Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-20
THE THREE TRAVELLERS.
a Tale Told at the Old HOr-eshoe Tav-
vern.

THE THREE IRA VELERS.
a Tale Told at the Old Horseshoe TaV-
Vern.
Il cant vouch for the truth OF my story,
neither do | ask you believe it" said the stu.
dent, by way Of preface but l shall tell
the tale AZ it was told to me-"
Many years ago there lived in Vermont q
young boy by the name of Joe Flint; and
when he was very young, being an orphan,
he went out to work for q man named John
Willows, who lived three miles from MIXERS
Fiat, a small village beside the Connecticut
river. II was a hard place for q small boy.
The house, an old one that threatened to fall
to pieo es whenever there vas q storm, stood
in a small grove Of pine trees it was un.
painted aud some of the windows were
boarded up, others we're adorned with rags
that served as window panes TO keep out the
wind and rain. 1t perched on perpendicu-
lar cliff Of rocks that we're partly covered by
poisonous ivy, aud from there the river
could be seen winding down from the north
to the great gorge where it plunges into a
vortex with the roar Of a wild beast, tears it.
self to pieces in frutless rage among the
granite boulders, dashts, foams, whirls, and
rushes onward TO smoother courses where the
water only breaks into white caps and at last
hlOb hHh1 III hihhlboA hipBieo h5 ~ botAo thO
shady inlets.
There was one old woman who served John
in the capacity OF housekeeper, while the
boy looked after the COWS and pig, and chop
ped kindlng wood and the like. This would
have been easy enough had be been provided
with a proper amount Of food but many q
night he went to bed hungry and with so
little bedding a. TO keep him shivering ell
night. Moreover, his life WAS made miserable
by the incessant scolding to which the old
woman was addicted while it was his daily
care to keep out of the way Is much as posi-
BILE of John Wlllows's leers and oaths. The
strange noises which he heard nov aud then
seemed to proceed from a small box at one
end Of the garrett the door of which was Sc
cured by a bolt and paddock aud not a soul
entered therein but the master Of the house.
OF course Joe's curiosity was excited, for he
was certain that he heard footsteps within,
and human voice uttering strange and I'M
Ineligible words and this happened when
John Willows had the key in his pocket and
was sitting by the kitchen fire. To be sure
he had heard the rumor which was circulat-
ing among the settlers at MIllers Flat, that
declared that John Willows kept q half. wit.
ted creature confined somewhere in his old
house, whom he abused shamefully and
when the wind was the right way they had
heard the unhappy victims cries OF distress.
But be did not believe it, till one night he
was awakened from a sound sleep by terrific
yell that was followed by q sound as Of some
one dealing heavy blows. To dress himself
aud hurry out into the narrow hall was the
work of moment There he saw John Will
tows with a candlestick in his hand, standing
at the foot Of the garrett stairs.
Go back to bed again, you idiot" said
the old man, scowling ssvagely. What are
NJ To- nnlv h. oli hau
ing the nightmare"
He advanced a step or two raising his arm
with a threatening gesture, and the boy, not
daring to linger, scrambled into bed with his
clothes on.
Things went on in this way for some time
until John began to drink harder than ever
and spend most OF his time at brakes tavern,
over in the settlement called MilleT's Flats !;
| aud there was not q man, woman or child
there, who did not fear and secretly hate the
| old repTobate, for he was the man who swore
every day that he neither feared death nor
| the devil. At the tavern, however, the men
were fond Of listening to bis stories, and so
after the state of the crops had been discuss.
ed, Willows was always called upon to tell
/ one Of his amazing stories, which usually re-
| lated to Satan and his imps, with whom he
seemed to have an intimate acquaintance.
| This recreation, it must be confessed, was
| regarded by the good matrons of the village
| as an evil snare that would involve the hus-
bands and youths in serious difficulties with
| the inhabitants Of another world but even
/ the oldest and most eXperienoed virsgo among
them hesitated TO sharpen her tongue before
| John Willows for il WAS believed that an in
terview with him would be more disastrous
in its result than one conducted with S .tan
himself.
Que rainy autumn night John came reel
ing homeward from the tavern at late hour
| and this time he was accompanied by three
gentlemen, who appeared to have been trav
cling long distance. Joe had time, nov
and then. as he hurried about helping the old
woman prepare supper for the guests, to stea
a glance at the strangers; and the first looh
convinced him that they were above the or.
binary rank. The first traveller was a man
OF cold and forbidding manners; his gar
ments bore q scent that bled the smell
OF dead leaves and when he moved about
the room his motions seemed to chill the at
mOsphere, in spite Of the fire. His face, thai
was white and smooth as marble, was Lighted
by a pair of steel gray eyes. The absence Of
beard revealed the stern compression OF hi
lips, that was but the outward expression o.
an unrelenting and determined split. Tn,
second traveller was a juviAl, fascinating fel
low, wearing a cape that was fastened by two
black serpents apparently made OF jet. 10,
was dazzled by him at first sight his eye
were 80 bright and black and be ratified th,
gold coin in his pockets and called loudly fol
drinks The third Was apparently q Jew
possessing glossy black beard aud wearing
tiny gold hoops in his ears. From the frs
he seemed to take particular interest in Joe
asking him many questions. At the close o
supper the first traveller withdrew himself 4
the darkest corner of the room, while tn
second traveller set his chair upon the heart
within an inch or two of the rudy blaze.
give me FIRE, fire, FIRE - he cried, rubbing
his hands gleefully. Give me FIRE and an
in my native element"
"You will need fire all night long, / imag
inc, for there are only two beds in the house,
said the jew, cycling with disgust the sloven
ly figure of their host as he sat before theL
in a drunken doze. "As for me, shall 81
up all night, ready TO start on my way q
soon az the morning daWns. Come Joe, b
continued, turning to the boy, "let the oil
woman clear away the dishes, and you 81
here ON this bench with me-"
} So the boy sat down Immediately and lii
tened to what followed,
Said the first traveller;
81 have kept my vigil in many a worse r,
treat than this. Poverty does not affrigh
me, neither can riches divert me from III
performance of duty"
J ~ have heard that you are a hard, unr,
lenting character" answered the Jew, CAR
lessly stroking his beard "but you must a
: knowledge that l. at least, am exempt fro
: | your terrors."
a "Ah, WE'LL" responded the first travele
there may be a future in store for you wht
!; even my terrors shall seem merciful, The
y you will long for my presence in vain. N
: duties, that now are exhaustless, shall ha'
been accomplished. You, being mere ms
. of the world, may rest, but with me eve
e hour, every moment is a duty"
The company were not prepared for Il
burst of passion with which the Jew receiv,
these remarks.
n REST !" he repeated, trembling so that Il
J. gold earrings shook in his ears. RES
q For me there Is no rest, consumed as 1 a
n night and day by this fearful remorse. The