Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-06-04

"can you tell me how far it is to the
next inn?"
"Eh! it be about zeven miles EUR"
was the reply, in the broad Yorkshire
dialect Of the district.
Seven miles," said the major, in a
tone of deep disappointment, "and nv
horse is already blown! My good fell
low, can't you put my horse somewhere
and give me a bed?'
"Eh! goodness zakel" said the rustic,
81 be not but a ditcher! There be noa
plaz to put the nag in, and there be
only n room and one bed in the cot"
What shall | doT cried the major,
at his wits end.
"Ill tell zee, zur," said the rustic,
scratching his head violently, as if to
extract the ideas by the root. "There
be a voine ,aige house on the road,
about a mile further on. It's noa
an inn, but the colonel gees COM
pany vor the u Of the thing--'coz he
loikes to zee company around 'un.
Yon must a heard of him-Colonel
Rogers used to be a soger once"
Say no more!" cried the major. al
ifbNS hpelt Va ~ iiOSBildOlC SCIltlt-
man, and his having been in the army
gives me a sure claim on his attention.
Here's a crown for your information,
my friend. Come, Marlborough
Touching his steed with a spur, the
major rode off, feeling an ex~hilaration
of spirits thai Don communicated it.
self to the horse. A sharp trot of a
few minutes brought him to a large
mansion which stood unfenced like
a huge caravansary by the road
side. He made for the front door, and
brass knocker until a servant in livery
made his appearance.
SIS your master up?' asked the ma
jor.
81 am the master Of this house,
said a venerable gentleman, making his
appearance at the door.
81 am n benighted traveller, sir" said
the major, touching his hat, land come
to claim your well-known hospitality.
Can you give me n bed for the night? |
am afraid my four-footed companion is
hardly able TO carry me to the next
inn"
Il cannot promise you a bed. sir"
said the host, ''for | have but one spare
bed in the house"
"And that" said the major.
Happens to be a room that does not
enjoy a very pleasing reputation. In
short, sir, one loom of my house is
haunted; and that is the only one, un-
fortunately, that I can place at your
disposal tonight"
my dear sir" said the major, spring
ing from his horse and tossing the bri-
die to the servant, "you enchant me be-
yond expression. A haunted chamberl
The very thing-and l who have never
seen a ghost! What luck!"
The host shook his head ~gravely.
81 never knew a man." he said, "to
pass a night in that chamber without
r~egretting IT,
Major Stanley laughed as he took his
pistols from the holster pipes.
with these good friends Of mine,"he
said, IL fear neither ghost nor demon"
Colonel Rogers showed his guest into
a comfortable parlor, where a real coal
fire was burning in the CRATE, and re-
freshments most welcome to a weary
traveller stood upon the table.
Mine host was an old campaigner, and
had seen much service during the wal
OF the American Revolution, and he was
full of interesting anecdotes and descrip-
tons of adventures. But while Major
Stanley was apparently listening atten.
lively to the narrative of his hospitable
entertainer, throwing in the appropriate
CALCULATIONS of surprise and pleasure at
the proper intervals, his whole attention
was in reality absorbed by a charming
girl of twenty, the daughter of the col
onel, who graced the table with her
presence. Never, he thought, had he
seen SO beautiful, so modest and so
lady-llke a creature; and she in her turn
seemed very favorably impressed with
the manly beauty and frank manners
of their military guest.
AT length she retired. The colonel,
who "a a three bottle man, and had
found a listener to his heart, was some
what inclined to prolong the session into
the small hours of the morning, but
finding that his guest was much IA
tigued, and even beginning to nod in
the midst of his choicest story, he felt
compelled to ask him if he would not
like to retire. Major Stanley answered
promptly in the affirmative, and the
old gentleman, taking up a silver candle
stick, tremendously marshaled his
guest to IA large old-iashioned room, the
walls of which being papered with
green, gave to it its appellation of the
"green chamber" A comfortable bed
invited to repose; a cheerful fire was
blazing on the hearth, and everything
was cozy and quiet. The major looked
around him with an air Of satisfaction.
II am deeply indebted to you, col
| anal y co ii hn for a Gnrli,nn a. n,,nL