and so COM
pletely blocking up the narrow mountain
roads as to render them impossible. Un-
der these circumstances, was not sur
prised to learn that the wagons had set off
at daybreak, hoping to reach the more
practicable though less direct route known
as the valley road. myself, with my fel-
ow-travelers, lost no time in pushing on
ward, before the snow should have become
deeper and the road more difficult and wo
succeeded in reaching Knoxville late in
the afternoon.
Business and bad weather detained me
in Knoxville upwards Of two weeks and
the heavy snow-storm had yielded to a
slight thaw, when 1 again found myself on
the road, homeward bound. My progress
was slow and difficult, in consequence of
the swollen torrents which sometimes
crossed the way, and the huge drifts Of
snow which obstructed the road, especially
in places where it was steep, or lay between
high banks. More than once had to dis
mount, and work at the huge drifts with
my own Lands, Before 1 could force my
horse through ; and it was " ith a feeling
of more than ordinary satisfaction that,
toward the close Of the second day Of my
Journey, began to descrs familiar land
marks, announcing my near approach to
home.
Ireache6 at length an eminence about
three miles from my house, where I for
moment paused, and took in view of the
landscape. There was nothing to be seen
but snow snow on the hills, snow in the
valleys, snow covered the naked woods,
and almost hiding my humble little dwell
ling. Right at my feet, as it seemed,
could descry the low, gray walls of old Bur-
nett's tavern and l noticed at the first
glance that there was no sign of smoke
issuing from its chimney.
Why this circumstance should have
struck me as it did, can't say. A strange
sense Of fear and horror seemed suddenly
to fall upon me-a consciousness Of some
thing wrong--an impulse to urge my horse
onward-thougb with no distinct aim or
object in view. And as we stumbled for
ward through the heaped up snow, the
horror was increased on observing that the
suOW-drifts were uubroken-the ten tlays'