Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-04
A DROP OF BLOOD.

Boone Courthouse, W Va. Leaving the
railroad at Brownstown and taking di-
rcctions and horse from my landlord
at that point, 1 set out through the
mountains early i'll the afternoon. ex-
pccting To reach Racine in time for sup
per.
As the afternoon waned, however, /
noticed that the road became constant
" rougher and apparently more unfre-
QucntCd until ii was little more than q
deserted pathway that crossed and re-
crossed the gravclly bed of dry creek
i'll n mad effort to remain in the narrow
valley that wound circuitously among
the mountains, whose black timbered
SUBMITS seemed to stretch higher and
higher above me in the gathering twi-
light. 1t being n cloudy day, l was
completely nlystificd as to the points of
the compass, and it now became evident
to me that had i'll some manner missed
my way. had already gone too far to
rctrace my steps before nightfall, so
that unless 1 speedily found shelter l
would be obliged to pass the night in
the open air.
Being III nowiSe pleased with this
tie farther before abandoning the quest
and had barely formed this resolution
when bend i'll the pathway brought
me into full view of what appeared to
be large, square, southern mansion,
surrounded ty trees and situated = lit
tie way up the slope of a remarkably
lofty mountain that rose precipitously
behind ii.
y nearer approach revealed an out
ward appearance of overgrowth and di-
lapidation. The fence had fallen down
i'll several places. The open gate was
barely supported by its rusty hinges
The yard was Il mass of weeds. The
condition Of the house l could not de-
tcrminc i'll the dim light made DINNER
by the heavy shadows of the trees. Be-
tween the tall weeds and briers there
was wide stone walk leading from
the gate 10 the front door.
The prospect was not an inviting one,
Tut as my situation had bscome some
what desperate determined if possible
TO obtain accommodations for the night
My repeated knocks elected no re-
sponSc beyond 4 hollow echo, and con-
Guiding the place to be deserted tried
the door. Somewhat TO my surprise, it
yielded, the rusty hinges cracking ter
ribly as 1 pushed it wide open. AS en-
tered l was greeted by that musty, life
less odor common to places long closed
and Uninhabitcd. l had matches with
me, and striking one l looked about me.
WAS i'll 4 wide hall. Before me
lark staircase. partially whitcncd with
lust. l,l ~ rooms above To the left
,lId right were closed doors and attach
al L. tn" white easement of the latter
was \ littl,. bracket candclabra contain
ing cluster Of six half consumed wax
candies. Lighting two Of these, took
one of them from the holder and open
ing the door at my right entered
The room in which l found myself
was apparently the parlOr of the desert
cd mansion. The dust covered haircloth
furniture, which had evidently been for
many years unGisturbcd, was Of n style
massive and once much in vogue a
number Of paintings and cngravings
Were upon III" walls III furnished gilt
frames. y large chandelier suspended
i'll the C,nt,r IF the room was of clabo-
rate workmanship. The floor was COW
cred with y heavy mating, the exact
mime, "win; I" the thick covering of
dust Passing; on To the adjoining room.
| Wa l'.t dis;:pp tinted III finding it TO
l'y' Il la; bedroom with all the appoint
mcntS peculiar To- an old time southern
nome "f wealth. 1 approached the tall
c:nopic'l bad i'll the opposite corner and
drew hack th.. curtains. 1t was ready
for the guests for which it had so long
wait,.l Tie I1,,l,ling was yellow with
a-,.. Int the canopy had protected il
from the dust It had not been occupied
fur wears.
Icuuf,-, WIS possessed with a sense
ror h,.ir.. If =, ti,nid ,,t,,rn J.,tor.
r,i,,,1t, M. tbo ,,i.,ht l,.,o,+b +l,;s
roof tb,, -
49, ,t,,;,-I,+ 81,
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r,.t,,r,,..I hrs. ,,.I .,,.,.,,,,.'',l III;
brill. ,,.i,, ,it ..,,,,Ij 49, -, -
! for q ,.,nsi,,.r,l,I.. s-,cn .,1,or+ III,
| Tho, r,,,ovi,,, +1, l,,lII, ,.,,+,,-,,cI
with II ~ my ltr.,,,e,,, C,,orrr.rs
P,1-i,,,, c1,c,, ,,,,,. - ~, c.,a1,i,,,
| doIrS and II. b.oI-v sbntto,,. r., Lot erosb
air into tho ,,,,,.tv o,,ort,no,,t T fos+o,,-
cd hocl- Nv, ,lrI,,,,r;rI 80 +l,o tar - -
throw bacl- thn lone, ,,,,,,,od hodd;r,r,
H. o,I,-,. 90 -t.Liol, -.e7,,;.,sN1 - %
r,o,,+s IT, ro1j,,-, +I,i- eo,,,o,-.t,ot 80,
ed tho ,,i11o,,- It'll ~ ooo+ a.,a -,
,no1-i,,,, o,,Iz- my ontar r,or,,'nI+- To-,
down for v.os ,,root1T fn+iC,1oI, LIZ
ridinr IN cxorciso 10 Which 1gos toll.
IL p,Iaccns.or,'cd
Nv candle l had, with n few drons Of
melted wax. affixed to a small tahlc
near the g, inter- of the room. and havino