The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-03
TERRIBLE NIGHT.

NAS oASy ~ HAOVVJ"VnOy
are-though I doubt as some would call
the marigolds and carnations common
and old-fashioned. It's a pretty little
place this, amt it, sir? And it's my
own too-my very own-and will go to
my grandson after me He'sagood lad
he is--it's him as looks after the gar
den. Mighty fond Of flowers he is; and
rarely proud he'll be, I know, when he
hears rs a fine town gentleman has TAX
gu notice Of 'em. All, I was fond of gar
dening too in my time! But Tn getting
an old man now-eight.fiveI am come
Christmas-and I can't expect to be
spared much longer, though Tn
hale and hearty yet, thank Heav-
enl All, times have altered,
sir, since my young daysl For the
better you say? Well, things are
grandcr 10Y than they were then; but
somehow / seem to like the old times
best, perhaps because / was young and
strong in 'em. And talking of old times
reminds me of something that once
happened to me. Like to hear it, sir ?
Well, so Won shall, and welcome, 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 COM
Portable.
~.
You've been to Chelmsford perhaps?
Then maybe you knew the 'Scaracen's
Head? Well, close to where that nov
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
overhanging gables. I was living at
Raldhan tlen-its nigh upon sixty years
ago-a farmer I was, and had been mar
ried only o short time to a dear little
wife as l loved well and true till she
died, poor lassl
"One cold December dav I started
for Braintree to look ut some stock as [
thought of buying. AS it was two
days journey, l meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and 90 on
early the next day. I didn't leave home
till about two, and / had weary road
to travel, so that darkness came on be-
fore I reached the gibbet on the edge
OF the common; and l can tell you my
flesh crawled, as the saying is when T
galfoped past at full speed. It was a
bleak cold night and the road was bad,
SO that it was late before I rode into
Chelmsford"
Il put up at the 'Swan-that being
the first inn l came to-and was stand
ing watching the hostler rubbing down
my good old mare-for l always attend
ed to that the first thing-when the
landlord came slowly out to me; he was
q short, sharp-faced man, with greut
black eyes that had an uneasy sort of
look in EN-. I told him I'd had a long
ride, and was glad enough to get safe
into his yard-for 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 a
long low sroom-the kitchen it was
with q brick floor and a bright fire
burning.
THERE'S o noisy lot in the parlour,
sir said he; you'll be quiet and cosy
here, for maybe you're tired and chilly
after your ride i'll the wind
II ordered o steak and some wine,
and, as l ate my SUPPER, / thought to
myself that I couldn't well have found
a better place than the Swan to stop
ct. After 1 had finished, I called for
pipes and grog, and sat by the fire with
the landlord; but l might as we'll have
been alone, for he never spoke a word,
but sat staring into the fire with a
wicked look in his eyes that I didn't
like, though I didn't take much notice
of it then. ALI, I know now what his
thoughts were as he gazed moodily into
the glowing Goals! He was thinking of
the disgrace brought upon his name
by his only son, and wondering
where the money was to come from
which must be procured somehow
if his boy was to be saved
from ruin. And then no doubt he plan
ned to murder me-ah, it's all true sir
I've got his confession by menow-
and bury me down by the riverside, in
the meadow behind the stable. Then
he meant to turn my mare ont before
dawn, SO that the servants might think
l had left early; and then, you see,
when it was found, people would think
something had happened to me on the
road to Braintree. Well, my companion
reused himself after a time, and began
asking me what ] thought of the coun-
try, if I had ridden far, whether I had
been advised to put up at the Swan
and such like questions. I answered
them freely enough, never supposing
that he askedfor any other reason than
just to keep up the conversation. I
asked him to call me early, and he
promised he would do so.
'"I1l do it myself said he, for the
girl and the ostler will be abed.'
Then he called his wife and told her
to bring me a candle, which she did.
She was a coarse-looking carewor wo-
man, and i noticed, when she showed
me to my room, that her hand was
shaking, and her voice sounded thick as
she bid me o civil Goodnight
my bedroom was along low room
with queer old furniture, quaint carved
chairs, and great f~our-post bedstead
which seemed as big : hearse. There
was no lock to the and the bolts
were rusty and broken. so I could only
put the latch down. I thought of put
ting o chair against it; but that seemed
childish, and Interpretation after all. The
night was wet and windy and the sky
black as ink. Try as Iwould, / couldn't
get to sleep; and there I lay listening to
the ghostly tapping of the i~vy-leayes
AGAINST tina win1nw and khipLip~ ~
the evil look in the andlord's eyes, and
all the horrid stories I had ever read
came crowding into my mind, when
suddenly / started upin bed, wide awake
enough, for l heard something or some
one climbing up the ivy to my window.
I lay with pnlpitating heart and strain