Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20

w.
Two Rough Looking Men by the Fire.
side.
narrow window at each end. That toward
the courtyard was shattered and fastened
on the outside and some of the glass was
pro-. broken. while there were cobwebs and dust
that had long been gathering. The other
window was high above the steep slope of
the cliff and looked down at the dyke and
the meadows and far over the gloomy
water beyond.
The moon was rising behind the heavy
mist. and, though daylight was now COM
pietely gone. there was a strange dim light
In Its place, so that Weymouth could pres
emily see where he was, and he scanned the
shadowy country with growing belief in
his heart that he was a prisoner and that
he might be glad to escape from this not
reassuring house of entertainment Once
or twice 1t had seemed from some look or
gesture that they had been expected
Rogers and the landlady had undoubtedly
betrayed the fact that they were not
strangers TO each other. If he had been a
free man bound on one of his own Journeys
nothing that had happened would have
made him uneasy. but as the guardian of
other mems gold he was more and more on
the alert. Clearly the best thing now was
to stay quiet for a brief time for his
horses sake. and then to plead haste and
push on. He would risk himself in a bit of
1ghting, even without his pistols, which
had been left in the saddle For another
half hour at least he would possess his soul
In patience. then find his way to another
inn less solitary and alarming. With a
fresh horse and the night before him he
could find Bristol himself. He clenched his
fist and shook 1t at the man on the bed:
their coming so far out of the way might
perhaps be an accident. but Weymouth
doubted more than ever the honesty of the
man whom he had distrusted at first sight,
and the drugged liquor was the surest
proof of mischief He found himself in
tight place.
the misty night the great dismal plain of
the Severn stretched away into the shad-
ows of the distance. A fishing smack or
small packet boat had crept up toward the
headland and cast anchor under its lee
There was lantern in the rigging and an
other dim light being brought upon the hill
toward the i'm. The wind was still blow
ing rs If it had gone down with the sun
and risen less wild than before
Weymouth left the window, uneasy
enough in his mind; he could not see his
way to escape In that dir ection: it was evil
IDENTIFY too high for a safe drop to the
ground Then he laughed; his own plan
was best. and nobody could with decency
oppose it: he would call for his horse pres
emily and ride away. Yet If 1t were known,
as he suspected, that he was carrying
treasure, it would still take courage to
start out alone on a tired horse.
He sat down by the fire and looked about
him. There was little furniture in the
place except the two old beds one with its
a poorly posted makeshift of comfort on
which Rogers lay. The old Welsh woman
breathed loud now and then. but Rogers
slept as If he were dead. Curse him."
muttered Weymouth. He should have
known his roads or let an honest man
alone"
There was a loud voice in the kitchen;
the landady could be heard now and then
VII IN
slow to answer back. His thoughts, like
those OF tired man. went back to the past
and he seemed to himself curiously indif-
ferent to the perplexitieS of the present.
He had just left the woman he loved dis
appointed by her GOODNESS. She was young
er than he. they had not known each other
long. but after separation of some months
he had joined her with the hope of mar
rage. only to find that she had changed;
that she put him off and spoke doubtfully
of the future. She had confessed that it
was no change in her own feelings but
that she feared to bring shame upon him,
and the thought of her lonely figure as
they parted returned to him like a vision.
She had refused to see i'm again; this was
two days before; and the journey to Bristol
must be quickly over so that he might go
back to plead with her. 1t was wrong to
have parted angrily as he had done-if ever
life was in a snarl it was now, but there
feet and went quickly toward the kitchen,
only to discover that the door had been
fastened on the outside.
He coolly let the latch fall and returned
to his chair; beside it was the heavy pouch
of notes and gold, and he slung it over his
shoulders and fastened the belt with steady
fingers. The sudden wave of eagerness a
brave man feels in the presence of danger
ard that brief space while the trouble of
his own heart came uppermost both passed
quickly; there was single moment when
Weymouth RENE mbered that he was a
tired and defenseless man at the mercy of
l.; NOV, h f.,t ooe.f 11ry,
ed he must not only escape to plead with
Eliza beth Brent, but he was bound in hon
or to carry his wallet to Bristol to Capt.
Henderson OF he ship Mary and Bell
He had 4 feeling that he was watched.
What about the old Welsh woman? 1t
was by no means uncommon for travellers
to be crowded toget Their in country inns,
but the landlady had been almost too eager
across the room he saw the curtains move.
The landlady had ted him to call her if
the poor old creature spoke.
Weymouth left his chair, lifted the latch
of the kitchen door. and knocked boldly
when it would not open. Let me out"' he
called. grumbling and growing: Let me
out! 1 want more brandy'' With sudden
instinct he took on the behavior of a
drunken man. Let her think l am drug
ged, If she pleases,' he said to himself, and
knocked again, scolding finely and asking
for the brandy by turns. He could hear
the voice of another woman now, as If in
protest but presently the door opened and
the landlady appeared
you've had brandy enough now" she
told him, roughly. Il locked the door be-
cause the latch is old and it flies open and
keeps both fires a-smoking. Cease your
noise; I'll call you for your supper" There
were two rough-looking men by the fireside,
and a woman stood behind the settee,
whose eyes met his as ii they struck a flash
of light. At the first sight of her face he
stopped for an instant; he lost power of
speech; then h., went on with his drunken
play, and staggered toward the middle Of
the room.
The men laughed, the landlady scolded,
and the slender figure behind the settee was
half hidden in it's shadow. Elizabeth Brent
the womal he loved and whom he hal left
so heavy-hearted, for whose sake he was
hurrying to Bristol and hurrying back, the
woman he thought of by night and day.
here before his astonished eyes. How in
the world could she have also fallen into
what looked like den of thieves? How
could he manage to get word with her?
His head dropped on his breast as Rogers
might have done; he was growing faint for