New-York tribune., 1896-08-30
SANTAL'S BETROTHED.
A MIDsUM MINER NIGHTS MARRIAGE.

distinction being young. handsome and pos
sessed Of large landed property at Minister
+ scres In Derhvshire He had been deprived in
early youth both Of father and mother. put
had attained his majority in the year iNi" anu
entered on the enjoyment oi ms es.ase, ~ town,
1t was on the last dav of the summer Term
IN that year that Mr.. Santal. while walking IN
the High Street at oxford, noticed in the WIN
. dow OF jewellers shop gold signei rlhs eN
nosed for sale Its solid and antique construc-
tion arrested his attention. ana ne ehtereu u, II
ehop and inquired its history and price, Inc
3eweller stated that the ring had been aug VI,
at some village in the north of Oxfordshlre am
had been brought To him by a laborer IL pore
an incsed coat of arms of which SANTA Vac
shown an impression. ana the man auu'u ,a'
"a competent antiquarian had blazoned IL het,
aldically as Barry nebUly Of six argent anu
sable showing that the wavy bands ny "nlcn n
the shield was crossed were alternately SILVER
and black He hai not been able 10 ascertain
70 what family these arms belonged put 'heie
was cut the inside OF the RING a hV''o
tBeando BeatiOr' which was ne Gatneleu - ~
he translated "In blessing thou shalt he hlessed.
SantaTs fancy was attracted by the ring ana as
the price asked 10y the 1ewelier was ny no ne
excessive he bought it forthwith. and WIN
Youthful fancy put IL on the third nrger OF MS
left hand which it fitted toeraby we'll
He had determined TO make the return Jour
NV from the University 20 his home horse
back this summer instead of by stagecoach as
was his custom; and as the distance from oA-
FORD to Minstcracrcs was long enough TO oc-
Cupy several days. he was 10 take WIN nun
riding servant to carry his mails. he lelt oN-
ford on the evening of June 80. 1916, and passed
no night at Woodstock l<dte Oh tllc dAtci
NOON of the Odd he found himself on the con
fnes 81 Warwickshire. and desiring to see laf-
fontine Abbey which lay little OH the man
road ne struck across the meadows 10 inc ruins.
but sent his servant forward 10 the village or
Winterbourne where an inn called the Bejant
Arms had been recommended TO nm as eoou
resting place for the night
The remains were sufficiently picturesque 20
induce him to make a pencil sketch OF tnein
for he was more than tolerabic draugh's-
man His picture engrossed his thoughts
that he paid little attention to the extreme
sultriress Of the air. or to the corlinuaI NUT
terings Of distant thunder, until heavy ram
drop fell on his paper. and he looked up TO see
Yhe sky behind him black with omnous 'huhoer
clouds - a
Though he found shelter in the ruins both FOR
himself and for his horse. two hours elapsed
before he ventured TO resume his journey |,
Was now after 10 o'clock. and the thunder ana
rain had ceased. but the rising wind swept
masses of cloud across the sky. and the nisht
was growing exceedingly dark Santa WdS
anxious to lose no time i'm pushing on 10 winter
bourne and took what he thought was snort
cut hack to the high road. but after quarter
of an hours riding found himself in miry image
fields and perceived that he had lost his pain
AS he picked his way carefully through the
darkness. he met with belated peasant VINO
nt first seemed alarmed and endeaNored 10 pass
on but on Santal speaking 70 him excused nm
self hv saving that il was st John s Eve. Wheh
spirits walked and that he had not known
what 10 think OF a horseman met III so lonely
md unusual a spot. lie told Santal that Win
ferhourne was still eight miles distant but
led him to a lane which would bring him direct
20 his destinations Santa gave him money and
set out at a brisk trot but he heard the man
shouting after him directions TO he very careful
in fording a brook which crossed the road Il
mile from Winterbourne.
After riding for three-quarters Of an hour he
eav wide sheet of water cleaning before hlm
and recognized in it the ford of which the man
had spoken But on coming TO the Drink ne
hes,tated 10 cross for the heavy rain had evi-
IDENTITY swollen the stream so that It had over
Moved its banks and was now crossing the ROAD
E1,g l,yal ~ az q q
Yas at least twenty Yards. and though Whle
posts had been placed on either side TO mark
the ford. they were in the middle almost en-
firelv covered
Glancing around in some doubt he saw on
the right hand. among trees the lights OF a
house. and turning his horse toward II de-
ternined to inquire there to the uelth Of the
water and Il he found il impossible TO ASK
shelter for the night. The lights were at no
great distance. and the undulatng turf. stud
ded at intervals with large tres. convinced
him that he was riding through park. though
he had noticed neither palins nor any other
Enclosure. The sky had grown a little lshter'
and he was soon able 10 make out against 1t
the huddcd outline Of a large house; but al
though he was certainly approaching the front
of it, he could not distinguish any road or
drive In moment more he pulled up before
projecting porch with archcd doorway in the
centre Of the house. and. dismounting. knocked
on the heavy OAK door with the butt OF MS rld-
ing whip.
His attention now engrossed by the be-
bavior of his horse Ever since entering the
excitement frequently stopping short starting
aside and making obstinate endeaVors to turn
back The butt Of Santars whip had scarcely
sounded on the door when II swung slowly open,
as II his coming had been awaited but at the
same moment his horse reared with such sud
denness as TO snap the rein and breaking loose
rushed madly away into the darkness In wheel
ing around the animal struck its master VITA
its flank and lung him violently 20 the ground.
For a moment Santal was stunned. but almost
Immediately gathering himself up ne saw stand
sng before him in the porch soDel-iaced man.
dressed entirely IN black and having the ap-
pearance Of q lackey. Santal was about TO ask
70 whom the house belonged and to beg that
d servant might be sent to look FOR the runaway
horse when the man. without speaking. turned
back into the house and beckcrod TO MN 10
follow.
On this invitation Santal entered. and noticed
that the hall was bare except for few OAK
Settles ard a quantity OF pixies. helmets anG
ermor which hung on the walls. The floor was
strewn with sprigs Of evergreen shrubs. anc
there a smell in the air Of rosin and spices
with which the trOddpn leaves mingled a pccul-
lar odor Following his conductor, he passed
through the corridor AMI entered lofty ban.
quoting hall or 1ininC-rOom. with large orlei
window opening 10 dais at the far end
Here were oaken tables on which were placed
trerchers Of various kinds Of cakes and fancy
bread cold meats tankards Of liquor and drink
ing cups. The room entirely empty, though
the tables showed that the company had but
recently left IT. and Santal surprised to see
that the ?anelled walls were fostooned at m
tervals with bunches OF black Grape Again ne
essayed 70 question his guide. but the man lett
the room saying that he would fetch his mis-
tress
A few moments elapsed. and then through
SIDE door, which opened on to the das. there
entered a very beautiful girl of eighteen or
nineteen years. She was tall in stature and her
bale face and red eyes showed signs Of recent
weeping Her dress Of Dure white SILK;
she wore lace stOmacher. and mass Of faxen
hair confined in a net Of heavy gold thread.
She walked straight toward Santal and said.
speaking in a low but clear and musical voice.
s'You are welcome. sir. to such hospitality as our
moor house can offer. You come at sorry
time and il is but sorry greeting that We
can give YOU. | pray YOU be seated and eat.
though these are but funeral meats: for we
are tomorrow to lay my poor fathers body
- q u III CnGaGel de-