Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-13
mo. 12. FROSTBURG, MD. DECEMBER Ii, 1884.
SELECT STORY.
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

my ho"eio' Neii, lley dle pIeIty-
that they are-though l doubt as
some would call the marigolds and
carnations common and old d-fashion-
ed. You don't see many of them in
your fine, new-fangled gardens, do
you? It's a pretty little place this,
amt it, sir: And it is my own, too
my very own-and it will 60 to my
grandson after me. He's a good lad,
he is-it is him rs looks after the
garden. Mighty fond of flowers, he
is, and rather proud he'll be, know,
when he hears that fine town gen.
tleman has taken notice of them.
All! l was fond of gardening, too, in
my time! But l am getting an old
man now-S5 come Christmas-and
| can't expect to be spared much
longer, though am hale and hearty
yet, thank heaven! Times have al
tered, sir, since my young days. For
the better, yon say? Well, things
are grander now than they were then,
but somehow l seem to like old times
best, perhaps because I 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 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 have been to Chelmsford,
perhaps? Then maybe you know the
'Saracen's Head p Well, close to
where that now stands there use to be
an old inn called the Swan A queer
old place, it was, to be sure, with its
easement windows and overhanging
gables. | was living at Ralphah
then-itls nigh about 60 years ago
a farmer | was, and had been married
onl y short time to a dear little wife
that | loved we'll and true till she
died, poor lass.
"One cold December day l started
for Braintree to look at some stock
that | 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 had weary
road to travel, so that the darkness
came on before l reached the gibbet
on the edge Of the common; and l
can tell you my flesh crawled, as the
saying is, when galloped past at full
speed. 1t was q bleak, cold night,
and the road was bad, so that it was
late before l rode into Chelmsford.
81 put up at the 'Swan'-that be-
ing the first inn | came to-and was
standing watching the hostler rub
bing down my good old mare-for |
always attended to that 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 them. |
told him that I'd had a lcng ride
and was glad enough to get safe into
his yard-for had gold about me,
and we had heard terrible tales of
the robberies and murders on the
Kings highway. Well, he showed
me into long, low room-the kltch-
en-, with Ii brick floor and a bright
fire burning.
"'There is a noisy lot in the par
lor, sir" said he; "you will be quiet
and cosy here, for maybe you are
tired and chilly after your ride in
the wind
81 ordered steak and some wine,
and, us ate my supper, / thought to
myself couldn't well have chosen a
BETTER place than the Swan to stop
at. After | had finished | called for
! pipes and grog and sat with the
| landlord. But / 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 | didn't
like, though I didn't take much no.
tice of 1T then. All! | 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
planned to murder me-ah sir, it's
all true-I have his confession by me
now-and bury me down by the river
side in the meadow behind the stable