San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-17


this interview will not pretend TO say
for in fact do not know. Something
however, fear me, must have gon,
wrong, for he certainly sailed forth
after no very great interval, with an ai
quite desolate and chapfallen-Oh, thes,
womenl these womenl Could that gir
have been playing off any Of her coquet
: tish tricksI-Was her encouragement
of the poor pedagogue oil n mere shan
to secure a conquest of his rival?-ueaver
only knows, not Il-let 1t suffice to say
Ichabod stole forth with tho dir of on,
who had been sacking q henroost, rather
than fair lady's heart. Without look
ing to the right or left to notice tn,
scene of rural wealth, on which he ha(
so often gloated, he went straight to the
stable, and with several hearty cuffs ant
kicks, reused his steed most uncourt
eously from the comfortable quarters Y
which ho was soundly sleeping, dream
ing of mountains of corn and oats, anC
whole valleys of timothy and clover.
1t was the very witching time of night
that Ichabod, heavy hearted and crest
fallen, pursued his travel homewards
along the sides of tho lofty hills which rise
above Tarry Town, and which he had
'traversed so cheerily in the afternoon
The hour was as dismal as himself. Fal
below him tho Tappaan Zee spread Its
dusky and indistinct waste Of waters
with here and there the tall mast Of q
sloop, riding quietly at anchor under the
land. In the dead hush Of midnight, hs
could even hear the barking Of the watch
dog from the opposite shore Of the Hud'
son; but it was 80 vague and faint as
only to give an idea of his distance from
this faithful companion Of man. Now
and then, too, tho long drawn Growing OF
cock, accidentally awakened, would
sound far, far off, from some farm house
away among the hills-but It was like q
dreaming sound In his ear. No signs OF
life occurred near him, but occasionally
the melancholy chirp Of cricket, or
perhaps the cultural twang Of a bullfrog
from q neighboring marsh, rs If sleeping
uncomfortably, and turning suddenly In
his bed.
All the stories of ghosts and goblins
that he had heard In the afternoon now
came crowding upon his recollection.
The night grew darker and darker; the
stars seemed to sink deeper In the sky,
and driving clouds occasionally hid them
from his sight. He had never felt SO
lonely and dismal. He was, moreover,
approaching the very place where many
Of the scenes Of the ghost stories had
been laid. In the center of the road
stood an enormous tulip tree, which
lowered like giant above all the other
trees of the neighborhood and formed q
kind Of landmark. Its limbs were
gnarled and fantastic, large enough to
form trunks for ordinary trees, twisting
down almost TO the earth, and rising
again into the air. 1t was connected
with the tragical story Of the unfortunate
Andre, who had been taken prisoner
hard by, and was universally known by
the name of Maj. Andres tree. The
common people regarded 1t with mix
ture of respect and superstition, partly
out Of sympathy for the fate Of Its Ill
starred namesake and partly from the
tales Of strange sights and ,doleful lamen-
tations told concerning it.
AS Ichabod approached this fearful
tree he began to whistle; he thought his
whistle was answered; 1t was but blast
sweeping sharply through the dry
branches. AS he approached little
nearer he thought hesaw something white
hanging In the midst Of the tree; he paused
and ceased whistling, but on looking
more narrowly, perceived that 1t was
place where the tree had been scathed by
lightning and the white wood laid bare.
Suddenly he heard groan-his teeth
chartered, and his knees smote against
the saddle; 1t was but the rubbing of one
huge bough upon another, as they were
swayed about by the breeze. He passed
the tree In safety, but now perils lay be-
fore him.
About two hundred yards from the
tree, O small brook crossed the road and
ran into a marshy and thickly wooded
glen, known by the name Of Wiey's
Swamp. A few rough logs laid side by
side served for bridge over this stream.
On that side of the road where the brook
entered the wood, a group of oaks and
chestnuts, matted thick with wild grape
vines, threw O cavernous gloom over 1t.
To pass this bridge was the severest trial.
It was at this identical spot that the un-
fortunate Andre was captured, and under
the covert of those chestnuts and vines
were the sturdy yeonen concealed who
surprised him. This has ever since been
considered haunted stream, and fearful
are the feelings of q schoolboy who has
to pass 1t alone after dark.
As he approached the stream his heart
began to thump; he summoned up, how
ever, all his resolution, gave his horse
half scorc of kicks In the ribs and at |
tempted to dash briskly across the bridge; |
but Instead Of starting forward, tho per-
verse old animal made lateral move |
ment and ran broadside against the |
fence. Ichabod, whose fears increased |
with the delay, jerked the reins on the |
other sidc and kicked Justify with the
contrary foot; 1t was all In vain; his |
steed started, II Is true, but IL was only |
to plunge to the opposite side of the road |
into q thiclct of brambles and alder |
bushes. The schoolmaster now bestowed |
both whip and heel upon the starveling |
ribs Of old Gunpowder, who dashed for
ward, snuffling and snorting, but came /
TO a stand Just by the bridge, with o sud-
denness that had nearly sent his rider
sprawling over his head. Just at this /
moment q plashy tramp by the side Of
the bridge caught the sensitive ear Of
Tchabod. In the dark shadow Of the
grove, on the margin Of tho brook, he be
held something huge, misshapen, black
md towering. II stirred not, but seemed
gathered up In tho gloom, like some
gigantic monster ready TO spring upon
Lhe traveller.
The hair Of tho aHrghtcd pedagogue
-ose upon his head with terror. What
how too late, end besides what chance
vas there Of escaping ghost OF
goblin, II such It was, which
,ould ride upon the wings of
he wfndS SumInoning up, therefore, q
how % courage, he demanded In STAN
nering acceats, who are your lie re-
,eivcd no reply. He repeated his de
nznd In q stil more ag1tated voice Sttll
here Vas no answer. Once more be
.udgeIcd the sides q the infexible Gun
,oWdGr, and, shutting his eyes, broke
o-th with Involuntary fOrvor into q
lsalrn tu-e. Just then the shadCEy CD
ect q alzua PIT itseH IN motion, and
r5fh a scramhle and q bou1d. stood a