Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-02-09

IL
lar corruption Of the nams seemed ON
inous, but somehow natural.
The we've a matter of ten miles
to Co." he said, deliberately; "and gin
/ might offer az opeenion, yell do bet
ter to tax Jimmy Browns bit giggie.
The man frae Macbane's tauld him to
be ready the morn"
Guided by the cautious "opeenion
/ of the station master, found Brown s
trap waiting outside the station. He
was English, as l could tell by his ac-
cent, and this, perhaps, accounted for
the slight tinge of contempt insthe
worldly officials referease to him and
his vehicle: His horse, as far as l
could tell by the station lamp, seemed
a poor one; but it showed remarka-
bly, viscious temper when I tried to
get in-kicking and backing, and
seeming possessed by an irrational de-
/ sire to do me some bodily harm.
"Whoa, then, will We, ye beast ?"
called Brown, as he caught hold of the
rein and dexterously foiled the brute's 5
instant attempt to bite him. "Youre
harm TO others and no good to your
owner. You're just like Macbane's
muckle cat that killed two men, and
the third was Macbane."
/ had gained my place on the seat
at last, but this remark nearly shook
me off it again.
What do you mean by that" /
almost screamed at the man. He
turned puzzled face up to mine as
he climbed into his place and took the
rains.
ooh, | don't know sir" he answer
ed, as We ratified off. "It's just say.
ing the folks have about here. It's
some story about an old war-lock Mac.
bane that had the tower long ago, l
believe. Nothing to do with this one,
sir-of course not. got into the way
of saying it from hearing it often,
that's all"
/ did not answer him, as We drove
on between high banks of earth and
rock, with now and then tree nod
ding threateniDgly above US. was
faint and tired and unable 20 think in
connected manner. The grim old
proverb, like the Scriptural or quasi
Scriptural phrase, transformed itself
into a dreary refrain, which rang in
time to the beat of the horse hoofs on
the dry road. KILLED two men, and
the third was Macbane; killed two
men, and the third was Macbane' 1T
seemed part of me, a pulse in my
very brain, till it grew meaningle
with incessant repetition.
We drove on westward, toiling up
hills, rattling down them, always
moving toward the storm, as the storm
moved towards us. Now and then /
heard the muttering of thunder-now
and then a livid gleam of lightning
glanced across the face of the cloud,
or meaning gust of hot wind swept
up the dust, and fell silent again. l
took little note of the scenery on eth
er side; and indeed l could see but
little of it in the darkness. The
lightning, growing brighter and near
er, occasionally revealed some bare
cliff face, some solemn black row of
pines, some thread or sheet of water
i hardly saw anything. 1t was all
a part OF my dream still, and it seemed
natural to me when a black grove Of
tall trees, and in the midst denser
black mass, with one or two lights
twiukling in it, rose up Lefore us, and
tie driver told me it was the De'il's
Tower.
AS We came up to it and I reused
myself from my lethargy little to
observe my journeys end, I could see
that part of the building seemed ruin
Gus and broken down; the walls end
ed in a slope bristling with bushes.
One grim-looking tower at the corner
loomed high above us, apparently I'M
injured, and half way up itsshone a
faint light.
1 l alighted, paid the driver, who
seemed in hurry to get away, rang,
and when an old woman came to the
door, asked if Macbane was at home.
She said in reply that he was i'll, and
could see no one; but when gave my
name she conducted me through a
long passage-part of it almost ruin
Gus, part in better rspair-to the
foot OF a winding stair. Here she
told me to so up and knock at the
first door l came to, and stood at the
foot of the steps with her candle to
light me up. When I reached the
door-which was some way up-I
could hear her hobble away, leaving