The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-29
4 TERRIBLE NIGHT.

"Ah, sir, I see you're admiring my
flowers! Well, they are pretty-that
they are-though doubt as some would
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 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 q fine
town gentlemen has taken notice of
'em! All, I was fond of gardening,
too, in my time! But I'm getting an
old mar now-eighty-fiye I am come
Christmas-and I can't expect to be
spared much longer, though I'm hale
and hearty yet, thank heaven! All,
times have altered, sir, since my young
days! For the better, you say? Well,
things are grander now than they We're
then, but somehow [ seem to like the
old times best, perhaps because I 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 1 was, andhad been
married only a short time to q dear lit
tie wife as I loved well and true till she
died, poor lass!
..One cold December day I started
for Braintree to look at some stock as
thought of buying, AS it was a two
days journey, I meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and go on
early the next day. Ididn't leave home
till about 2, and I had q weary road to
to travel, SO that the darkness came on
before / reached the gibbet on the edge
of the common; and I can tell you my
flesh crawled, as the saying is, when 1
galloped past at full speed. 1t was a
bleak cold night, and the road was bad,
SO that it wac late before I rode into
Chelmsford.
II put up at the sSwan'-that being
the first inn 1 came to-and was
standing watching the ostler rubbing
down my good old mare-for 1 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 EN-. told him I'd had q 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 a long
low room-the kitchen it was-with q
brick floor and a bright fire burning.
There's anoisy 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 o steak and some wine
and, as | ate my supper, l thought tx
myself that I couldn't well have
chosen a better place than the Swan tt
stop at. After I had finished 1 called
for pipes and grog and sat by the fire
with the landlord, but / might as vel
have been alone, for he never spoke
word, but sat staring into the fire will
a wicked look in his eyes that I didn'
like, though I didn't take much notice
of it then. All! / know now what hi
thoughts We're 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 the1
no doubt he planned tomurder me-ah
it's all true, sir-I've got his confes
sion by me now-and bury me dowr
by the riverside, in the meadow behind
The stable. Then he meant to turn my
mare out before dawn so that the ser.
rants might think l had left early; ant
then you see, when it was found, PEG
pie would think that something hat
happened to me OF the road to Brain
tree. Well. my companion reused him
self after q time and began asking
me what I thought Of the country
if I had ridden far, whether / had BEEF
advised to put up at the .Swan,' ant
such like questions. I answered then
freely enough. never supposing that h,
asked them for any other reason thar
Just to keep up the conversation.
asked him to call me early and III
promised he would do SO.
It'll do it myself" said he, 'tfor til,
girl and ostler will be abed."
"Then he called his wife and told he,
to bring me q candle, which she did
She was o coarse-looking, care-wor1
woman, and I noticed when she showed
me my room that her hand was shaking
and her voice sounded thick as she bad
me a civil Good night
"My bedroom was q long, low room
with queer old furniture, quaint carved
chairs and a great four-post bedsteat
which seemed as big as a hearse. Their
wa no lock to the door, and the bolt
were rusty, SO I could only pu
the latch down. / thought of putting
a chair against it. but that seeme'
childish and no protection after all
The night was wet and windy, an
the sky black as ink. Try as l woul
I couldn't get to sleep, and there I La