The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-12-20


sight of the village tavern / was forced to
turn back and find you ("
lie put her upon his saddle and sprang
up behind her, wrapping her closely in the
folds of his own rich cloak. Then he set
spurs to the black horse and galloped up
the hill.
She was too benunbed to speak, and he
contented himself with silently holding his
breast betwixt her and the storm.
All the end of mile they came to a
street, where lights were shining from
gable windows, and where a certain famous
old hostelry, known as the ssBetsey Baker,"
flung out its promise of warmth and shelter
and entertainment As the black horse
stopped at the inn door, out came the land
lord, and began to bow and scrape in recog-
nit "a of distinguished guest.
"A merry Christina to your honor! he
cried. "Welcome to the Betsy Baker. Hal
10, hostler, come and take Judge Land
reths horse" sA
s.Here's another guest for whom you
must make room, landlord, said the judge
as Rhoda Wyman slipped from his arms at
the inn door and dropped him grateful
curtsey. .sSee that you mix her something
hot, and give her q food supper she is
well nigh frozen"
The Betssy Baker was crowded this night
from cellar to garrett, but the landlord
could not refuse shelter to one brought
Either by the rich and powerful Boston
Judge. He gave a comprehensive glance.
however, at the girls old cloak and home
spun gown, and while with his own hand
he held the black horse for his rider to dis
mount, he called servant to show Rhoda
to the kitchen.
To the kitchen the girl went.
It was an enormous low-ceiled room,
with an implanted floor as white as snow.
Its huge, brass-bound buffets were crowded
with Dutch ware On the hearth blazed
immense logs of maple and walnut
Odors of hot flip, of savory pots boiling,
and fowls and joints roasting before the
fire, pervaded the atmosphere. A crowd
of country people filled the place. Song,
laughter and gossip mingled on all sides.
An old man in homespun was scraping
away on an old fiddle and nobody noticed
Rhoda as she crept timidly in the midst of
these strangers. An empty seat in warm
corner invited her. She dropped, unnoticed
upon it, and put down her bundle with a
long tired breath.
Her beauty, as revealed by the tallow
candles and the blazing forestick, was
something amazing. She pushed back
her old hood, and a torrent Of hair, ike
yellow silk, rolled down to the girls waist
Her big blue eyes wore a strange, hunted,
terrified look. She was as white as lily,
and almost as fragile
Presently the maid Who had conducted
her to the kitchen elbowed path to her
corner. bearing food and hot drink.
"Dear me !" she grumbled, 4" one can't
turn here because of the country folks
that are Cd their way to the hanging at
Lechmere's Point tomorrow. The roads
are so blocked with snow that they can't go
further, and we've got to keep them all
night at the Betsey Baker
s'Take it away !; I do not want anythingw
shuddered Rhoda, pushing the food from
her in sudden aversion. Her appetite was
gone, but the warmth of the fire began to
penetrate her half-frozen body, and, in
spite of her distress of mind, great drow-
siness stole softly over her. Her yellow
head sank against the WALL Utterly ex-
hausted, Rhoda slept.
Meanwhile Judge Lambreth mad taken
himself to the parlor of the Betsy Baker.
On its hospitable hearth the cadaverous
man in gray stood awaiting him.
"Did you find the girl p he asked, with
a sarcastic grin.
The judge threw off his fur-lined cloak,
and advanced gravely to the fre-a hand
some man, scarcely more than fve-and
thirty, wearing, after the fashion of the day,
q suit of. plum-colored velvet, richly en-
broidered, and ruffies of the finest Elan
ders lace. His chestnut hair was unpow-
dered and tied simply with ribbon
eyes, found her." he answered, Sin
time to save her life. could not as nan
and Christian leave this young stranger
to perish in such a storm, and on Christ
mas night 100"
The gray man let his light restless eyes
linger for moment on Judge Landreth's
face, then he threw back his head and
laughed.
"Who would suppose that you had SO
soft heart you, who can administer
Justice with Spartan severity from the
bench. What did you do with your pro
tege?"
The Judge frowned, and drew up high
backed chair to the hearth.
drought her here to the inn, of course"
he answered, in an irritated tone. IF
strong men like you and me are obliged to
seek shelter from the storm, how could
delicate young creature, a mere child, on
foot and unattended too, be expected to
brave its fury 2"
"Ah, you have observed the girl closely,
see" said Sutton, viyaciously. "She is
handsome as well as young-is it not 80 r.
sUnlike yourself, am no judge of fem
mime beauty" replied the other dryly.
ST must take another look at her before
we leave tile Betsy Baker. Zounds!"
stretching out his thin legs to the blaze,
mas days. I fancy it will not be at coun-
try house, ten miles from Boston-no, not
even at the invitation of General Brad
street and his fair daughter"
"The lady would not feel much fattered
by that speech from you, her sworn ad-
mirer. Sutton"
The lawyers light restless eyes snapped
like cats in the dark.
"She was not particularly kind at din
ner-snubbed me, l might say. Did you
notice +? Somebody" fretfully, g has been
slandering me to Miss Bradstrcet She has
not seemed like herself since my aunt's
| murder, though she knows" drawing His
| meagre figure up pompously, "that I
have now come into possession of large
fortune
ssPerhaps it was Miss Bradstreet's un-
kindness that put you into such q savage
humor on the road.
liza the bow that gave that girl
| shocked you She richly deserved it for
daring to mention in my presence the
wretch who is TO hang Tomorrow.
ssDon't be absurd, Sattsl. How was
| that strange g'rl to know that you were
| Martha Grants nephew 2"
" Sdeath l am curious to discover what
| interest she can have ia Joshua Slade She
seemed greatly agitated out there on the
road. Is it possible" with a nervous start,
s'that he can be anything ta Aer?"
Probably not. Hark the stofm is
| terrific outside. Have you ordered sup
per-? tfsI
Great blasts of wind came shrieking
around the gables of the Betsey Baker.
The snow beat violently against the small
pansd windows.
s:Yes, and bottle of our hosts best
wine." replied Sutton. 1T IL plain that
we shall not see Boston tonight bat un-
lucky travellers may find a worse haven than
the Betsy Baker. From my boyhood this
inn has been favorite resort of mine. ]