The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-06
A TRAVELLERS STORY.

Il was in a palace car, on the Hudson
River road, that ! heard gentleman
who sat near me. tell his story to a COM
panion, and from the way he told il, be
lieve il to be true:
when was young man of one-and.
twenty was in the employment of my
uncle, Mr.. Peter Harwell, who had a
large factory at -, ] managed his
accounts, bought stock, and was his pay
master and this being paymas,er, in
Guided another duty. The factory was
in a lonely place, miles distant from any
town or village, and there was no bank
there. Once a week rode to T -, to
draw the money for the wages OF the
hands. Though their earnings were moi
individually great, the whole amount was
never less than two hundred dollars
This, partly IN small bank notes and
partly IN silver, carried in a pair Of
saddle-bags before me on my horse.
always rode armed, and never felt any
fear whatever.
"Highwaymen were not known in our
part Of the country. and generally had
companion on my way home In the
person Of my uncle's brother-in-law. who
often came to spend Sunday with US.
Il started from home al nine O'Clock
IN the morning, and was always in the
factory a, fve, ready to pay off the
hands.
1T was on the tenth of December that
left home one morning, with every ex-
pectation Of returning as usual. The
sky was white with coming snow, but |
never gave that second thought; be-
sides, il storm came. could hire a
sleigh in t and return that way.
Snow did fall even before reached
the bank, and by the time had my din
ner the roads were covered with it.
had called on our relative as usual, and
found him so occupied with business so
as to be unable to leave the town more
over, my horse had fallen lame. There
was nothing for il blu, to leave him in
good care and hire both horse and
sleigh. had some difficulty in obtain
ing wha, wanted. and having done SO
waited while everything was being made
ready in the little Office Of the livery
stable, with a newspaper 10 while away
the moments OF preparation. The men
were very slow. the room very warm.
leaned back against the wall and tell in
10 dreamy sort of condition yet not a
pleasant one. For the first time in my
life | was nervous about the Journey. A
bad-looking fellow seemed 10 watch me
at the bank door, and now saw him
again peeping in at the window OF the
stable office. A mere coincidence. per
haps, but was going On long journey
with money enough to tempt any high
wayman. To be sure, was armed and
an armed man, with horse and sleigh
need not fear any footpad, yet felt nerv
Gus.
"'iour sleigh is ready said a man
opening the door.
Il arose. took my saddle-bags, and
buttoned my coat. How cold it was ane
how deep the snow was already; and i
was still showing fuDously. looked a
my watch, and it wax an hour later thar
my usual time for starting; the hand.
would be kept waiting. However, tina
could no, be helped. jumped into tn,
sleigh and away drove. The town sooE
lay behind me, and | came to the las
building which was to greet my sight be
fore saw the roofs Of. II was al
old stone church, which stood in tn,
midst Of its moss-grown gravestones il
the very outskirts Of the scattering su
burbs Of T, and beside il I saw, lean
ing over the fence, feeble-looking oil,
woman in the big cloak and stiff hooc
which ancient Hibernian danes affec,
who was not only shaking her head, bu
moaning piteously, and who was to,
wretohed an object to be passed without
notice by any human person.
What IS the matter, old lady =
called, refining my horse. Have yo,
hurt yourself:
lis il hun myself, did you say2 erie,
the old woman, in queer, hoarse falsetto
Och, utindade have, then My ankl
IS sprained and not a step am able I,
take, and me sons house at -, an,
not penny have TO pay wagon, bar
rim, by grace, a good gentleman hk,
yourself would take me-
Il did not particularly fancy the oil,
woman, nor esteem il a privilege to hav
her company, and shrewsliy suspecte.
that she had not hurt her foot but eve
without that ! was not hardhearte,
enough to leave an old creature like tina
to make her way through the snow whe.
was going 10 the very place she men
toned. ! am afraid I said, Climb II
then,' rather ungraciously, but | said L
and in moment more she was BY m
side. Her big cloak diversified the scat
her breath Was redolent of whisky. an,
her face was nearly developed in a bi
plain handkerchief; but made all IN
room for her could, and started on
again, more anxious than before to get 3
the end Of my journey, and be rid d he
company.
Truth to tell, stranger doubts wer