Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-01-11

was all swimming in a smoke, like,
right up III the hollow Of the ceiling.
''Talnt a trumpet interrupted
Teddy, shyly. It's a clar'onet. l got
Il trumpet home
To be sure replied the old lady,
indulgently, But miss, as I was y
saying. that music Of yourn would jest
soften the hardest heat as ever was.
The rector had Just came FROM the
yestry room. we'll wrapped up in his
furs, and was shaking hands and wish.
ing all q Msrry Christmas, while the
sexton brought the horse to the door.
He overheard the old lady's remark
as she was bundling Teddy up in a
huge wollen muller.
1t certainly did, said be, make the
singing 70 magnificently tonight, didn't
it, Mrs. TAFT: But I wonder now what
sort of an effect it would produce on Il
hard hearted bear, if such creattre
should come out at us
while we were going through Dorches
ter woods?
This mild pleasantly was very deli
cately adapted to the rector's audience
and the group about the stove smiled
with a reverent air benetitting the
place they were in; but the old lady
exclaimed iu haste:
NY, land sakes, parson, a beard
be jest acared to death !!
wonder if it would frighten bear?
thought Lou to herself, as they were
getting snusly bundled into the warm,
deep 'pung. as the low box sleigh with
movable seats is called.
Soon the crest of the hill was passed,
and the four poster on the top OF Second
Westcock Church sank ont OF sight
For a mile or more the road led
through half,clearel pasture lands.
where the black stumps stuck up so
strangely through the drifts that Teddy
discovered bears on every hand.
Dv and by the road entered that Gu
rious inverted dark Of Dorchester
woods, where all the light seemed TO
come from the white snow under the
trees rather than from the dark sky
above them. At this stage Of the jour.
ney Teddy retired under the buffalo
robes and went to sleep on the bottom
Of the pnng.
The horse logged slowly along the
somewhat heavy road. The bells jim
gled drowsiIy amid the soft, pushing
whisper Of the runners. Lou and the
rector talked in quiet voices, ,attuned to
the solem hush Of the great forest.
What's that?
Lou shivered up closer to the rector
as she spoke, and glanced nervous.y
into the dark woods whence sound had
come. The rector did not answer al
once, but instinctlyely seized the whip,
and tightened the reins as signal to
Old Jerry to move on faster.
! The horse needed no signal but
awoke into an eager trot which would
have become g~!lop had the rector
permitted.
Again came the sound, this time a
little nearer, and still apparently just
abreast of the puug. but deep III the
woods. 1t was bitter. long, wailing
cry. blended with a harshly grating
undsrtone like the rasping Of saw.
What is,t2' again asked Lou, her
teeth chatter!ng.
The rector let old Jerry out into a
gallon as lie answered, I'm afraid ii S
pan,her-wlat they call around here
an Indian Devil, But | don't think
there Is any real danger, 1t is ~ fero
cious beast but will probably give us a
wide berth.
WHY wont it attack US? asked Lou.
'Ol. it prefers solitary vietlms, re
piled the rector 1t IA ordinarily a
A cautious beast and does not under
stand the combination Of man and
horse and vehicle. Onl Oh rare ocea-
sons has it been kuowL to attack peo-
ple driviog au.l this one will beep
well out Of our sight. However. it's
lust as we'll to get beyond its nsighbor'
hood as quickly as possible. Steady.
Jerry, old boy. seady-don't use
yoursss up to fast
The rector kept the horse we'll III
hand, but in short time 1t was psafn
that the panther was not aYoi,1lns the
party. The tYies came nearer and
nearer, and Lou breath c.lnle quicker
and quicken, and the recsors teoth be
gan to set themselves grimly, while LIS
brows gathered in anxious thought.
lf 1t should come to u struggle, what
was there in the sleigh, he was wonder
ing, that could serve as weapon
Nothing, absolutely nothing but his