Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-12-13
DOCTOR UNOHS.

The solitary tree that ssssl on Fid
dIsr's Acre was stark go lesa+s..
with but a single branea = support
its load of fruit-a raggsd erpss that
swung and dangled heasil Or zpan
round and round upon Il Breaking
chain. as the wind listsd.
For around Fiddler,s l. sha wind
is always blowing On .Qslpps. IL
the gibbet's foot, the g. iiogged
and tortured BY every guss y hsavsu
in its turn. lay browri 49,. tnntsd.
Here the gales OF tso snsHSsls. sesn
to have fixed their meeting place. and
on dirty nights will race hither, over
leagues Of furze and swamp and naked
moorland, to swoop around in . dew
lis dance and set the wilderness roar
ing amain SO that the wayfersr. over
taken by it's riot upon the high road
that winds around the base of hi.
dreary eEinence. may well chance o
hear every note in the eolian gamut,
and catch buffet from every corner
of the compass, before he can get hi.
breath again, and go his way giving
thanks or cursing, as the case may
be.
Come u, Dapple! Shoulders a;
it, old fellow |"
DR.. Uponius. driving homewArds
in his light gig, heaved sigh o: res
ignation, and addressed word OF GU
couragement to his horse before pluns-
ing into the mellay.
1t was past midnight, and bright
north wind was cleaving the heavens
and shrieking past his ears. To his
left, above the gailows On FidIier's
Acre, hung the waning moon, di.a med
only as at intervals torn cloud scud-
ded past her face to join the black
battalion Of its comrades massed on
the horizon behind. Lamps on such
a night were superfuity, and more
over, old Dapple knew every in@!l OF
the road; but the Doctor carried
them, nevertheless, for emergencies.
He was, young man. So much
could be learned of his figure. even
in spite of the thick overcost. The col
lar of which, as he bent 10 .ssSs the
blast, allowed nothing of his. face to
be seen but pair of very black eye.
brows and two very red ears. Fl.
was also slight mAn-so slight that
it was miracle the tempest hai 10,
torn him from his perch on that :ick-
ETY. gig.
But the Doctor was also an exceed
ingly wise young man, and in spite Of
surroundings wore that pleasant frame
of mind which becomes one who has
been dining with the squire, and bears
home his share of the squire's port
beneath his waistcoat nor was he
the more disposed to quarrel with tLr
night because he had indulgei bis
genius in its earlier hours. So he ex-
pressed his regret in simple sigh.
Weather and highwaymen," soli-
oquized this elderly youth, ~ hit"
my thumb at them both. As for
weather, l am furnished against it
out Of the squires hospitality.
CTaS rel dtra
Nude polum pater occupa'o
Vel sole pnro,
or, as he less politely sang just Low
it was a rollicking chorus, though
With Hey, trolly, lolly. leg to the Devil
And answer him civil, and of with Your
cap;
Sing Hey, trolly, holly, Good-morrow, 81,
Devil,
We've finished the tap,
And, saving Your Worship, we care not q
rap"
The Doctor at this point opene hi'
lips to give effect to the stays, but
shut them again Quickly on a mouth
ful of cold wind.
AS for highwaymen,' he continued
! 'cantabit racmAs-how does it eoT ]
may not be rdcurts, but / defy iht
rascals to take from me my share =
the squires port. By the way, ,ae:''.
a fellow hanging up yonder-Hn..oa
Steady, Dapple, steady +
In brief lull in the storm his c.zl
had wandered to the summit Of Fad
dler's Acre, by this time im:n-'il.
ately above his left, aud to the gihbe'
blackly outlined against the moor
But it was not this that csuse6 ;iul
to jerk at the reins with quick y.
clamation.
At the gallows foot, and distinct
upon the sky-l ne stood a humsn iig.
ure-ths figure OF woman.
| For a moment his gaze rested upon
| this dark silhouette. Then with =
howl the storm swept down again
lashing. pounding. and raving Ar und