The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-02-03

Tho following true tale' was recently
told by the mayor OF Stratiord. on Avon
when delivering lecture on Forest aud
Historic Tres" Some years ago gen
tleman. mounted on a horse, set out in
order to cross the Dartmoor Though the
tbaw had commenced, yet IL bud not
melted the snow heaps, and our traveller
got on but slowly and toward evening 1t
iroza again. Tho shades OF evening came
on with vapor and mist. To reach Tavi-
stock that night he knew would be impos-
sible, as a fresh snow storm began TO fall.
death. II was, therefore, with no
small satisfaction that he saw at a
distance a cottage, partially covered
with snow, and il was not long before he
reached it. He dismounted, aud the door
was opened by an old woman. he entered
and saw q sturdy peasant, the woman's son,
who rat smoking his pipe beside blazing
peat fire. The strangers wants were soon
ID ade known; an old out house accommo-
dated his horse, and the son gave up his
bed, adding that he wo aid sleep In the old
settle by the chimney corner. After supper
he was shown to his room, where there was
a large oak chest, very large and very curi'
Gus, 30 much 30 as to cause him to remark
upon it to the old woman, who had lighted
him up stsirs, and he could not help OBJ
serving something shy and odd about her
manner. Alter she had gone he felt in
clined % peep into the chest, but he for
bore and went to bed He felt cold and
miserable aud could not sleep. The old
chest haunted him; hollow sound, as II
behind his beds head. suddenly startled
him, and as he raised himself in his bed
the first thing he saw was the chsst. There
IL lay in the silvery silence OF the moon.
light; his fears gave action to the mani
mate thing. and ut length he fancied the
lid OF the chest began u move. Starting
from his bed he grasped the lid and raised
IL up. Imagine his feeling OF horror when
he beheld human corpse, still and cold.
Que thought during the rest uf the night
possessed him-that he was In the house oil
murderers. There was no ESCAPE. He
thanked God when morning came. On
coming down stairs ne found The old woman
and her son preparing breakfast, They
hoped Ibis honor" had passed good night,
and babe him cat his breakfast, consieting
OF broiled bacon, the son Ginning in that
mother WAS reckoned good un at sailing
un i'm He enjoyed his breakfast and re
covered his fright, and just rs the old
woman WAS broiliDg him another rasher he
summuned up courage TO disclose the secret
OF the OAK chest, and ask tor an explanation.
"Bless your heart, your honor, it's
nothing at ALL" said the young man; its
only faytherr, "Fatherl Your iatheI,,
cried the traveller; what do you meaDP"
@Why. you see, your honor, the snow be-
ing SO thick, and the roads 70 sledgey like,
when old fay.her died two weeks sgone, We
couIdD't carry m to Tavis,ock 10 bury an,
40 mother nut un in the old box and salted
uniu." The travellers breakfast was spilled.
He got up from The table, paid fer his lodg-
ing, saddled his horse, ana has never been
known to touch rasher OF bacon since, as
4, ALWAYS recalled the feelings'o of DISGUST
connected with the adventure OF Sailing
mn in. h-TMapchester (Eng) Times.