Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1884-09-25
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

they are-though L doubt, as some
would call the marigolds and carna-
tions common and old fashioned. You
don't see many of 'em now in your
fine new tangled gardens, do you ?
It's pretty little place this, amt it,
sirP And it's my own too-my very
own--and will go to my grandson af-
ter me. He's a good lad, he is-it's
him as looks after the garden. Nigh
ty fond of flowers, he is, and rather
proud he'll be, I know, when he hears
as fine town gentleman has taken
notice of 'em. An / was fond Of
gardening, too, in my time But I'm
getting an old man now-95 / am,
come Christmss-and | can't expect
to be spared much longer, though I'm
hale and hearty yet, thank heaven
All | times have altered, sir, since my
young days And talking of old
times reminds me of something that
once happened to me. Like to hear
it, sir2 Well so you shall, and well
come, if you don't mind wasting an
hour or SO with an old chap like me.
Sit down, then, on that bench and
make yourself comfortable.
you've been to Chelmsford, per-
haps2 Then maybe You know the
'Saracen's Head ? Well, close to
where that now stands there used to
be an old inn called the Swan. A
queer-old place it was to be sure, with
its easement windows and overhang-
ing gables. I was living at Ralphah
then-it's nigh upon go years ago
a farmer / was and had been married
only short time TO a dear little wife
as loved well and true till she died,
poor lass
zone cold December day I started
for Brsintree, to look at some stock
as | thought of buying. AS it was
two days journey, l meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and go on
early the next day. l didn't leave
home till about 2, and l had weary
road to travel, SO that the darkness
came on before l reached the gibbet
on the edge OF the common; and can
tell you my flesh crawled, as the say.
ing is, when gallopped past at full
speed. 1t was a bleak, cold night
and the road was bad, so that it was
late before I rode into Chelmsford.
81 put up at the 'Swan'-that be.
ing the first inn | came to--and was
Y bns down hy sra TIM mare sssfas al.
ways attended to that the first thing
when the landlord came slowly out
to me. He was a short, sharp-faced
man, with great black eyes that had
an uneasy sort of look in EN-. / told
him I'd had long ride and was glad
enough to get safe into his yard-fol
I'd gold about me, and we'd heard
horrible tales of the robberies and
murders on the Kings highway
Well, he showed me into low, lont
room-the kitchen it was-with {
brick floor and bright fire burning
"There's a noisy lot in the parlor
sir, said he; you'll be quiet and COSY
here, for maybe you're tired and chill
ly after your ride in the wind"
~ ordered a steak and some wine
and az | ate my supper, | thought t.
myself that couldn't we'll have che
sen better place than the Swan t
stop at. After ! had finished calle'
for pipes and grog and sat by the fir
with the landlord but l might as wei
have been alone, for he never spoke
word, but sat staring into the fire wit
a wicked look in his eyes that didn'
like, though | didn't take much nc
tice Of it then. All / know no'
what his thoughts were as he gaze
modify into the glowing Goals Fl
was thinking of the disgrace brough
upon his only son, and wonderln
where the money was 10 come frou
which must be procured somehow,
| his boy was to be saved from rnil
And then no doubt he planned
murder me-ah it's all true, cir
I've got his confession by me now
and bury me down by the river sid
in the meadow behind the stabl
Then he meant to turn my mare OF
before dawn so that the servan
might think | had left early; ar
then, you see, when it was foun
people would think something ha
happened to me on the road to Brai
tree. Well, my companion rous'
himself after time and began askir
: me what I thought Of the country,
/ had ridden far, whether ] had be-
advised to put at the Swan, al
such like questions. | answer
b them freely enough, never suppoSlI
that he asked them for any other re
son than Just to keep up the conve
sation. | asked him to call me ear
and he promised me he would do
"I'll do it myself" said he, "for t
. girl and the ostIer will be abed.
"Then he called his wife and to
her to bring me candle, which 81
did. She was a coarse-lookiDg, car
worn woman, and | noticed when 8
> showed me to my room that her haI
was shaking, and her voice sound
thick as she bade me civil goo
night
my bedroom was a long, Il
room with queer old furniture, quaiI
n carved chairs, and a great four-p'
d bed-stead, which seemed as big al
hearse. There was no lock TO
door, and the bolts were rusty, 81
could only put the latch down.
thought of putting chair against
= L..t IL aonrnnd childiah and M d