San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-24
NUMBER A..

Winklerr Ho looked around, but conId
see nothing but crow winging Its soh-
tary flight across tho mountain. Ho
thought his fancy must have deceived
him, and turned again 10 descend, when
he heard the Same cry ring through tho
still evening air, Grip Van Winklel Rip
Van Winkie!"--at tho samo time Vol
bristled up his back, and, giving low
growl, skulked TO his masters side, look
Ing fearfully down into the glen. Rip
now felt vague apprehension stealing
over him; he looked anxiously In tho
same direction and perceived strange
figure slowly toiling up tho rocks and
bending under the weight Of something
he carried ON his back. He VIVA SUR
prised to geo any human being In this
lonely and unfrequented place, but sup
posing 1t to be some one OF tho neighbor.
hood In need of his assistance he fastened
down to yield 1t. 80,
On nearer approach no was still
more surprised at the singularity OF the
strangers appearance Ho was short,
square built old fellow, with thick bushy
hair and q grizzled beard. His dress
was of the antique Dutch fashions
cloth jerken strapped round the waist
several pair Of breeches, the outer one OF
ample volume, decorated with rows Of
buttons down tho sides, and punches ut
tho knees. He bore on his shoulders
stout keg, that seemed full OF liquor, and
made signs for Rip to approach and assist
him with the load. Though rather shy
and distrustful Of this new acquaintance,
Rip complied with his usual alacrtty,
and mutually relieving each other, they
clambered up narrow gully, apparently
the dry bed Of q mountain torrent. AS
they ascended, Rip every now and then
heard long rolling peals, like distant
thunder, that seemed TO Issue out OF
deep ravine OF rather cleft between lofty
rocks, toward which their rugged path
conducted. He paused for an instant,
but gupposing 1t to be the muttering OF
ono of those transient thunder showers
which often take place In mountain
heights, he proceeded. Passing through
the ravine, they camo TO hollow like
small amphitheatre, surrounded by per-
pendicular precipicee, over the Drinks OF
which impending trees shot their
branches, so that you only caught
glimpses of tho azure sky and tho bright
evening cloud. During tho whole time
Rip and his companion Ind labored on ~
silence; for though tho former marveled
greatly what could be the object of car
rying q keg Of liquor up this wild noun
tain, yet there wac something strange
and incomprehensible about. the un,.
known that inspired awe and checked
familiarity.
On entering tho amphitheatre, new OBJ
jects Of wonder presented themselves
On level spot IN the center was COM
pany OF odd looking personagos playing
at nino pins. They were dressed in @
o,,4I, Jlot, faabtDu, pCr,,a xUpra
short doublets, others jenkins, with long
knives In their belts, and most OF them
had enormous breeches, OF similar style
with that Of the guides. Their visages,
too, were peculiar; one had q large head,
broad face, and small pigg1sh eyesi the
face Of another eeened to consist entirely
Of nose, and was surmounted by q white
sugar loaf hat, set of with little red
cocks tail. They all had boards, Of vari-
ous shapes and colors. There was one
who seemed to be the commander. lie
was q stout old gentleman, with q
weather beaten countenancej he wore O
laced doublot, broad belt and hanger,
high crowned hat and feather, red stock
ings, and high heeled shoes, with roeeq
In them. Tho whole group reminded
Rip Of the figures In an old Flemish
painting In the parlor of Dominic Vap
Schaicl, tho village PEARSON, and which
had been brought over from Holland at
the time Of the settlement.
What seemed particularly odd to Rip
was that though these folks were evil
IDENTIFY amusing themselves yet they
maintained tho graveet faces, the most
mysterious silence, and wero, withal, the
most melancholy party Of pleasure no
had ever witnessed. Nothing interrupted
the stiffness Of tho scene but tho noise OF
the balls, which, whenever they were
rolled, echoed along tho mountains Like
r,1mblIng peals Of thunder.
AS Rip and his companion approached
them they suddenly desisted from their
play. and stared at him with such fxed
statue Like gaze, and such strange, up
couth, lack luster countenances, thqt his
heart turned within him and his knees
grnote together. His companion now
enrptied the contents OF tho keg into
large fagons, and made signs 70 him 70
walt upon the company. He obeyed
with fear and trembling; they quafed
tho liquor In profound silence, and then
returned TO their game
BY degrees Rips awe end apprehension
subeided. he even vontured, when NO
eve was fixed upon him, 10 taste the boy
efage, which he found had much OF tho
favor Of excellent Hollandg. BIO was
nctur5lly thirsty soul, and was soon
tenpted TO repeat tho drnught. Ono
tasto provoked another, and he reiterated
his Visits to tho fagon 30 often that Of
length his senses were ovorpowered, his
oyes ewam 10 his head, his bead gr1du-
afy declined, ond he fell into deep
I ataarH