The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-05
THE TOLL BAR.

and &C the hour of midnight Simon
Groves the gcuty toll-keeper Of Gwyn-
die sat asleep in his old oak chair.
His knitted nightcap of Welsh wool
had bcon preceded by another kind ol
nighcap IN the shape of hot glass OF
'spIced ale. and his conse luent slum Der
was heavJ enough when he was awoke
by piercing Cry of .(iate.n Cater
Bolt and bar being withdrawn
Simon stood under the starlit sky.
ready to take the toll and pass the
stranger on his way; but to his aston
lshment no wheel nor heel was there.
Nothing but the p!g 4nsive 'too-whit.
too wao. OF the brown owl in the dis
teut woods was to be heard He swung
the lantern high. he swung it low. he
looked up the hill and peered into the
road; no one was there. His landlords S
gig had passed that way at ten that
evening. ~ 1 there the track lay un-
disturbed in its frosty covering.
Gate! Gate!' again rang out in the
frosty night air. and Simon instantly
threw down his pen not without some
hope that it was the summons of some
jolly after dinner old gentleman. who
would laugh at the joke and toss him
half crown.
Again simon appeared in his Gov
cred doorway lantern in hand. but
there WAS no mortal there nor tire
nor wheel of mortal make He swung
tho lantern high; he peered up the
Toad and down the road; be stopped
down. and again found the rime frost
still un1isturbed in the ruts. Whose
voice was like unto that cry of Gate,
Gate" Surely he had heard it before
somewhere! Could it be that of his
darling niece Elsie. the golden haired
lass OF fourteen summers. whose play
full delight when on visit four years
before had been to come to the front
of the toll house and cry Gate!
'gats" followed by ringing laughter
.whe' her old uncle made his appear
ance In answer to her false alarm
Yes! The clear shrill cry he had
theard that night resembied the voice
of dsie-poor Elsie.
4 Richard rhinestone had wooed and
avon her against the wishes of her !
Uncle Simon who di5liked the reputa
ton for gallantry that Richard had
obtained very quickly after his return
from n visit 10 London. Elsie's trust !
ing nature. however would believe no |
i'll OF her lover. and when the bridal !
day arrived. and she noticed the many /
whisperings amongst the bystanders !
she put them down to envy at her
carrying off the handsomast man o. |
the village.
Her husband very soon abseuted |
himself on pretended calls of bus ness
to the market towns and when her
paled checks and ill-hcalth BETRAYED
an approaching motherhood Richards
behavior filled her sinking heart with
apprehension. He said he mated a
pale face or pulling girl; hc liked a
rosy cheek and nut-b"own maid-a
fact ~hlch Elsie had more aad more
reason to realize, as runors reached
her ears of Richards sguandering his
money on Il blacksmith's daughter of
evil reputation.
; Elsie like many others Of her sex,
could break but not bend; and. having
upbraidci her husband on his desel.-
tiOn OF her at such an approaching
crisis lie resented the accusation with
u curse. and with Il blOg from his fist
that fclled Elsie senseless to the floor.
When she recovered she was alone
He had let her without friend or
servant in tho house and "a she heard
the sound OF hts horses hoofs dying
away in the distapce her brain reeled
and she became deliriOus.
Simon sat in his chair till daylight.
strangely agitated with fears for his
niece's safety. At eight o'clock he
made up basket of brown bread and
fresh eggs and taking stout stick in
hand. he went down the road to the
cottage OF an army pensioner who
cultivate small potato patch. Old
Miles was easily persuaded to take
charge OF the gate until Simon re-
turned. and shortly after Simon OBJ
tained a lift in the POSTCARD going to
Iiangolien. This vehicle passed
near Grimestone's farm. and by one
o'clock Simon was crossing the stile
leading up to the farm
No good going on here l see:
here are fences down gaps in the
hedges gates hanging by one hinge -"
Ail had signs of bad farming and
SImon went round to the back door.
which he found open. Some ducks
had invaded the stone passage and
loudly quacked at the intruder. All
else was silent and with bated breath .
Simon looked in the kitchen. 1t was .
empty and with no fire even in
the CRATE He went into the front
room. that was called the parlor.
9he blind was yet drawn down from
the previous night-nO one was there;
some tiny pieces OF needlework unfin-
lshe6 lay on the table He called out
Elsie! Elsie!'' No reply came but
the echo of his voice down (
the deserted corridor He mount
cd the stairs and. peering into |
the / front room. he saw a
white heap on the floor. with
q crimson stain flowing from its [