, 1880-04-01

| the travellers believed themselves uOOneu
to spend the night in the forest exposed
to all its horrors and dangers. But Just
as Kent brought his horse to a halt a
light suddenly cleaned out Of the inter.
s;icas between the trees, apparently but
short distance beyond them. Push
Ing onward once more, they soon found
/ themselves in front of a comfortable log
house standing near the roadside.
/ A woman, apparently 80 years OF age,
attracted by the rattle of the carriage,
came to the door with a lighted candle
in her hand
"NIy good woman, myself and my
wife, the lady with me in the carriage,
are on our way to Canandaigua, but we
have lost our way night is upon us we
can &C no further. Can you give US
shelter for the night, some supper, and
something for our horse to eatl' said
Kent.
"We are poor folks, and I'm alone.
My man is chopping over in the Billings
settlement, and you are strangers" said
the woman, approaching close to the car
riage and narrowly scanning its occu-
pants "But you look like respectable,
good people" she continued, "and l
guess you can stay here / can give you
something to eat, if it amt quite so good,
and III fodder your horse, too. You
and your woman had better get out and
60 inre the house while l lead the horse
to the stable"
Mrs. Kent found seat in the cottage
and the Chancellor assisted the woman
IN embarrassing the horse, which she led
to the stable and comfortably fed.
The hostess soon prepared frugal
but acceptable supper for her guests.
When the meal was finished ,she said :
81 s'pose you are tired and want to go
right to bed, and you can. That's our
bed in the corner there, but you can
sleep in it tonight. and my man can
sleep up stairs. He may not come in
for some time. I'll just set his supper
on the table when he comes in he'll eat
it but he won't disturb you one bit !;
and then hell come right up to bed. So
I'll bid you goodnight. I'll try and
keep watch when my man comes, so he'll
understand things"
So saying, she placed her mans even
ing repast on the table, then assembled
ladder leading to sort of scuttle hole,
through which she crawled to the attic.
The Chancellor and his wife retired to
rest. .
"Tired nature" was hurrying them on
to tine land of dreams when, of sudden,
Kent started up, saying
''Bessie, that outside door is not fas.
tened. Presently the man OK the house
will return, and, seeing me here in bed
with you, he will Of course think that
you are his wife, and he may. not fancy
that l have any legal right to be here
that my business is not just the thing
and being wood-chopper, he will have
his ak with him, and his wife will be
asleep, and before I can explain matters
the Chancellor of this State will be
pretty thoroughly chopped up. Not
pleasant thing to think of, is it, Bes-
siep ..' '''
"It is bad matter After he has
finished chopping you, | fear he will turn
his attention to me- Whatcan be donel
Perhaps his wife will watch for him.
You know she said she would"
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Bessie I'll
push that heavy table against the door.
When the man comes it will take him
some time to remove it, and while lie is
doing SO can explain matters to him."
said the Chancellor. .-.-
Accordingly, he got out of bed, took
hold of the table, and had just pushed it
against the door, when he heard heavy
footsteps approaching. The next in
stant the door was pushed open, the
table nearly overturned and man of
gigantic size, in his shirt sleeves, wear
ing a broad brimmed straw hat. entered
the room. The first object that met
his sight was Kent, en- dshabille.
Glancing at the bed he saw, as he sup
posed, his wife there, and the situation
became painfully apparent to him.
! "Who the devil are youl and what
are, you doing in my house this time of
night in your shirt tail4, Damn you, I've
caught you, whoever you are ! and !!
III" -..-.r. a ..-..-.-5
at is all right, MY good sir all
right Let me ex--''
GAN right, is it, hey You be d-n.
All right Yes, 7 see-didn't expect me
home. Thought you'd fasten me out SO