West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-03-02
The Adventure OF n Mason.
I NashinRton ltVing.l

/
poorer, and could scarcely earn bread 70
his numerous family One night h
/ was aroused from his first sleep bv
knocking at his door lie opened it, an,
/ beheld before him q tall, meager, caday
erouslooking priest,
Hark ye, honest friend ~ said tn
\ stranger; "l have observed that yo,
/ are n good Christian, and one TO l.,
trusted will you undertake Job thi
/ very night2"
With all my heart, Senior Padre, OF
condition that | am paid accordingly.
That you shall be; but you must suf
fer yourself TO be blindfolded."
To this the mason made no objection
so, being hoodwinked, he was led by tn,
priest through various rough lanes and
winding passages, until they stopped be
! fore the portal of house. The priest
then applied key, turned creakinp
lock, and opened what sounded like q
ponderous door. They entered, the
door was closed and bolted, and the ma.
son was conducted through an cchoing
corridor and spacious hall, To an in
terror part of the building. Here the
handage was removed from his eyes, and
he found himself in patio or court,
dimly lighted by single lamp I'm the
center was the dry basin of an old Moor
lsh fountain, under which the priest re.
qucsted him TO form n small vault.
bricks and mortar being at hand for the
purpose. He accordingly worked all
night, but without finishing the Job.
just before daybreak the priest put Il
piece of gold into his hand, and, having
again blindfoldcd him, conducted him
back to his dwelling.
Are you willing" said he, "to re-
turn and complete your work p"
Gladly, Senor Padre, provided am 40
well paid" Well, then, tomorrow at
midnight will call again" lie did NO,
and the vault was completed. "Now,"
said the priest, you must help me 10
bring forth the bodies that are TO be
buried in this vault"
The poor mason's hair rose on his head
at these words; he followed the priest,
with trembling steps, into retired
chamber OF the mansion, expecting to
behold some CHASTITY spectacle of death,
but was relieved on perceiving three or
lour portly jars standing in one corner
They were evidently full of money, and
1T was with great labor that he and the
priest carried them forth and consigned
them to their tomb. The vault was
then closed, the pavement replaced, and
all traces of the work obliterated. The
mason was again hoodwinked and led
forth by route different from that by
which he had come. After they had
wandered for long time through per-
picked maze of alleys, they halted. The
priest then put two pieces of gold into
his hand. wait here" said he, Gun
tll you hear the cathedral bell toll for
mathis. III you presume TO uncover
your eyes before that time, evil will be-
fall you" So saying, he departed. The
mason waited faithfully, amusing him
self by weighing the gold pieces in his
hand, and clinking them against each
other. The moment the cathedral bell
rang its matin peal, he uncovered his
eyes, and found himself on the banks of
the Henil, from whence lie made the
best Of his way home, and reveled with
his family for a whole fortnight on the
profits of his two nights work, after
which he was as poor as ever.
lie continued TO work a little, and
pray good deal, and keep Saints days
and holidays, from year 10 year, while
his family grew up as gaunt and ragged
as a crew of gypsies. AS he was seated
one evening at the door Of his hovel, he
was accosted by a rich old curmudgeon,
who was noted for owning many houses
and being gripping landlord. The man
Of money eyed him for moment from
beneath pair of anxious, shagged eye
brOws
&" J am told, friend, that you are very
poor"
There is no denying the fact, senior.
IL speaks for itself"
81 presume, then, that you will be glad
of a job, and will work cheap"
AS cheap, my master, as any mason
in Granada"
That's what want. ] have an old
house fallen into decay, that cost me
more money than IL is worth TO keep il
in repair, for nobody will live in Il 20
J must contrive TO patch il up and keep
1t together at AZ small expense AZ
possible"
The mason was accordingly conducted
10 q large deserted house that seemed
going 10 ruin. Passing through several
empty halls and chambers he entered
an inner court, where his eye was caught
by an old Moorish fountain. He paused
for a moment, for n dreamy recollection
Of the place came over him.
Pray" said he, who occupied this
house formerlyW
q pest upon him" cried the land.
lord at was an old miserly priest, who
cared for nobody but himself. lie was
said 10 be immensely rich. and. having
no relations, IL Was thought he would
[ leave ell bis treasures 10 the Church. HC
. died suddenly, and the priests and friar'
I thronged to take possession Of hi.
/ wealth; but nothing could they find but
| q few ducats in leather purse. The
I worst luck has fallen on me, for, since hi,
/ death, the old fellow continues TO oc
/ cupy my house without paying rent, anC
there's no taking the law on a deaC
man. The people pretend 30 hear th,
/ clinking of gold All night in the chambe
where the old priest slept, ~ II he wer,
counting over his money, and sometime
. agrOaning and moaning about the court
Whether true or false, these stories hav,
brought a bad name on my house, anC
not q tenant will remain In it,"
Enough" said the mason, sturdily
" let me live in your house rent-free un
tiI some better tenant present, and
will engage toput il in repair, and 70 qui
the troubled spirit that disturbs il.
am a good Christian and poor man, an,
am not 10 be daunted by the devil him
self, even though he should come in tn