Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-08-20
4 TERRIBLE MIGHT.

"Ah, sir, I see you're admiring my
flowers! Well, they are prettyothat
they are-though doubt as some would
call the marigolds and carnations COM
mon and old-fashioned. You don't see
many of 'em now in your fine new
tangled gardens, do you? It's a pretty
place this, amt it, sir? and it's my
own, too, my very own-and will 20 to
my grandson after me. He's a good
lad, he is-it's him as looks after the
garden. Mighty fond of flowers he is,
and rarely proud he'll be, I know, when
he hears as fine town gentleman has
taken notice of 'em All, was fond of
gardening too, in my time! But I'm
getting an old man now-eighty-fve I
am come Christmas can't expect
to be spared much longer, though I'm
hale and hearty yet, thank hea yen! All,
times have altered, sir, since my young
days! For the better, you say? Well,
things are grander now than they were
then, but somehow I seem to like the
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 well
come, 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, per-
haps? Then, may be, 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 it's case
ment windows and overhanging cables.
I was living at Ralphan then-it's nigh
upon sixty years ago-a farmer was,
and had been married only short
time to dear little wife as I loved
well and true till she died, poor lass.
Zone cold December day I started
for Braintree to look at some stock as
l thought of buying. As it was a two
days journey, I meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and 20 on
early the next day. I didn't leave
home till about 2, and I had weary
road to travel, so that the darkness
came on before 1 reached the gibbet
on the edge of the common and I can
tell you my flesh crawled, as the say
ing is, when I galloped 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.
II put up at the 'Swan'-that being
the first inn came to-and was stand
ing watching the ostler rubbing down
my good old mare-for I always at
tended to that the first thing when the
landlord came slowly out to me; he
was short, sharp-faced man, with great
black eyes that had an uneasy sort of
look in 'em. I told him I'd had a 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 highway.
Well, he showed me into long. low
room-the kitchen it was-with a 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
II ordered steak and some wine.
and, as l ate my supper, I thought to
myself that I couldn't well have chosen
better place than the Swan to stop at.
After I had finished called for pipes
and tyrog and sat by the fire with the
landlord, but I might as we'll have been
alone, for he never spoke word but
sat staring into the fire with a wicked
look in his eyes that I didn't like.
though didn't take much notice of it
then. Ali I know now what his
thoughts were as he gazed moodilv in
to 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 bow
was to be saved from ruin. And then
no doubt he planned to murder me
ah, it's all true, sir-Pve 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 nv
mare out before dawn so that the serv-
ants might think 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 I
thought of the country, if had ridden
far, whether I bad been advised to put
up at the Swan and such like ques-
tions. I answered them freely enough,
never supposing that he asked them
for any other reason than just to keep
up the conversation. I asked him to
call me early and he promised he would
do so.
@Tn do it myself said he, for the
girl and ostler will be abed.'
Then he called his wife and told her
to bring him candle, which she did.
She was q coarse-looking, care-worn
woman, and noticed when she showed