The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-06
THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE.

1t was fifteen years since Silas Marn-
cr had first como to Ravcloo, md at the
end Of fifteen years Ravcloe men said
the same thing about him rs at the be-
ginning. He was subject to catalepsy
and to the villagers, there was something
mysterious in these fits, rs fit was a
stroke, and it was not in the nature of q
stroke to let man stand on his legs like
n horse in the shaft and then walk off as
soon as you can say Gee
So had his way of life mysterious pc
culiarities. He invited no conner to step
across his door-sill, and he never strolled
into the village to drink pint ut the
Rainbow, and he sought no man or
woman, save for the purpose OF his call
ing, or to supply himself with the neces-
saries Of life.
He had knowledge Of herbs-and
charms too, they thought--and perhaps
he was possessed of MI evil spirit, SO it
was partly to this vague fear that Mar
her WAS indebted for protecting him
from persecution, md still more, that,
as linen weaver, his handicraft made
him highly welcome settler to the rich
housewives of the district. There was
only one important addition which the
years brought; it was that Master Mar
ner had laid by fine sum of money
somewhere
His life had reduced itself to the mere
functions of weaving and boarding. But
3D. n Gftnnl,f1, n
great change came over Manners life,
and his history became blended in sin
gular manner with the life Of his neigh
h0rs.
The greatest man in Rnvcloc was
Squire Cass. One Of his two sons,
Dustan, the second, the ncighbors said
it was no matter what became Of lima
spiteful, jeering fellow, whose taste for
drinking, betting and swopping might
turn him out to he sower of something
worse than wild oats.
But it would be n pity that Godfrey,
the eldest, fine, wcll-brcd, ,good-natured
Young man, should take the same road
as his brother, which he seemed inclined
to do of late,
Godfrey was in Dustan's power, rs ho
had secretly married coarse beauty,
whose love of drink had made her an I'M
fit companion for any one, and he lived
in fear of his father learning the dread
fnl secret and turning him adrift, SO
Dustan made constant demands on him
for hush money. Driven to desperation
by his prohigate brother, he had given
him permission to sell his fnvorite horse
ii he would make no more demands upon
him.
So Dustan rode the horse to the races
and before he had chance to sell, killed
the horse md wont from the grounds
in n drunken, penniless state.
AS he was plodding home through the
dark he saw light in Marncrs house.
He knocked, but no one answered, and
on stepping in he found it vacant.
Where could he be, leaving his sup
per cooking and the door unfastened. 1t
was a dark, rainy night, and perhaps he
had gone out for fuel and fallen into the
stone pits,
That was IN interesting idea to Dustan
If the weaver was dead, who had right
to his money? Who would know where
his money was hidden? Who would
know thai anybody had come to take the
money away?
He saw place near the loom where
the sand had finger marks. Hc dartcd
to it, lifted tho bricks, and found two
leather bags. Ho Immediately left the
house with the bags The rain and
darkness had got thicker, but he was
heartily glad Of it.
Silas came soon after, and after get
ting warm he thought he would put his
beloved guincas on the table before him,
as it would be pleasant to see them as he
atc his unwontcd feast. For joy is the
best of wine, and Silas' guinens were n
golden wine of that sort
The sight of the empty hole made his
heart leap, but the belief that his gold
was gone could not como ut once. Pic
had put his gold somewhere clso and
then forgotten it, He turned his bed
over md looked in tho brick oven.
He felt once more nll around tho hole.
He could sec every object in his cottage
and his gold was not there. He put
his hands to his head and gave wild,
ringing scream, the cry of desolation.
The cry had relieved him from the first
maddcning pressure.
He tottcrcd toward his loom, and got
into the seat where he worked, instinct.
ively seeking this rs the strongest as.
surancqlof reality.
The ilen of thief began to present