Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-12

turned IN 4 minute alone and carrying Ian
tern, which, in spite of the moon, was need
| ed to guide stranger across that ruinou-
| yard. The flare, as we picked our way along
fell for q 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 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
| 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 l unbridled the mare in the
only Tacant stall. Not word passed as he
took the lantern of the peg again and led the
way cd eramshackle ladder to the loft above.
He was a fat, lumSering fellow, and made
the old timbers creak. At the top he sat
down the light and pointed 70 heap Of straw
IA the corner.
"Yon's your bed" he growled, and before
l could answer was picking his way down the
ladder again.
| looked about, and shivered. The caves of
| nv bed chamber were scarce on speaking
terms with the walls, and through a 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 pulled 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 a
chamberInaid rose into view. She carried 3
steaming mug in her hand, and muttered all
the while in no very choice talk.
The wench had kind face, though, and a
pair Of eyes that did her more credit than her
tongue.
"And what's to be my reward for this, l
want to knowi" she painted out, resting her
left palm ON her hip.
"Why, great or two," said l, "when it
comes to the reckoning"
"Ludr she cried, ''what a dull young
manl'
"Dullr
"Ay-to make me ask for kiss in SO many
words;n and with the back of her left hand
she wiped her mouth for it frankly, while
she held out the mug in her right.
"Ohr' l said, Il 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 l 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; cranky
old grandee and daughter with more airs
than a peacock; Sir Something-or-other
Killigrew-Lord bless the boy!"
For had dropped the mug and spilled the
hot sack all about the straw, where it trickled
away with a fragrance reproachfully deli
| cious.
"Now beg your pardon hundred times,
but the chill is in my bones worse than the
ague;' and, huddiing my shoulders up, 1
counterfeited Il shivering fit with truthful
ness that surprised myself
Poor ladl'
And It's first hot and then cold all down
my spine"
There, now!r
"And goose flesh and fushes all over my
body"
Dear heart-and to pass the night in this
grave of PLACED"
"And by morning 1 shall be in a high fe-
yer; and oh! l feel shall die of itI'
Don't; don'tl" 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 noise"
"But your mistress-what will she sayT'
SIS in heaven these two years, and out of
masters speaking distance forever. So blow
out the light and follow me gently"
Still feigning to shiver, l followed her down
the ladder and 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 floor, there was no light at all in the
| yard Clearly, she was in dread of her mas
ter's anger, for we stole across like ghosts,
and once or twice she whispered n warning
when my toe kicked against a loose cobble.
But just as / seemed to be walking into
stone wall she put out her hand. heard the
click of latch and stood in a dark, narrow
| passage.
The passage led to a second door that
opened on wide, stone paved kitchen, lit by
a cheerful fire, wherein kettle Kissed and
dubbed as the vRpor lifted the cover. Close
by the chimney corner was a sort Of trap, or
buttery hatch, for pushing the hot dishes
conveniently into the parlor on the other side
Of the wall. Besides this, for furniture, the
room held broad deal table, an oak dresser,
linen press, a rack with hams and strings
| Of onions depending from it, settle and
chair or two, with for decoration) dozen
or so of ballad sheets stuck among the dish
covers along the wall.
''Sit," whispered the girl, land make no
noise, while brew rack punch for the men
folk in the parlor." She jerked her thumb
towards the buttery hatch, where l had al
ready caught the murmur of voices
1 took up chair softly, and set it down be-
tween the hatch and the fireplace, so that
while warming my knees l could catch any
word spoken more than ordinary loud on the
other side of the wall The chambermaid
stirred the fire briskly, and moved about
singing, as she fetched down bottles and glasses
from the dresser:
Lament ye maids an darters
For constant Sarah Ann,
Who hanged herself in her carriers
All for the love O. man.
All for tho
She was pausing, bottle in hand, to take
the high note; but hushed suddenly at the
| sound of the voices singing in the room up
stairs:
"Vivre en- tout cas-
Cest lie grand sOulas
DeS honneteS gens!'
That's the foreigners said the chamber
maid, and went on with her ditty;
"All for the love of soulger
Whose christ ming name was Jan"
A volley of oaths sounded through the but
terry hatch.
And that's the true born Englishmen, as
all H. -.