Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-19
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

they are though doubt as some
would call the marigolds and carna-
lions common and old-fashioned. You
ion't see many of 'em now in your fine
aew-fangled gardens. do you9 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 ma
Hes good lad, he is it's him as looks
after the garden. Migk6y fond of
lowers he is, and rarely proud he'll be.
know, when he hears as a 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-ive / am come Christ
mas land 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 daysl
For the better. you say? Well, things
are grander Aow than they were then,
but somehow seem to like the old
times best, perhaps because | was
young and strong in EN-. 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, it 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 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 and windows and overhaEg-
ing gables. was living at Ralphan
then Its nigh upon sixty years ago
farmer / was, and had been married
only a short time to dear little wife
as loved we'll and true till she died,
poor lassl
zone cold December day ] started
for Braintree, to look at some stock as
thought of buying. AS it was atwo
days journey, | meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and go ON
early the next day. / didn't leave
home till about two, and had a weary
road 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 say
ing is. when galloped past at full
speed. 1t was bleak cold night, and
the road was bad, so that it was late
before 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 / always, at
tended to that 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. / told him I'D
had long ride and was glad enough
to get safe into his yard-for I'd gold
about me and we'd heard horrible
tales of the robberies and murders on
the Kings highway. Well, he showed
me into long low room-the kitchen
it was-with brick floor and bright
Gre burning.
There's noisy lot in the pariOr,
sir said he; you'll be quiet and COSY
here. for maybe you're tired and chilly
after your ride in the wind
Il ordered steak and as ate my
supper, 1 thought to myself that
couldn't well have chosen bettel
place than the Swan to stop at
After had finished called for pipe
and grog and sat by the fire with tn
landlord, but I might As well havs
been alone for he never spoke word
! but sat staring into the FIRE with !
wicked look in his eyes that I didn'
Ike, though ] didn't take much motto
Of it then. All. know now what hi
1 thoughts were as he gazed modify u
/. to the glowing coalsl Re was thinkinl
of We disgrace brought upon his nam
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