San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-04-14

the ecnOeS hau tllle 10 Ole away, the grating
was pushed back and the key turned in the
lock.
step ye in-step we in, good folks! A sor-
ry day-a day of sObs an tears an afflicted
bowings of the nose when the grasshopper
is a burden an the mourners go about seeking
whom they may devour the funeral meats
" are welcome, gentlemen"
Twas the voice of my one eyed friend as
he undd the bolts; and now he stood in the
gateway with n prodigious black sash across
his canary livery, 50 long that the ends Of it
swept the fiagstones.
rs Master TngcOmb withnr | helped
Della to dismount, and gave our two horses
to stable boy that stood shufling some PAGES
off
"Alas!"-the old man heaved deep sigh,
and with that began to hobble across the ward.
We trooped after, wondering. At the house
door he turned:
"SirS, there is cold roasted capons, an a
ham, an radishes in choice profusion for such
as be not troubled wi the wind; an cordial
wines-alack the day"
He squeezed a frosty tear from his one eve.
and led us to a large bare hall, hung round
with portraits; where was "A table spread with
plenty Of victuals and horn handled knives
and forks beside plates Of pewter; and at the
table man III black, eating lie had straight
hair and a sallow face; and looked up as we
entered, but, groauing, in moment fell to
again.
Eat, Sirs, the Old servitor exhorted us;
"alas! that mau may take nothing out o the
worlds
| know not who of us was most taken
aback. But noting Deia'S sad, wondering
face, as her eyes wandered round the neg
Lectod room and rested on the tattered por-
traits, lost patience.
"Our business is with Master Hannibal
TmgcoInb said |, sharply
The straight haired man looked up again,
his mouth full of ham.
"Hush!'-he held his fork up, and shook
his heal sorrowfully, and wondered where
| had seen him before. Hast thou angels
wlngsI" he asked
"Why, no, sir; but the devils own boots
as you shall find if be not answered"
Young man-yOung man." broke in the
one eyed butler, "our minister is a good min
lister, an speaks roundabout as such; but the
short is, that my master is dead, an in his
coffin"
The mortal part corrected the minister,
cutting another slice.
"Ay, the immortal is a-trippin' it i the
New JcrooSalem but the mortal was very
lamentably took wi fit three days back
tue same day, young man, as thou earnest
wi thy bloody threats"
"A fiji"
Gay, sir, an verify such a fit as thou thy
sell witnessed Twas the third attack, an
he cried, 'OhY he did, an 'Ahr-just like
that ON and then All" Such were his
last dyn' speech. Dear MASTER says |,
there's no call 70 die So haTl;' tut might SO
well ha' whistlrd for he was dead as nails.
beautiful corpse, sirs, dang my buttons"
"ShOw him TO us"
"WIliinGly, young man lie led the way
to the very room where Master Tingcomb
and | had held our interview As before,
six candles We're burning there, but the table
was pushed into a corner, and now their
light fell on a long, black coffin, resting on !
trestles in the center of the room. The coffin !
was closed and studded with silver nails: on /
the lid was a silver plate bearing these words
written: Hannibal Tingcomb, MDCxLu," ,
with a text of Scripture below. 4
"Why have you nailed him down 7" asked. :
'NOw where be thy bowels, young man, to
talk SO unfeen'' An where be thy expert /
ence not to know the ways o the blessed !
dead In summer timer 4
when do you bury himP'
"Tomorrow forenoon The spot is two
mile from here" He blinked at me, and hes
itated for minute. is it your purpose,
sirS, to attend"
BE sure of that" | said grimly $50
have beds ready tonight for all our COM
pany.'
"All thy! Dear sir, consider; where are
beds to be found! Sure, thy mariners can