The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-11-03

~ -. Hc3AA ~ 'NS
mou emily in the afternoon. ex-
pec.l.-:, ~ rssack Racine in time for sup
pei.
AZ - >.+tcrnoon waned, however, I
mott - t.e road became constant.
ly ro s..a apparently ,aorc unfre-
uucl Il it was little more than q
desc ',w;iy that crossed and re-
eros. ~:,..velly bed Of u dry creek
ina IT to remain III tire narrow
vail .@uund c~ircuitously among
the . rs, whose black tinbered
sun, ~ to stretch kigher and
hisi ,ne IN the gathering twi-
high, ing 3 cloudy day, l Tas
oom .a!ra.iicd as to the points o.
the ia il Low bccanaecvident
to II" had II some manner missed
my vs. hal already. gone tex" far to
rctr;,ce NY steps before nightfali, 90
that Wis I speedily found shelter |
woul,i3e obliged TO pass tbs hight III
the ots-n air.
Bt;ms in nowise pleased with this
prospect, l concluded to press on a lit
tie faa -s'er before abandoning the quest
and had barely formed this resolution
wheaas bend i'll the pathway brought
me iIzto full view of what appeared to
Ike 4 Large, square, southern mansion,
surrUndcd by trees and SITUATED q TIT
tie way Up the slope Of y remarkably
lofty mountain that ross PsecipitHusly
belfiEG il.
A,nearer approach reveaEsd I'm OFT
wasM appearance Of overgrowh and III
lapiriation. The fence had fallen down
in several places. The open gate was
barely supported sy its .rsty hinges.
The yard was "a mass Of weeds. The
condition of the house l cuaad nos de-
termine III the dim light made DINNER
by tlso heavy shadows of the trees. BE
tween the tall weeds and 1Jrie-s there
was "a wide stone walk ieaaing from
the safe to the front door.
The prospect was not al inSiting one
Int Is my situation had become some
what.desperate l determined If possible
to obtain accommodations fn tho night.
NJ repeated knocks elicited no re
Sponse beyond a hollow eehs, ,und con-
cluaing the place to be deserted I tried
the dtsor. Somewhat to nay surprise, It
yielded, the rusty hinges cracking ter
riblyss / pushed it wide open. As Len
tered.a was greeted by that NASTY, life
less oaor common to places Icing closed
and 1ninhabited. / had matches with
me, and striking one / locked about me.
was in q wide hall Before me q
dark staircase, partially whiteIled with
dust, asd to rooms above. Te the left
and right were closed docrs. and attach
I'd to the white easement Of tho latter
was q httle bracket ~candelabra contain
ing a cluster of six half consumed wax
candles Lighting two Of these, I took
n Of them from the holder, and open
ing the door at my right entered.
The room in which I found myself
was apparently the parior of the desert
I'D mansion. The dust covered haircloth
furniture, (which had evidently been for
many years undisturhed, was of g style
massive and once much in vogue. A
number Of paintings and engrarin2s
were upon che walls in tarnishod gill;
frames. A large chandelier suspended
in the center Of the room was Of elai,o-
rate workmanship. The floor was COW
cred with a saeavy mating, the exact
nature of which l could hardly deter
mine, owing to the thick covering Of
dust. Passing or to the adjoining room,
1 was not disappointed in finding it TO
be a large bedroom with all the appoint
ments peculiar 80 an old time southern
home of wealth. 1 approached the tall
canopied bed in the opposite corner and
drew back the curtains. 1t was ready
for the guests for which it had SO long
waited. The bedding was yellow with
age, but the canopy had protected it
from the dust. 1t had not been occupied
for years.
/ confess l was possessed with Il sense
of awe amid these surroundings, hut
not being Of q timid nature / deter
mined to pass the night beneath this
roof in preference to enduring the heavy
fog that always gathers at night in these
mountains. Leaving my candle lighted,
returned to my horse and arranged his
bride rein so that he could eat the grass
for . considerable space about him.
Then, removing the saddle, ! returned
with it to my strange quarters.