Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-27

You've been 10 Lnelmsiord, per
h.ns, Then maybe you know the
.saracep's. Head Well, close TO
vbsre that now stands there used 10
~ "a old ina called The Swan A
oueer old place 1t was TO be sure, with
h easement windows and overhang.
ioe gables. Twas living at Ralphsh
thep-it's nigh npon 90 years ago--a
farmer was, and had been married
only q short time TO q dear little wife
as loved well and true till she died,
poor LASS SE 81
zone cold December day I started
for Brsintree, TO look a. some stock,
@l thought of buying. As II was
two days journey, | meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and 90 out
early the next day. | didn't leave
home till about two o clock, and had
sweary road to travel, so that dark
ness came on before | reached the
gIbbet on the edge OF the common;
and ! can tell you my flesh crawlcd.
as the saying is, when ! galloped past
al full speed. Il was q bleak, cold
night, and the road was bad, so that
Il was late before rode into Chelms-
ford. - ss-s-
/ put up at the 'Swan'-that being
the first inn came tu--and was
Standing watching the hostler rub
bing down my good old raare--for ]
always attended 10 thai the first
thing--when the landlord came slow
" out 10 me. He was ashort sharp
faced nian. with great black eyes
with an uneasy sort OF look In 'em.
Itold him I'd had a long ride and
was glad enough 10 get safe into his
yard-for I'd gold ABOUT me, and
we'd heard horrible tales of robberies
and murders on the Kings highway.
Well, he showed me into q long room
the kitchen II was. with brick
floor and bright fire burning.
There's a little noise In the par.
Tor, 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 | ate my supper. ] thought
to myself that / couldn't well have
chosen a better place than the swan
To- stop at. After | had finished !
called for pipes and grog and sal by
the fire with the landlord, but |
might as well have been alone, for
be never spoke q word. bus sat star
Ing into the fire with n wicked look
in his eyes. that ! didn't like. though
didn't take much notice of IL then
Z Ali Iknow now what his thoughts
were as he gaxcd moodily iito the
glowing Goals! He was thinking OF
the disgrace brought upon his name
By bis only son and wondering where
the money was 10 come from, which
must be procured somehow. If his
boy was TO be saved frotpruin. And
90 doubt he planned to murder me-
ahl rs all true, sir-i've got his con.
fessioA by me now--and bury me
down by the river side. In the mead
ow behind the stable. Then he
meant to turn my mare out before
dawn so that the servants might think
something had happened Go me on
the road to Braintree. Well, my
companion reused himself amer q
time aud began asking me what
thought OF the country, II | had rid
den Tar, whether had been advised
10 put mp at the swan and such like
questions. answered them freely
enough, never supposing that he ask
ed them for any other reason than
Just to keep up the conversation. |
asked him 10 call me carly aud he
promised to do SO:
"'l'n do IL myself. said he, "for
The girl aud the hostler will be
abed'
Then be called his wife and told
her 10 bring me caadle, which she
Gid. She was coarse, carcworn
woman, and | noticed that when she
showed me 10 my room that her
hand was shaking. and her voice
sounded thick as she babe me a civil
good night
Ny bed room was a long, low
room. With queer old furniture,
quaint carved cnairs, and great four
posi- oeds,ead. which seemed as big
= hearse, There was no lock 10 the
uooF, and the bolts We're rusty, so |
could only put the latch down. |
thought of putting chair against II,
oat that seemed childish and no pro-
Welion after all. The night was wet
ana the sky black as ink. Try rs |
would, | could not 90 10 sleep, and
.aere | lay listening To the ghossly
1pplng of the ivy leaves against the
WINDOW, and thinking OF the evil
.ook In The landlords eyes, and all
.ae horrid stories | had ever read
zane erowding into my mind. when
ssadeniy | started up in bed. wide
awake enough, for heard something
~ someone cliablng up the ivy "a
my window, lay with palpitSting
aeai' and siraiaing ewes. listening Ia
sae horrible ghosily rustling, which
s'sfy moment sounded nearer.
suddenly a thought struck NE,
a o1 ! arose hastily. smoothing the
wv clothes as though the bed had
ao1 oeen slept in. had Jus, time "a
sep under the bed when somebody
mo.uy slipped In. II WAS man. and
.Is'ening iutently / heard him sigt
Yearly TO himself, as IL he were iir
81 out Then be got into INV bed,
e Grew the the clothes over him,
@nv 10 lew minutes be was snoring
,.,,i on can imagine how pleasant
~ and the scamp had my money
s under his pillow, too. What
S 70 be dcney | thought OF my
asppy home and the dear little wifi,
sa INV perhaps dreaming of me, and th,
sugn. OF her gave me courage.
sessimlned 10 snatch q, my meney
,a au ngnt Tor IL with the unseen visi
"I 70 the death, II need be. Iva
sswiing from under the bed, when
a'u another sound. nearing tn