River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-08-14
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

tiic1 alC--tliOuSu uOuub dS SOAllC nOuAd
call the marigolds and carnation, COM
mon aud old fashioned. You don't see
many of 'em now in your fine new
tangled gardens, do you? 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's
good lad, he is--it's him as looks after
the garden. Mighty fond of flowers
he is, and rarely proud he'll
be, / know, when he hears as a fine
town gentlemen has taken notice of
EN- All, I was fond of gardening,
too, in my timel But I'm getting an
old man now-eighty-five l am come
Christmas / can't expect to be
spared much longer, though I'm hale
and hearty vet, thank heavenl All,
times have altered, sir, since my young
days. For the better, you say9 Well,
things are grander now than they were
then, but somehow / seem to like the
old times best, perhaps because was
young and strong in 'em. And talk
ing of old times reminds me of some
thing that once happened to me-
Like to hear it, sir? Well, so you
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 comfortable.
You've been to Chelmsford, perhaps?
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 overhanging gables. I was living
at Ralphan then-it's nigh upon sixty
years ago-a farmer was, and had been
married only short time to a dear lit
tie wife as loved well and true till she
died, poor lass!
Gone cold December day started
for Braintree to look at some stock as
I thought of buying. As it was two
days journey, I meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and go on
early the next day. / didnf leave home
till about 2, and had weary road to
to travel, so that the darkness came on
before reached the gibbet on the edge
of the common; and can tell you my
flesh crawled, as the saying is, when |
galloped past at full speed. 1t was
bleak cold night, and the road was bad,
SO that it was late before l rode into
Chelmsford.
II put up at the Swan that being
the first inn 1 came to-and was
standing watching the ostler rubbing
down my good old mare-for I always
attended to that first thing-when the
landlord came slowly out to me; he was
short, sharpfaced 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 in
his yard-for I'd gold about me and
we'd heard horrible tales of the robber
les and murders ON the Kings high
way. Well, he showed me into long
low room-the kitchen it was-with
brick floor and bright fire burning.
There's noisy lot in the parlor, sir
said he; you'll be quiet and cosy here,
for maybe you're tired and chilly after
your ride in the wind
81 ordered steak and some wine,
and, as ate my supper, L thought to
myself that | couldn't well have
chosen better place than the Swan to
stop at. After I had finished / called
for pipes and grog and sat by the fire
with the landlord, but 1 might as well
have been alone, for he never spoke a
word, but sat staring into the fire with
a wicked look in his eyes that / didn't
like, though didn't take much notice
of it then. All / know now what his
thoughts were as he gazed modify 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 planned to murder me-ah,
it's all true, sir-Tve got his confess
sion by me now-and bury me down
by the riverside, in the meadow behind
the stable. Then he meant to turn my
mare out before dawn so that the SER
wants might think had left early; and
then you see, when it was found, peo-
pie would think that something had
happened to me on the road to Brain
tree. Well, my companion reused him
self after a time and began asking
me what I thought of the country,
if had ridden far, whether / had been
advised to put up at the Swan, and
such like questions. / answered them
freely enough. never supposing that he
asked them for any other reason than
just to keep up the conversation. |
asked him to call me early and he
promised he would do SO.
t'I'll do it myself, said he, 'ffor the
girl and ostler will be abed."
"Then he called his wife and told her
to bring me candle, which she did.
She was a coarse looking, careworn
woman, and noticed when she showed
me nv room that her hand was shaking,
and her voice sounded thick as she bade
me civil Good night
my bedroom was a long, low room
with queer old furniture, quaint carved
chairs and great four post bedstead
which seemed as big as hearse. There
was no lock to the door, and the bolts
were rusty, so [ could only put
the latch down. / thought of putting
chair against it. but that seemed
childish and no protection after all.
The night was wet and windy, and
the sky black as ink. Try as L would
I couldn't get to sleep, and there | lay
listening to the ghostly tapping of the
ivy leaves against the window, and
thinking of the evil look in the land
lords eyes, and all the horrid stories |
had ever read came crowding into my
mind, when suddenly / started up in my
bed, wide awake enough, for heard
something or some one climbing up the
ivy to my window, I lay with pal
pitating heart and straining eyes, list
ening to the horrible ghostly rustling
which every moment sounded nearer.
Suddenly thought struck me; and
] arose, hastily smoothing the bed
clothes, as though the bed had not been
slept in. / had just time to creep I'M
der the bed, when the window was shak-
en- open, and somebody softly slipped
in. It was man and, listen
ing intently, heard him sigh YEARLY
| to himsef, as if he were tired out
Then he got into my bed, drew the
clothes over him, and in few minutes
/ heard him snoring, You can imagine
how pleasant felt, and the scamp had
I -