The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-08-14
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.


flowers. Well. they are pretty-that
they are-though l doubt as some
would call the marigolds and carna-
tions common and old fashioned. You
don't see many of 'em now in your fine
new-fangled gardens, do you? It's IA
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 good lad, he is-it's him as looks
after the garden. Mighty fond of
flowers he is, and rarely proud he'll be.
l know, when he hears as a fine town
gentleman has taken notice of 'em!
All, l was fond of gardening, too, in
my time! But I'm getting an old man
now-eighty-live l am come Christ
mas-and 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 were then,
but somehow seem to like the old
times best. perhaps because 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 1t, 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 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 overhang-
ing gables. l was living at Ralphan
then--its nigh upon sixty years ago
farmer was, and had been married
only short time to a dear little wife
as loved we'll and true till she died,
poor lass!
"One cold December day ] started
for Braintree, to look at some stock as
thought of buying. AS it was two
days journey, meant to stop at
Chelmsford for the night, and go on
early the next day. 1 didn't leave
home till about two, and had a weary
road to travel. so that the darkness
came on before l reached the gibbet on
the edge of the common; and 1 can
tell you my flesh crawled, as the say
ing is, when l galloped past at full
speed. 1t was bleak cold night, and
the road was bad, so that it was late
before 1 rode into Chelmsford.
Il put up at the Swan that being
the first inn l came to-and was stand.
ing watching the ostler rubbing down
my good old mare-for 1 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. l 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 a brick floor and a bright
fire burning.
"Theres 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
81 ordered steak and, as 1 ate my
supper, l thought to myself that
couldn't well have chosen better
place than the Swan to stop at
After had finished l called for pipes
and grog and sat by the fire with the
landlord, but l 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 1 didn't
ike, though 1 didn't take much notice
of it then. All, know now what his
thoughts were as he gazed moodily in
to the glowing coalsl He was thinking
of the disgrace brought upon his nam,
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 ther
no doubt he planned to murder me-
ah, it's all true, sir-Tve got his con
fession by me now-and bury m,
down by the riverside, in the meadow
behind the stable. Then lie meant t.
turn my mare out before dawn so tha
the servants might think l had lef
early; and then, you see, when it wa
found, people would think something
had happened to me on the road t,
Braintree. Well, my companion
reused himself after time and begar
asking me what / thought of the coun
try, if / had ridden far, whether 1 haC
been advised to put up at the Swan
and such like questions. l answered
them freely enough, never supposin,
that he asked them for any other pur
pose than Just to keep up the eonyer
-.