The Sunday herald., 1886-10-10

CnnciusfOn entered Mfr. Fatrburn's head Till
after nearly an hours sharp walking. Then
an uncomfortable suspicion that the great
tor before him was strangely unfamiliar In
aspect gradually forced It's way TO the front.
Just Al the same time the wind suddenly
shifted to the west, and before the question
Of the tors identity could be settled the
whole horizon had vanished from the wan.
derer's sight, and dense. dark fog advanced
over the moor with giant strides, till II COM
pletely enveoped him In It's chill embrace.
To attempt TO advance In the sudden dark
ness seemed folly, for pitfalls abounded on
every side; and even Aleck Fairburn's i'm
petuosity was so far queuohed that he sat
himself down on great block Of gray granite
to await the course Of events. A quarter OF
an hour--half an hour--an hour went by
thus, and still no hint Of the cold veil being
lifted. Then Celtic impatienoe could no
longer be controlled.
''Bog. holes and quarries be hanged |
can't sit here all night" exclaimed Aleck,
as he rose from his hard seat, his limbs
already chilled and stiff. "There must
surely be some sort Of shelter TO be found ,even
In this forsaken end Of the earth, II one does
but look carefully enough for II. AT any
rate, can't stand thus any longer"
But II was desperately slow work In the
semi darkness, feeling ones way cautiously
forward over the rough and broken ground,
thickly strewn with sharp fragments Of
granite; and the autumn evening was far
advanced before Aleck al last found himself
near human habitation-a low stone hut,
which seemed TO start out Of the ground at
his feet, so suddenly II loomed upon him
through the fog. The cottage stood quite
alone, surrounded by low stone wall,
which inclossd little bit Of land that had
been reclaimed from the moor.
But no friendly CLEAN shone out from the
small square window 10 welcome the weary
and belated traveller, nor did his loud and
continuous knocking elicit any answer from
within. Still, Inhabited or uninhabited, the
hut offered at least better shelter for the
| night than the cold damp moor could do.
So, with one vigorous push from his broad
shoulder, Mr.. Fsirburr presently forced
open the low door aud stumbled forward into
the dark apartment. At frat he thought It
untenanted. There were embers ou the
hearth, but not spark Of life In them. He
spoke, but no voice answered. When, how
ever, he succeeded in striking a match he
observed in the furthest corner what seemed
bundle Of clothing, and further inquiry re-
suited In the discovery Of an old woman hud.
died together in state of most Affect ter
ror. Aleck endeavored by gentle words to
had evidently excited, aud after sorns time
succeeded with difaoulty in inducing her to
quit her place Of refuge.
"I've agot mort TO give zee, sill! fec was
TO taxi srl there be in the place. 1t wouua'
bring zee ten shillin', sweer. What DO ZEE
want VII a poor old soul like me 2"
"Coms, guidwife, you don't rsally take me
for a burglar 2" said Mr.. Fairburn, laugh
ing. "You know knocked civilly enough
and long enough, too, before made my way
in in this unceremonious fashion. Surel =
you don't expect hungry man, who has
lost his way in the fog, to spend the night
contentedly out there on the moor while he
sees four walls before him for shelteri Just
let me have bit Of fire and little food oil
any sort you'v got, aud I'll lie down on the
for your trouble.'
The owner Of the cottage seemed strangely
dismayed by these very modest demands.
"Dauu't ZEE 60 vur to AK me to do 1t, zir,
now daunt'se," she pleaded earnestly. "rn
lone widder-womau; widder Trownson,
they oarlls me; an I've got mort Wit vur gen.
try to set avOre zee. Can't ZEE 60 on list a
bit varderf 1t baiu't more'n u ite mile or 2,
down to A., whore 'se mightget the best
o. everythin' to the Blue Boar! And what
be ite mile to like o. You, cir p
"Not very much, perhaps, guidwifs, In
the daylight, but good deal more than I
am disposed to undertake just now. Come,
make the best of bad job, there's good
old creature; and when you find bit Of gold
| iu your hand to morrow morning you will
forgive ms the little trouble shall cause
you. Aud I'll promise TO mend your door
for you into the bargainl Only let me have
a bit of fire at once, for this fog OF yours has
| chilled my very marrow
Widow Trownson began new expostula
tions, which her visitor summarily Gu
short.
"Just tell me where you keep your WOO l.,
or peat, or whatever 1t is, and I'll soon hav,
a blaze myself, If you are really too scared tt
set about 1t for me, guidwife.
The threat seemed al once to collect the ole
lady's scattered wits, and she hurriedly
hobbled from the room, muttering as sh
went:
"He'm that masterful, hem Just naythe
TO hold or to bind! Lit un take IL on's owl
head II harm cOmeth Of it,"
After short absence the widow returned
with an abundant supply of peats, and will
trembling fingers hastened to build up q fire
whose glowing heat soon restored the circu
lation to the young mans CHILLED fame
Then, with an alaority much In contrast Il
her previous reluctance, she proceeded Il
place on the table coarse loaf and piec
Of cold bacon, aud also TO prepare some col,
tea, the heat Of which In some degree CON
psnsated for its villainous flavor. While til
self.invited guest was busy doing more thA
justice to the scanty meal his hostess all
sented herself, but presently reappearet
with strange air of mingled fear and pei
plexity about her.
"Ivs made zee up bed in there, cir,
she said, in trembling voice, pointing
. an inner apartment. eyer honor III Wind
clane, tho may bs It ba'nt 20 zoft as you,
used to lay on. Will 'ee be- plazed to 60 il
now, zir, and give me of yer wet things I
dry 'sre by the fire, ready for the morn 7"
81 hope haven't taken your own bed
guidwifsf''
"Nay, l sleepeth allus In the press bad
yander. Theu I'll gle yer honor a end q
candle now, an yell gle me out the wa
cloze, want 'eef I'll hap up the lire, an
they II be dry's bone by the morn."
"Rsally, my ancient hostess grows quit
attentive" thought Mr.. Fairburn, as he n
, tired for the night into the little leau-to q
the back of the hut, aud willingly mplie
, with her injunotions regarding the outer po
tions Of his attire. The sheet which CO.
. cred his impromptu couch was ofths ooarses
:. but fragsnt Of lavender and thyme, an
= and II the straw mattress was hard II ",
: also scrupulously clean. So, an the wsal
wanderer sank into dreamless rspose, h
!, last conscious thought was to the effect til
: : his unpleasant adventure had, after all, I,
!. TO very tolerabls conclusion.
h Had Mr.. Fairburn suddenly opened h
a eyes some three hours later he might ha'
v felt less confident on the subject. Clio
o over him there leant tall, powerfully hui
d man, with the look Of hunted animal
his small, sharp eyes, and the frln lines
1 desperate resolve imprinted on every fe
Il ture. Slowly and noiselessly the door HI
:, been opened, admitting few faint red ra.
from the dying embers in the outer apar
h ment, and with the dexterity acquired
|, long practice In evil ways the intrud
CROPPED his way forward.
= Near the pallet he paused TO cast loo
o Of keenest scrutiny on the sleeper, while h
!, fingers closed more firmly on the short r'
q bar he carried.
o Satisfied that the occupant of the bed W
II indeed unconscious of his presence, the m,
!, proceeded to the corner whero Aleck h,
). placed his gun, aud noiselessly seized Il
j. weapon, which he conveyed with tha san
d. caution into the outer room. Then