New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
! V

".
AS they climbed the steep hill beyond the brawl-
ing stream the young officer refined back his horse
beside the cart. What was the reason you
wouldn't give the men some fiour? said he
Because l would get whipped, said Matte,
looking up at him with her dark eyes Mister
Sparks is quiet man. she added, put put WIN
The young officer laughed aloud Ana tha'
was your wonderful secret, was il p said he
said Matte did, dd not Sauo %a M u .ne
Then suddenly, There is farmhouse mile up
the road yonder, and Mr.. Sparks told me 70 stop
there for letter if you'd wait Till Mrs Penny
No. said the young officer. I'VE make no
stops till we get TO Chester
very WE'LL" said Matte. with show OF In
difference, just as you please IL wouldn't take
over fifteen minutes, and she can null crock
of the best hard cider 70 be had IN the State Of
Delaware
He had been marching in the rain with the three
men since daylight that morning. lie had had
nothing TO eat but piece Of bread and meat, and
nothing TO drink but cup of lukewarm tea which
he had swallowed in Wilmington. The thought
Of the mulled cider and the warm rest Tor rev
minutes was alluring.
Where is the house % said he suddenly
"Oh, half mile or so along the road said
Matte 1t don't matter if you won't stop 1t
was only letter that l was to take if had gone
to Chester yesterday"
The Young officer refined back his horse TO
where the troopers were plodding behind, and o
few words passed between them. very well,
said he, riding forward to the cart again, we Il
stop for fifteen minutes, If II won't take you any
longer.
Mattie's heart began to beat as though to
smother her: she felt her eyes grow misty with
tears VERY we'll said She after awhile. when
she could trust herself TO speak, Just as you
choose"
kitchen Of the farm house and her cousin into
the back entry without the good old DANES be-
traying her she never could tell
Perhaps il was because Friend Penny was near
sighted perhaps il was because she was bewll.
dered By the coming Of the soldiers that she did
not recognize Matte al first.
And now at last Matte had her IN the entry
back Of the dining-room.
Cousin Mary said she. don't say anything
don't make a noise-I am Alattie-hush"
Matte ! :" cried the old lady. The girl
cIapped her hand over her mouth. " Hush y
She said again. Don't make a nOise-l can't
stay-I must GO back TO the ktchen--theres a
man in the barrel in the cart-send some hard
cider 10 the kitchen right away and then get
him out-I've told them that | was TO stop for
letter-malIe believe 10 write one
All this she said pantlngly and brokeny, ana
Where's the mulled cider?' said the young
lieutenant 49,, Ia
lady 20 fetch il right away.
The corporal had lit his pine and was standing
looking out of the window, streaIed ana blurred fi
hoi "a and car. -
Mstfle looked ont Of the window and saw John
Grimes the hired man. leading the horse and cart
toward the shed behind the house. Oh! he 5
only going TO take the horse ont of the ram, .
she said let him alone. Here comes the cider
Friend Penny brought II IN WITH tremnnns
hands and set il down upon the table. " Now,
ma'am said Matte, You go fetch me the IRON;
I'll sizzle the cider up. Oh, am maSter-hand
at making ciderl7 she ratified on; III show
Won how TO brew q null OF cider thatll make
your wig stand on end. Many and many glass
I have brewed for old Joey Sparks, and it had 10
be lust so or he'd leather me. She hardly knew
what She was saving, but she chatted wildly on
as she heated the iron in the fire. dipping III
into the cider until IL steamed again. sweetenlnG
the fragrant brown liquor with sugar and sp!clng
il with cloves and allspice. Now, then, taste
that captain she said, handing 1t to the young
officer with n flourish.
She heard a sound of shutting feet without as
though of men carrying heavy weight and then
thnmp as though of that burden set upon the
floor. , -..,.
his hand as he raised the cup 70 his lips:
:. I don't know" said Matte. Nothing.
guess Did you know that this house was
haunted9' ,,,-,. .,,,, ,no,,
True for you, captain OF course yon didn't
know il was haunted. But it is. and III tell
Won the story. if you'd like 10 hear it WIN
ont waiting for an answer Sic ratified on, partly
| improvsing string of nonsense, partly adheTlng
10 the thread Of an old legend Of the neighbor-
| hood story OF q lnuTueTtu peulcI anu VI
every year at the same hour that the murder
/ waS done all the sounds Of the tragedy were
enacted over again. She was telling or now q
! woman passing through the kitchen had seen the
nedler at the table. when her cousin came into
| The room with the bogus letter in her hand
| Matte read in her eyes that the work was done
! and Herewith the story came 10 an abrupt END
| She put her hand TO her throat, then forge'
The rest Of the story she cried wildly.
The young officer looked keenly at her.
| You're drunk " said he.
~ oinit said Matte in shrill voice
81 am ms sober as you are.
| lis he SAFE" she whispered as she passed
| her cousin in the entry. -,
Yes said Jane Penny in an answering whisper
| and then" Don't give way, Matte -,
Don't speak 70 me.' gasped the poor gIrl.
| ont into the rain, they've stood the barrel Oh
e" And 50 they had, but it was not the same barre
that Matte had brought with her from tnS
| Rrandvwine mills She that at n flash, ana
| then remembered that her uncle had sent doupis
| ba1rel one time to Friend Penny 10 pack smoked
| hams in for the winter. -, 80
That long dreadful ride 10 Chester always re-
NAMED in her memory like some horrid night
/ mare She had a dim recollection OF starihe
| straight before her, Of what seemed 70 her uht
| nnending road the fine rain dashing IN her iact
| and a hitter tichtneSs in her throat But al las'
r. was ended. and she lay upon the bed in hei
aunt's spare room sobbing and crying as though
her heart would break. -, A..
Perhaps no woman before or since that t .Inle
has carried her lover in a Hour barrei anu uhen
exchanged him for smoked hams
Major Van Cleft made every effort to ind the
| name and the address Of the old captain OF Hoop
| ers that suffered Matte 10 pass along tne I1a1
that dav hut H. not until he had been MARI
! a twelvemonth that he was successful ihen y, ~
| sent him on the behalf Of his vile gola shui ~
boy set with diamonds IL was IN .ne Sill, ., ~ ~
nall a miniature -four barrel.-CThe Northwestern