Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-03-09

horse and his rldcr the dark mass
being partially dislinguishablc from
the darkness Of the night around.
That a horscman should be il Il
place where it was difficult for pc
estrian to get II secure footing WIS
strange enough in all conscience, but
that he should have apparently risen
up among u, without warning what,o-
ever was stranger still
How did you ever steer your horse
down here qucried il tone that
! tried to make one OF surprised pleas.
urc, but mi>crably failed in the at
tempt.
Il have lived On the border, Of this
moor all my lie, replied the voice,
''and my horse know,cvcry foot Of the
way since he was a ioal
Thi, explanation wa, satisfactory
enough for men in desperate circum.
stances. Hugh and | thanked him
for his pfoilercd services and request
cd him 10 lead the way. We sought
To obtain Il glimpse Of hi. features,
hut they were wrapped in the invul
ncrablc gloom ni the uight.
As he ? 'scd | noticed that his
horse " a very tall one and that it,
eye, ,honc through the darkne., like
the eyes OF Il gigantic cat, but with a
far more uncarlhy and fcrociou, light
than thar oi the docilc grimalkin curl.
ed up before the fire, >pecuIatiug pro.
toundly on the rise aud fall Of stock il
the rodent market.
The horseman rode short distance
in advance, holding in hi, beast occa.
>ionally 70 enable Us 10 catch up. It
was a hard task 10 do 50. Tn rain
was dcccnding in torrents, The wind
howled and whistlcd across the moor.
At every step We sank above our boot
tops and often almost To our knees.
y vivid flash oil tightening shot
across our way. For an instant the
| t.nttr.- ~ MIR ,,,,..toyi..,,. ,.,,; L. ,,
the form Of his ,tced were revealed.
He was half turned in hi, saddle and
was CHANGING back at where we were
tloundering behind. His face was
like the face OF a skeleton covered
over with tightly drawn skin, through
which two malicious eyes CLEANED with
Il vindictivencss that wa, startling in
it, intensity Over hI> foam and over
that ot his horse were cast some long
robes that looked like the trapping,
of funeral car, the horses head be.
Ing also envcloped, save for two eve
lets, through which it surveyed Il,
with the blazing eve, Of an unhroken
mustang. The rider wore Il tall hat
like those worn bv our foretathers 100
years ago and with something iasten-
ed around the brim that could have
sworn was Il bow Of Grape
For Gods sake, stop, Hugh" |
cried, holding BIZ arm Did you see
that fellows face | do believe he is
no living man. Not of our world
anyhow
Hugh Mcclure was as practical q
Scotchlaan A. ever failed to appreciate
Il joke u pas an examination in FL
inhurgh university.
Through the opaque night could
feel his withcring glance oi ,cnrn a> he
made answer, III yon want to talk Of
ghosts in the middle of this G;od inI.
saken spot in thi, heaven condemned
weather, You can do 81, Percy, but
you shau't have me Tor un audience,
aud he forged on, calling 10 our
guide:
In the name OF the first pilot, how
long will it be before you can steer rs
t. the world again =
The hollow voice came echoing
back:
"Onc mile To the right i, Il cottage
where W can ind shelter. Come on
"A mile Of This :" walled Hugh,
"Oh, my sins have hecu many, hut
what >uiIer To night should atone ior
all -
We had, however, passed the wor,,
portion Of our iaurneyipg, anl the
iooiing now became more secure.
Still the rain dcccnded ia sheets, and
the wind blew with force thar oft
times threatened Ia sweep u, oil our
feet
Like far distant star We at length
saw hight ahead Il appeared, then
Disappeared, then appeared again.
There i. the cottage ,ail our
guide we will reach /, SOM NOW. ''
What II mean fellow not Ia oilcr
" lin ON his horse r grumblyd
Hugh. Il certainly have enough
trouble 10 keep my own ioplins uot To
have Ia guide u h1r.. over these oot.
t"n,lc.- holc.. hat be NIGH, have been
ciyll enough 20 make the o.ler any
way.
W. wcr nov proceeding over the
SOFT damp tur, OF the moor. aud had