Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-10-11
\ NIGHTS ADVENTURE.

.'Ah, sir, see you're admjrinc nv
lowers Well, they are 'nretty-that
aey arc-though doubt as some would
"aI the maligolds ana carnations com
non and 9id-fashoLed. Yon don't see
nany Of en- now~ in Your fine new-fan-
piff gardens. DO you? It's pretty lit
4 place this, amt it, .ir? And itsm
own, too-my very oWn-and will go to
my grandson after me. He's good
l1d, he Is lis him as looks after the
garden. Mighty fond Of flowers he is,
8aj rarely prond he'll be, I know, when
= be hears as fine town gentleman has
AIKEN notice Of EN-, All, [ was fond Of
sardcmu@, too, III my time But In
getting an old man now-eiglty-fiv I
anl come Christmas I can't expect
50 be spared much longer, though I'm
male and hearty yet, thank heascn All.
times have altered, sir, since NY voung
days For the better, you say? Wnll,
shngs are grandcr now than t,.ev were
hen, hut somehow ! seem to like the
"i times best, perhaps because / was
Young and strong III 'em. And talking
7i oid times reminds me of something
hat oFce happened to me. Like to
Tear It. sir? Well, so you shall, and
Re'come, If you don't mind wasting an
voar or SO with an old chap like me.
Nltdown, then, on that bench and make
Yourself comfortable.
You've been to Chelmsford per
haps Then maybe you know the
NTacen's Head 2 Well, close to where
mat now stands there used 70 he an old
nm called the Swan. A queer old
plaee 1t was to be sure. with It's case
men' windows and overhanging gables.
wss living 1t t;alphan-its nigh upon
rI1iY years ago-a farmcc ! vas. and
Dad been married only a short time to
dear ljt,le wife Is / loved well ana true
a.i ne died, poor lass
Ono cold December dav started
Eraintree, to look At some stock as !
fought Of buying. As it WIS n two
anNs journey, | meant to stop at
.'s'nstord for the night and 60
- early the next day. didn't
cave home till about 2. and had a
Weary road 70 travel, So that the dark
'1ss came ofQ herore | reached the glib
on tue edge Of the common; aud |
h ten You my flesh crawled. as
esayng is when | galloped past at
~ speed. II was a bleak cold night,
a.si The road was bad. so that it was
s"'e before roIc into Chelmsford.
= Put W Al the Swan that being
WIS hrsf Inn came to--and wa, stand
'HE Watching the hostIer rubbing down
ny good old mare-for | alwuvs It.
ended 70 that first thlug-when the
.aHdlord came slowly ont 10 me; he was
short, sharp faced man. with great
black eyes that had an uneasy sort Of
iook in EN-. told him I'd hal long
7da and was glad enough 10 set safe
into his yard I'd gold about ne ana
we'd heard horrible tales Of the rob
berles and murders on the Kings high
Way. Well he showed me into long
low roon-the kitchen ii was--with
trick floor and bright fire burning.
"'Theresa noisy lot il the parlor, sir,
said he; you'll he qniet and cosy here
.ur maybe Won re tired and chliv after
vouI ride IN the wind
Il ordered q steak and some wine,
'nd, as | ate my supper, I thought TO
4yself that I couldn't well have chosen
a letter place than the Swan 10 stop
al After l had finished / called FOR
pipes and grog and sat by the FIRE with
'Le landlord, bnt might as Wei have
oeen alone for ne reecr spoke word.
but sat staring into the fire with q
s.cked look III his eyes that | didn't
Re, though | didn't take much notice
q 1t then. All, know now what his
thoughts were as he gazed moodily into
me glowing Goals. He was thinking OF