The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-22


'.uch space around them. but to a
-tranger ignorant Of the extent Of
The phrases "a little piece out"
and '.lu-t outside o town" can be
stretched this contempiuons regard
of miles is little misleading. But
in the face of that dreary, monolc.
nous moaning of the rain aud wind
even my anger at my own folly
could not burn long, and though
chilled 10 he bone and tired and
hungry | plodded OH duly, CRATE
tul that no night, even the longest,
could last forever. II was now
quile dark. and very dark at that.
though al short intervals close TO
the horizon a faint sleam OF light
nlng showed, ioo distant to cast
brightness ON my path and only
suflicientto TO intensity the blackness
about me.
All at once | saw a man walking
in front of me. Yes, ! know said
il was intensely dark, but all the
same, | repeat il, | saw a man
walking in front Of me, and lurth-
ermore | could see that he was a
large man, dressed in rough but
we'll filing clothes; That he wore
a heavy red beard, and that he
looked back al me from time TO
lime with an expression OF keen
anxiety on his otherwise rather
| fixed features.
"Hal!o!n | cried. but as he did
not halt | concluded he did not
hear me. As second hail pro-
duced no result | spurred my
weary horse up 10 overlake the
stranger. But though the gray re-
sponded with an aIacrity most
commendable under the circuln-
stances, | soon found that this
strange pedestrian did not intend
to let me catch up with HIM. Not
that he hurried himself. He seem
ed without any eXertiou 10 keep a
good fifteen feet between US. Then
| began to wonder how, with in
tense darkness shutting me in as
-four black walls, | was yet able to
see my stranger companion so
clearly, totake in the details Of his
dress, and even the expression Of
his face, aud that at a distance
more than twice my horses length
when | could hardly see his head
before me. | am mol given to su-
perslilious fancies, and my only
feeling was that OF curiosity. When
attempt after attempt to overtaEe
the stranger had tailed, ] took
mercy on my jaded horse and re-
solved To follow my nnsociable
guide, rs he must have some def
nile destination.
We went on in silence for near.
ly balfa hour, when as suddenly
as he appeared he was gone. |
looked around for him, halt airaid
from his instant and complete dis.
appearance that | had been dream
ing, when | perceived that | was
close TO small, low building of
some sort. | reined in and shout
ed several times, but no; the slight
esi response could | hear, and at
last / rode boldly up and tapped
on Ike wall with the butt of my
riding whip. Then, as This elicit
ed no sign of lie, | concluded that
| had stumbled on some deserted
house, or hat it was the abode OF
my eccentric friend so dismount-
ing and lying The gray resolved
TO spend the rest of the night un-
der a roof or to find some good
reason for continuing my journey.
| felt my way along The wall till |
reached door, and trying this
and finding that il yielded 10 me
stepped Inside, striking a match AS
| diG SO. Fortunately l carried
my matches in an air tight case,
and as it was dry the one | struck
gave me light at once. i found
myself in a large room, close 10 a
fireplace, over which rude shelf
was placed, and on this mantel !
saw an oil lamp, 10 which lapplled
my match as | looked about me.
On The hearth was heaped a
quantity OF ashes, and over these |
crouched child, a LILLE girl of 5 |
orc. Al The other end of the room,
which was plainly and scaniily |
furnished. lay man across bed,
and as raised the lamp saw that
he was the same | had been fol
lowing, but there was something in
his attitude and face that struck |
me as peculiar, and | was about TO |
60 forward and look at him, when
the child, who had at first seemed |
dazed at The light, fairly threw
herself upon me.
"Have YOU anything for Nelly |
10 eat ~ she said. and then began
to cry. "Ob, Nelly so hungry!"
| ran my hand INTO my pocket
and drew forth what had been
paper bag OF chocolate candy, bui
was now .pulpy unaDpetizlng
mass. | must confess 10 childish
fondness for sweets, which | usual
ly carry in some form about me.
fhanded the remains of my days
supply to the child, and then
walked over to The bed. Yes, it
was the same mar, red beard,
rough clothes, but setting off the
magnificent frame to perfection
the same man, but dead, long
dead.
l took his hand only 10 find il