Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-01-12
miscEllauen us.
A STRANGE STORY.

The story which am about to mar
rate is related upon the authority of I
reliable witness who lives in LOUIS
county, Va, aud was once we'll knowI
public official Of that county. He main
tains that the details are correct anG
adds that he can furnish at least two trust
worthy witnessed who will make afiida
Wits to his statements.
It was several years ago, according
to my informant, near the little rura
settlement Of Boyd's Travern, in ALDER
marie county, a short distance from thu
Fluvanna line. For many years On old
Italian named Faranchini had been /
familiar figure in that section. He had
no relatives, but lived sort Of hermit
life in a rude. dilapidated two story
house about half mile from the tavern
Nearly every night he could be seen
playing tbR fiddle at the tavern, and ID
times of elections he took in quite q
snug sum for his musical talent. There
was something mysterious about the old
foreigner. He was known to havt
earned considerable money, but rarely
If ever, did any one see him make 4
purchase. He was never known t.
take drink A light could be seer
shining family from his window every
night, long after other people had re-
tired. Some said the old man had
plenty Of money, and was burying i
from time 70 time 10 some secret place
One afternoon 10 December the old
man died suddenly. A rumor spreac
that be had been poisoned for his treas
ures. There was no one to look after thu
burial arrangements, and 50 pine boz
was secured at the expense Of charity
Three young men who had often danced
the Virginia reel to his music agreed t.
sit up with the remains during the night
A dreary looking rain made matters
doubly uncomfortable, and at 10 O'Clock
the three charitable young men wer.
seated by log that glowed in the old
fashioned fireplace, smoking their pipe'
and telling anecdotes, while the body
of the Italian lay in the rude coffin some
10 feet away. They had chatted away
for two hours, when one OF them pro
posed game OF cards.
This was agreed to, and the game va
interspersed now and then with glass
of cider from big jug that sat on ont
side.
An old fashioned clock on the shell
struck IL. The last stroke had searcel
died away IN the dense stiffness when
one OF the men aroused himself sudden
ly, dropped his hand on the table and
stood up from the stool on which h'
was seated. His hair was on end, hl
eyes were twice their usual size, anc
with one hand he pointed nervously u
the coffin in the corner. The other tw'
men left their seats simultaneously ant
were in the act Of leaving the room wheI
the first caught his companions by th'
arm, and the three cautiously approach
ed q step nearer.
elise Hiss (! Hiss J" came the soun'
ct regular intervals from the diretioI
OF the CONN, while from traapdoor, IL
tail coiled around one OF the Stats, hung
long blacksnake that swung back ant
forth like pendulum over the entir'
length Of the coffin. Its head sweP
within an inch or 50 OF the Italian. ant
the hideous thing fixed its hesh tintec
eyes on the face, as If trying to charu
the miser.
The three men stood perfectly still
as though riveted to the door. and for
several moments none spoke. The coun
tensDcc OF one OF them was pale rs
sheet. Another stared at his comPan
ions with bewildred query written on
bis face, while the third, horror stricken
seized the poker, and creeping steaithii,
toward the snake aimed terrible blow
at the intruder. Bot che latter was DOT
lodged the weapon, and coilinY up dis