The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-13
WHO WAS SHEP

Yet the old log tavern-for such it
proved to be-had such shaky aspect
that we hesItated to claim its shelter
and when we did so we found, to our
surprise, that they, in their turn, were
not quite certain about receiving us.
A rather stout, middle-sged women
stood in the doorway, eyeing us with
such a tranquil indifference that we
found. ourselves insensibly assuming
conclliatory tone as we asked "the priv
i'ege of nights lodging"
Whereupon the calico clad dame shout
ed out from where she stood, Gar line,
can the stranger put up herep"
A tall mulatto woman stepped for
ward and answered her mistress in an
interrogatory tone:
Il r. exon he kin, eff he'll be saddisfied
wild thar Big Lady's room,
So took my place" as it was point
ed out to me at the kitchen table, with
my driver little below the salt, where
no hidalgo could have dispensed the
honors with an air of more defiant dis
dain than did my independent landlady.
| was hungry enough to heartily enJ "
the corn pone and ham and eggs, the
chiccory- bean coffee sweetened with store
brown sugar, and the tumbler OF rich
cream to "tOp off" wilh-nor did | pause
for critical examination of my sur
roundings until, my not unsatisfactory
meal being over, l happened to toy with
the teaspoon, and, to my astonishment,
noticed that il was of sterlin silver, sur
mounted by curious crest. My amaze
ment was too genuine not to betray itself
| MADAM, was this interesting relic the
property of your grandmother !"
Thunder no !" said she, in a stunning
voice. She hain't left no reict, That
thar was the Big Lady'5 spoon"
| 1t was the second time in the space of an
hour that this mythical parsonage had
been referred to; so l venture to inquire,
The Big Lady, pray, who is she p
You're poor shucks, anyhow, ef you
haint heard tell on her." was the sole
reply, accompanied by such withering
glance that hinted that would like to
go to my room.
"Carine," said the mistress, take
that air taller dip and light the stranger
ter that air room"
The women led me in silence up
flight of shaky stairs, and opened a
hinges, of room in the small hall above.
ing as she did so, 'Mebbe you'll need
it,"
Then | was left alone.
The room was of considerable size and
had two windows facing the road, while
third easement gave fiue view, as |
later on saw, Of meadow back oil the
house. A large, old-fashioned, high
four-poster was set in corner behind
the door, and the plain furniture consist
ed of chest of drawers, over which
hung looking.glass dimmed with age,
pine table, an armchair and a small
rocker. The walls were bare and white
washed, and the floor::of wide, oaken
boards, uncarpeted. There was wide,
open fire place, and some stairs that led
up into an old fashioned garret, closed
at the top by small door.
1t was bleak, dismal. comfOrtless
place, and just trifle musty. There
was just certain something about the
apartment that made one feel unpleas-
antly to trust ones self to sleep in
darkness so | placed the tallow candle
in the chimney.
1t was not very agreeable, the moment
| went to bed, to sink in depth Of
feathers this warm June night. Per.
haps it WAS the discomfort of this warm
nest that at first thwarted my best efforts
to sleep, After an hour or so, my can
die sputtered itself away, and the faint
rays of the moon now cast an uncertain |
light around.
A slight wind such as often marks the |
midnight hour, had arisen, which added |
TO the increasing lunar rays, produced |
tremulOus motion that threw weird |
shadows athwart the place, and the |
small door opening into the garreC vib-
rated, creaked and swung slightly ajar, |
when, to my surprise, the semblance Of
hand, a small, white, ieweled hand
was projected from within the dark loft |
to close the door. could even observe
In special distinctness one sparkling ring |
on the third finger, with quaint device
set in brilliants of two opal hands clasp.
ed.
~ am beset with hallucinations to-
night" l said. will get out of this
cursed feather bed.
So saying, l arose and dressed myself,
determined to doze away the remainder
OF the night in the armchair.
Then, adjusting my pillows as CON-
Portable as possible, with my feet
stretched out upon another chair, | be-
gan to be drowsy--when my closing eyes
we're arrested by the oscillating move
ment of the rocker near me.
Did see, or was l determined that |
saw, the shadowy outline of form seat
ed there? And was there not a subdued
sound, as of suppressed weeping?
There was sufficient reason to explain
many things, for the room was close and
filled with bad air.
Just as | was on the point of cOnvinc-
ing myself stream of steady moonlight
rested on the blear surface of that fad
ing mirror, and started back from the
pleading expression of pair of full orb
ed lustrous dark eyes They gave me
the effect that mouldering decay must
have consumed the rest and left the
spirit there.
l arose and fastened to open the win
dow, and my head reeled from conflict
ing emotion. l dared not look behind
me.
could breathe more freely as look
ed out upon the meadow and the brook.
How picturesque
The air was warm, serene, and clear,
and the broad translucent sweep of pale
light rested like jewelled mantle on all
things.
Presently the moon went behind a :
cloud, a chill mist curled upward out Of
the increasing obscurity.
And now the ever increasing mist as {
sumed fantastic shapes, and out of the :
shadows fitted palid lights, that played
around a mystic, shrouded vaporuus I
form, that floated with trailing trcsses I
clasped with a corOnal Of pearls.
The vision with an almost impercep- q
tible motion, drifted toward me-near- !
eT, nearer STILL now up to the level of
my open window, onward, clasping her '
mantle close over an ever I
thrObbiDg heart, with that cleaning u
hand, The fog grew denser, until il $
seemed to form huge cloud upon which U
she rested, and then enwrapped her from
my view.
sank back into my armchair, ex-
and found relief in sleep; not. Il
my constrained position, n
slept heavily until awakened by the y
broad glare of the sun shining upon me.
After ! had settled my little bill with d
the hostess she remarked to me, in a ?
rather Modified tone, and with a grim
smile
II reckon, stranger, you slept rIgat v
smart in thar Big Lady's ROOM" .
Tell me-" ] answered, gaining oour-
age TO renew the attack, as stepped out .
Of the house. "who was she p I
For sole reply she said, When you 81
get ter town, jist ask the judge at the