Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-04-26

head, struck loud rat-tat on the door.
Curiously, 1t opened at once, and saw q
couple Of men in the lighted passage.
Heard the mares heels on the road, Cap
Hilloi What in the fend's name is thisp
Said !, "If you are he that keeps this house,
I want two things Of you--frst, a civil
tongue, and next bed"
"Yell get neither, then"
"Your sign says that you keep an inn."
"Ay-the Three Cups but we're full"
"Your manner Of speech proves that TO be
lie."
liked the fellows voice so little that 'tii
odds would have remounted Molly and rid
den away; but at this instant there foated
down the stairs and out through the drink
smelling passage q sound that made me jump.
Twas u girls voice singing:
"Hey nonni-nonni-n
Men are fools that wish TO diei
Is't not fine to laugh and sing
When the bells Of death do ring"
There was no doubt upon it. The voice be-
longed to the young gentlewoman had met
at Hungerford. l turned sharply towards
the landlord, and was. met by another sur
prise. The second man, that till now had
stood well back in the shadow, was peering
forward, and devouring Molly with his gaze.
Twas hard to read his features, but then and
there would have wagered my life he was
no other than Luke Settles comrade, Black
Dick.
My mind was made up "I'll not ride
step farther tonight" said !.
"Then bido there and freeze" /" answered the
landlord.
He was for slamming the door In my face,
when the other caught him by the arm and,
pulling him little back, whispered word
or two Iguessed what this meant, but re-
ppt fp dr. nd U
landlords voice began again, betwixt surly
and polite:
Have ye too high n stomach to lie on
strawr
"Ohop thought to myself, "then am to
be kept for the mares sake, but not admitted
to the house," and said aloud that could put
up with straw bed.
Because there's the stable loft at your
service As ye heart land in fact the singing
still went on, only now heard a mans voice
joining in the catch), "our house is full Of
company. But straw is clean bedding, and
the mare I'll help to put in STALL"
Agreed" said, ION one condtion-that
you send out maid to me with a cup of
mulled sack; for this cold eats me alive"
To this he consented, and stepping back
into a side room with the other fellow, re-
turned in minute alone and carrying u lam
ell to guide stranger across that ruinous
yard. The fare, as we picked our way along,
fell for moment on an open cart shed, and,
within, on the gilt panels of a coach that
recognized.
In the stable that stood at the far end of
the court was surprised to find half a dozen
horses standing, ready saddled and munching
their fill of oats. They were ungroomed, and
one or two in a lather Of sweat that on such
night was hard TO account for. But asked
no questions and my companion vouchsafed
no talk. though twice caught him regarding
me curiously Us l unbridled the mare in the
only vacant stall. Not word passed as he
took the lantern off the peg again and led the
way up aramshackle ladder to the loft above
He was a fat, numbering fellow, and made
the old tmbers creak. At the top he sat
down the light and pointed to heap of straw
In the corner.
"Yon's your bed" !" he growled, and before
could answer was picking his way down the
ladder again.
looked about, and shivered The caves Of
my bed chamber were scarce on speaking
terms with the walls, aud through score Of
crannies at least the wind poured and whis-
tied, SO that after shifting my truss Of straw
dozen times found myself still the center
Of whirl of draught. The candle fame,
too, was puffed this way and that inside the
horn sheath. / was losing patience when /
heard footsteps below; the ladder creaked,
and the red hair and broad shoulders Of
chambermaid rose into view. She carried
steaming mug in her hand, and muttered all
the while in no very choice talk.
The wcnch had kind face, though and a
pair of eyes that did more credit than her
| tongue.
"And what's to b, my reward for this,
want to knowp she painted out, resting her
left palm on her hip.
"Why, a groat or two," said /, "when it
| comes to the reckoning"
"Lud!" she cried, what a dull young
mani"
"Dullr
"Ay-to make me ask for a kiss in so many
words" and with the back of her left hand
she wiped her mouth for it frankly, while
she held out the mug in her right.
''Ohv' said, ~ beg your pardon, but my
wits are frozen up, think. There's two, for
interest, and another if you tell me whom
| your master entertains tonight, that must
be content with this crib"
She took the kisses with composure and
said:
"Well, to begin, there's the gentlefolk that
came this afternoon with their own carriage
and heathenish French servant; a cranky
old grandee and a daughter with more airs
than peacock; Sir Something other
Killigrew-Lord bless the boyI'
For had dropped the mug and spilled the
hot sack all about the straw, where it trickled
away with a fragrance reproachfully deli
cious
Snow beg your pardon hundred times;
but the chill is in my bones worse than the
ague;" and huddling my shoulders up,
.l,t f,l-
ness that surprised myself.
| "Poor lad"
"-And It's first hot and then cold all down
my spine"
"There, nowl"
"And goose flesh and hushes all over my
body"
Dear heart-and to pass the night in this
grave of placer
And by morning shall be in high fe-
yer; and oh feel shall die of itl'
Don't; DON'T" The honest girls eyes
were full of tears. IL wonder, now she
began; and | waited, eager for her next
words. Sure, masters at cards in the par
lor and II be drunk by midnight Shalt
| pass the night by the kitchen fire, if only
thou make no noisep
| But your mistress-what will she sayf
rs in heaven these two years, and out Of
masters speaking distance forever, So blow
out the light and follow me gently"
Still feigning TO shiyer, followed her down
the ladder aud through the stable into the
open. The wind by this time had brought
up some heavy clouds and massed them about
the moon; but twas freezing hard, neverthe'
less. The girl took me by the hand to guide
me, for, save from one bright window in the
upper tloor, there was no light at all in the
ward Clearly she was in dread of her mas