Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-01-24
score of Queen Besses in the Eng

AsS'A - sAiJ
"Papa," / said, with somthing O
shiver, and yet feeling attached
to the shining cruel thing, "hss i
ever killed anybodyp
"Oh, yes; it has done its duty
many time," replied my father
"My great grandfather took il
from the hand of a dead caterar
on the field of Aughrim. 1t wa'
then black and bloody, and it ha:
done many days work since"
l shuddered, and shrank back
from the evil thing so far as | could
without losing my balance. Ny
father felt .he action.
"Don't be afraid OF the poor
thing" he muttered, half laughing
ly, "it won't hurt you. And | hope
it may never more have any work
to do"
"Ah," I said, an never more GO
near or touch the hateful thing
again. "I'll-"
"Tut, tut" replied my father,
"you talk like girl. But halo
here we are in the middle Of the
bog, and I intended to go the other
road. That's what's comes of gos-
slipping"
Looking around, I recognized a
part OF the road over which we had
passed in the morning 1t was a
sort Of raised causeway, like a rail
way ombanbment, and ran right
across the center OF a large tract
Of bog. 1t was tLe nearest away
from our house 10 town, but was
seldom made use of except in the
day time. Out OF repair, uushelt-
cred from wind or rain, and flank
ed on either side bya deep ditch.
full Of ugly, black, deadly looking
water, it was ANYTHING but a pleas
ant road to travel after dark. In
addition, an evil repnte hung over
il. Several lives had been lost in
the ugly ditch on either side; and
Of late il had become notorious a,
a place sreqnented 10y agrsriar
criminals. This, OF itself, was
enough to deter most men, and my
father halted the pony and looked
around.
"Ab," he said, after a moments
pause, OTIS all right. See, the
moonll he ont in minute or two.
Meanwhile, weTl jog on quietly"
Dolly knew the road OF old and
stepped forward carefully. But
scarcely had she gone dozen yards.
when, ss ii sprsng from the bowels
of the esrth, or rising ont OF the
black ditch, as Venus from the sea,
= tall form looking taller than /,
really was in the weird light-stood
forth in the way.
Another step, and we saw that
the figure was that OF man, dress
ed in a long frieze coat, and carry
ing an enormous stick or "wattle,'
90 long that when used for resting
it was grasped one-third Of its
length below the top.
"God save We, sir" said the man
stepping aside little as we drew
near.
"God save We, sir,' replied my
father, kindly, as he swsyed the
pony a little to one side, so as &c
sllow the man to pass.
But the man turned and faced
towards the way we were going.
"A very fine night, SIR said the
man, as he edged nearer and nearer
to the head Of the pony, who seem
ed to have an instructive desire &c
keep as far from him ne possible
IA fine night, but rather dark fol-
this road"
"Oh, there will soon he plenty o
light" replied my father. besides
I know this road very well. ant
have proved it in many dsrke'
night"
"True for We, sir" replied tn,
man, with another accession Of low,
for being nearer the head Of tn,
pony. "But there's worse thing
nor the dark night to be afraid o
on this road"
"1ndeed." said my father, as hi
right arm gradually slipped aroun'
TO his back, and his hand graspe,
and drew to his right knee the bar
rel Of the blunderbuss.
AVIS; an | wonder you're no
sfeared." said the man, "Didn't y
hear how they trated Purcell, th
malemonger, a few days ago, al
what they done TO ould Doran c
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