The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-11

one Nor, save for the lighted window. di
it wear any grace of hospitality, but thrus
out bare shoulder upon the road, and sig
that creaked overhead and looked for all til
world like gallows. Round this shoulde
of the house and into the main yard (tha
turned churlshly towards the hillside, th
wind howled like beast in pain. 1 climbe,
OIL Molly, and, pressing my hat down on m
head, struck loud rat-tat on the door
Curiously, it opened at once, and l saw
couple of men in the lighted passage
Heard the mares heels on the road. Cap
Hillol What in the fiend's name is thisgn
Said /, 'lf you are he that keeps this house
l want two things Of you-first, civi
tongue, and next bed"
"Ye1l get neither, then"
Your sign says that you keep an inn.n
"Ay-the Three Cups but we're full.n
"Your manner of speech proves that to b.
a lie."
l liked the fellows voice so little that Til
odds would have renounted Molly and rid
| den away; but at this instant there floatec
down the stairs and out through the drinl
smelling passage sound that made me lump
Twas girls voice singing:
"Hey nonni-nonni-
Men are fools that wish to diel
Is't not fine to laugh and sing
When the bells of death do ring
There was no doubt upon it. The voice ba.
longed to the young gentlewoman had met
at Hungerford. / 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, Blacl.
Dick.
My mind was made up ''Ill not ride q
step farther tonight, said l.
Then bide there and freeze,n answered the
landlord.
He was for slamming the door in nv face,
when the other caught him by the arm, and,
pulling him little back, whispered word
or two. guessed what this meant, but re-
solved not to draw back; and presently the
landlords voice began again, betwixt slrly
and polite:
"Have ye too high stomach to lie on
straw"
"Oho!" thought to myself, "then 1 am to
&c kept for the mares sake, bit not admitted
to the house," and said aloud that could mt
up with straw bed
Because there's the stable loft at your
service: As ye hearn tano IN fact the singing
still went on, only now heard mans voice
joining in the CATCH, 'our house is full of
company. But straw is clean bedding, and
the mare Eli help to put in STALL"
"Agreed," said, ION one condition-that
you send out maid to me with cup of
mulled sack; for this cold eats me alive.n
10 this he consented, and, stepping bacl,
into a side room with the other fellow. re-
turned in a minute alone and CARRYING a Ian
tern, which, in spite of the moon, was need
ed to guide stranger across that ruinous
yard. The flare, 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 l was surprised to find half dozen
horses standing, ready saddled ard lnunchinr
their fill of oats. They were ungroomed. and
one or two in lather of sweat that on such
a night was hard to account for. But asked
no questions, and my companion vouchsafed
no talk, though twice caught him regarding
me curiously as 1nbridled the marc in the
only vacant stall. Not word passed as he
took the lantern of the peg again and led the
way up aramshackle ladder to the loft above.
He was fat, lurabering fellow, and made
the old timbers creak. At the top he sat
down the light and pointed to heap of straw
In the corner.
lyons 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, and through score of
crannles at least the wind poured and whis-
tied, SO that after shifting my truss of straw
a dozen times l found myself still the center
OF whirl of draught. The candle flame
too, was pulled this way and that inside the
horn sheath. 1 was losing patience when 1
heard footsteps below; the ladder creaked
and the red hair and broad shoulders of a
rose into view. She carried a
steamlng mug In her hand, and muttered all
the while in no very choice talk.
The wench had a kind face, though. and
pair of eyes that did her more credit than her !
tongue.
And what's to be my reward for this, / |
want to knowa" she painted out, resting her
left palm on her hip.
Why, groat or two,n said 1, "when it
comes to the reckoning"
"Ludl" she cried, "what dull ycung
manr'
"Dull?n
"Ay-to make me ask for 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
"Ohl" 1 said, II beg your pardon, but nv
wits are frozen up, l 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
aid:
wei, to begin, there's the gentlefolk that
,ame this afternoon with their own carriage
ind heathenish French servant; a cranky
I'D grandee and daughter with more airs
han peacock; Sir Solhething-or-other
Allligrew-Lord bless the boy!"
For had dropped the mug aud spilled the
lot sack all about the straw, where it trickled
way with fragrance reproachfully deli
,ious
Now beg your pardon hundred times:
'ut the chill is in my bones worse than the
lgue;" and, budding my shoulders up. /
'ounterfeited shivering Git with truthful
less that surprised myself.
"Poor ladi"
And It's first hot and then cold all down
ny spine"
''There, now!"
And goose flesh and flushes all over nv
,ody."
Dear heart-and to pass the night in this
rave of placed"
And by morning shall be in high fe-
'er; and OIL l feel shall die Of it,'
Don't; don'tI" The honest girls ewes
vere full of tears. 81 wonder, now',- She
egani aud / waited. eager for her next