Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-06-06
CHE Sturp Teller.
THE INTREPID MOTHER
A TRAVELLERS TALE.

A TRAVELLERS TALE.
The diligence from Paris to Chalone stopped
one evening, just after dark, some miles be-
yond the little town of Rouvisy, to set down
an English lady and her child at a lonely
roadside auberge. Mrs. Martin expected to
find a carriage ready to take her to the Chat
eau de Senart, distance of some leagues,
whittier she was repairing on visit, but was
told that it had not yet arrived. The land
lady, q tall coarse-looking woman, who showed
her into the vast hall that served at once as
sitting.room and kitchen, observed that the
roads we're so muddy and difficult at night
that there was little chance of her friend ar
irving before the morning. "You had better,
therefore" said she, make up your mind to
sleep here We have good room to offer
you, and you'll be much more comfortable
between pair of clean, warm sheets, than
knocking about our rough country, especially
as your dear child seems sickly."
Mrs. Martin, though much fatigned by her
journey, hesitated. A good nights rest was
certainly tempting prospect; but she felt so
confident that her friends would not neglect
her, that, after moment, she replied, 81
thank you, madame I will sit up for an hour
or so it is not late, and the carriage may
come, after all. Should it not, I shall be
glad of your room, which you may prepare
for me at any rate"
The hostess, who seemed anxious that her
guest should not remain in the great room,
suggested that fire might be made above !;
but Mrs. Martin found herself so comfortable
where she was-a pile of faggots was blazing
on the vast hearth-that she declined at trst
to move. Her daughter, about five years OF
age, soon went to sleep in her lap. and she
herself found that whilst her ears were anx-
iously listening for the roll of carriage wheels,
her eyes occasionally closed, and slumber be-
gan to make its insidious approaches.
In order to prevent herself from giving way,
she endeavored to direct her attention to the
objects around her. The apartment was vast,
and lighted more by the glare of the fire than
by the dirty candle, stuck into filthy tin
"stick," that stood on one of the long tables.
Two or three huge beams stretched across
halfway up the walls, leaving space filled
with fitting shadows above. From these de-
pended a rusty gun or two, sword, several
bags, hanks of onions, cooking utensils, &c.
There we're very few signs that the house was
much visited, though a pile of empty wine
bottles lay in one corner The landlady sat
at some distance from the fireplace with her
two sons, who laid their heads together and
talked in whispers.
Mrs. Martin began to feel uneasy. The
idea entered her mind that she had fallen into
a resort for robbers; and the words &c est
els," Git is she), which was all she heard of
the whispered conversation, continued to
alarm her. The door leading into the road
was left ajar and for moment she felt an in
clination to start up and escape on foot. But
she was far from any other habitation, and if
the people of the house really entertained any
evil designs, her attempt would only precipi-
tate the catastrophe. So she resolved on pa
tience, but listened attentively for the ap-
proach of her friends. All she heard, how
ever, was the whistling of the wind and the
dashing of the rain, which had begun to fall
Just after her arrival.
About two hours passed in this uncomfort-
able way. At length the door was thrust
open, and man, dripping wet, canein. She
breathed more freely, for this newcomer
might Illustrate the evil designs of her hosts,
if they entertained any. He was red. haired,
joval-faced looking man, and inspired her
with confidence by the frankness of his man
ners.
"A fine night for walking!" cried he, sha-
king himself like dog who has scrambled
out of a pond. What have you to give me ?
I am wet to the skin. Hope I disturb no.
body. Give me bottle Of wine"
The hostess, in surly, sleepy tone, told her
eldest son to serve the gentleman, and then
addressing Mrs. Martin, said:
"You see your friends will not come, and
you are keeping US up to no purpose. You
had better 60 to bed"
II will wait little longer" was the reply,
which elected a kind of shrug Of contempt.
The red.haired man finished off his bottle
of wine, and then said:
"Show me room, good woman. l shall
sleep here toni ght."
Mrs. Martin thought as he pronounced
these words he cast protecting glance to-
wards her, and she felt less repugnance at the
idea of passing the night in that house.
When, therefore, the red-haired man, after a
polite bow, went up stairs, she said that as
her friends had not arrived they might as we'll
show her to bedroom.
II thought it would come to that at last, V
said the landlady. "Pierre, take the lady's
trunks up stairs"
In few minutes Mrs. Martin found her
self alone in a spacious room, with large
fire burning on the hearth. Her first care
after putting the child to bed Was to examine
the door, 1t closed only by latch. There
was no bolt inside. She looked round for
something to barricade it with, and perceived
a chest of drawers. Fear gave her strength.
She half lifted, half pushed, it against the
door, Not content with this, she seized ta-
BILE, to increase the strength of her defence.
The leg was broken, and when she touched it
it fell with crash to the floor. A long echo
went sounding through the house, and she felt
her heart sink within her. But the echo died
away, and no one came; so she piled the
fragments of the table upon the chest of
drawers. Tolerably satisfied in this direction,
she proceeded to examine the windows. They
were all we'll protected with iron bars. The
walls were papered, and, after careful ex-
animation, seemed to contain no signs of a
secret door.
Mrs. Martin now sank down into chair
to reflect on her position. AS was natural,
after taking all these precautions, the idea
suggested itself that it might be superfuous,
and she smiled at the thought of what her
friends would say when she related to them
the terrors of the night. Her child was
H. nonillv itc roSv chaeka half hn-