Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-02-11


lord.
There is one thing | know" said the
great man freezingly, "a civil innkeeper
when | sec him"
lie then emptied his glass, caught up his
whip and gloves and strobe out, casting
never a glance at one in the room. The
landlord, uncertain whether to follow and
apologize or remain behind and give vent
to his feelings in profane language, com
promised the matter by falling yiciously on
servant who inopportunely came in his
way.
did not see the great man at breakfast
next morning But no sooner had taken
my seat on the coach than he clambcred up
beside me- The day being chill and foggy
he was wrapped TO the eyes IN n great coat
and an enormous wooden muller such as
the Scottish people like to hide their heads
in when the air happens to DO too shrewd.
ugh, dear me- it's rawl" he remarked
to the world at large as he settled back in
the midst Of pile OF rugs and plaids, sub
timely Obvious Of the fact that he was re-
clining upon me and appropriating half my
space.
We were not far on our journey when the
sun shone out warmly, the mists which
filed the valleys and lay heavily on the
NhhutA HlhHtN HNEHAA " AAht anu hhihN vi
the falrest scenes in all fair Scotland opened
to tho sight, The landscape smiled, but
there was no corresponding token Of geui-
atty in the face OF the pompous and taci-
turn individual by my side, He so far re-
sponded to the benignmcy Of nature in-
deed AS to unbuiton his great coat, lower
his muller and lay himself out to the sun
as If he were n bundle Of moldy hay. But
even this he did out OF sheer cOndescension,
and in the process he made me suffer. lie
dug into my ribs with his elbow. he Tapped
his coat into my face, he stamped on my
toes, he rubbed himself against me, finally
keeling over aud lying on me as II had
been IA cushion specially placed to save his
bones. His pressure nearly pushed me over
the side of the coach, and | made move
ment to save myself
"l'll trouble you to look after your ell
bows" he SAID, noticing my presence for
the first time.
REALLY, SIR" | retOrted, not without
little heat "the request might come more
reasonably from me than from you"
He turned his head quickly and looked
daggers Mt me. Finding did not melt in
the heat of his glare, be said slowly
Young man, your impudence is amaz-
ing"
Then ho ayerted his eyes and snorted an-
grily,
"Impudenoeln repeated in astonish-
ment.
Precisely" he answered, nudgiug and
spreading himself out still farther, so that
he crushed me against the iron rod at the
side, ut is overwhelming.
Not half 20 overwhelming as you. you
elephant" I retortcd, giving him a heave
that sent him against the passenger on the
other side. keep your lubberly weight OH
me, or, by George, I'll make youp
At this he called Justify to the guard
that threatened to do him bodily harm,
and that he would hold tho owner Of the
coach responsible il | were not removed
forthwith.
THE fellows vicious and may do muir
der" he exclaimed. 81 claim the protec-
ton of the responsible party in charge OF
this coach"
Hereupon the guard endeavored to make
peace between us, saying, however, that so
far he saw no reason for removing me from
my place.
81 have only to say, then" returned the
great man, that If | should have the mis-
fortune to be injured by this person you
VIII be held accountable, for you have had
warning Of his violent Intentions and il
he should kill me, you, sir will be hanged
san accessory before tho fact. That is
the law
Thus admonshed the guard returned to
his bugle and blew Justify TO keep himself
IN countenance, and my companion, hay
ing settled his rufiied feathers a bit, sat IN.
pulled out a fut notebook and began 20
study page Of figures, keeping, however,
the corner Of his eye on mo. AS he studied
n smin Of satisfaction no4 and again re-
leved the susterity Of his face. | Judged
the figures represented some profitable in
vestment, but little could | have guessed
what that investment was.
AT length he closed the book, returned
1t TO his pocket, and In spite OF all that had
taken place once more reclined comfort
ANY on me, Ii was now my turn to appeal
70 authority, 30 called out, Guard, have
the goodness 10 remove this carcassw
Ihe aggressor sat bolt upright, ms If an
arrow had pierced him. his face darkened
by scowl
"such insults are intolerable," he said
sayagely "a will write to the owner OF this
coach; will have justice"
made no reply, only smiled at his
chngrln and stretched myself to the limits
OF my space, glad that AT last had made a
definite impression. For the rest of the
!''i"'S Nu PhNtlluoublN kept from touch
ing me, aud though we both left the coach
at the same stopping place we did not ex-
eh"hge another word When he disappear
ed INFO the village inn, fervently hoped
had secn the last OF him.
Though made all haste after alightinr
rom the coach, leaving my portmanteau
IN charge OF the innkeeper that might 90
nnineumherod, and taking a short enc
across the nioors, the gloamiug had fallen
ere caught my lgst sight Of the turiets
and chi=incy tops OF Kilburnie, dim and
solitary In the midst Of the dusky heath
me mountain tops were still radiant With
waning golden light, but the valleys were
already awcome with the gloom which
night brings TO tie haunted solitudes OF
the highlands
walked quickly my heart beating tn.
mnltuously, with dizzying alienation of
hopes and fears and expectations, vet as
sot out among the dark invines an ee-is
sensation crept along the spine and among
tne roots Of the hair. At one point where
the path OWED into lonely hollow. pass.
ing IN its depth between black tarn sail
70 nave no bottom and n cairn that covered
amurdcrer's bones, and moor cock rose
nom the heather with a sudden cry Of
a'arm, my breath came in a thick gasn aud
my hAtr rOsaa on my hood -.....,g,.- ~.