, 1896-12-22
THE WEI nm.

was uaIheulHS TdpluIy INTO night. a
thin, cold mist was falling, condensing
into large drops IN the naked trees and
hedges and dripping thence upon the
muddy road. The mare was tired with
a hard days bunting and plodded along
with a springless gait that showed she
was almost cheat" And her rider. rs
tired as she, looked a~nxiously about him
for a place of shelter ere darkness set
tied completely. The country was new
to him, the run had been a long one,
II he was completely lost. At the
crossroads he drew rein and looked for n
finger post, but found none, so there
was nothing for it but to ride straight
on. His steed thought otherwise. She
snorted and reared when he underworld
to push her forward. Her rider was not
one to be mastered by an animal, and
he gave her the spur, wherein she re-
sponded by IA buck jump that nearly
unseated him.
"She's more sense than you have!''
said a voice from the hedge.
The rider strained his eyes and conld
just make out the form of arugged man
sitting on the bank by the roadside. So
dark were his clothes that they scarce
showed at all against the black back
ground. and had he not spoken he
would certainly have escaped notice.
$50 it is you that the mare is fright
ened at!' said the rider impatiently.
"Come out of that and tell me the way
to the nearest inn. Here's u shilling for
you."
"She's not frightened at me-" said
the man, without stirring. I'm no beg
gar, and l want none of your shillings.
Take the road to the left, and you'll
come to a house before you have gone
half a mile, the Weir inn, they call it.
If you don't like the entertainment
there, you will have to ride another
eight miles. think you had better, if
you take my advice" And he gave IA
sort of hollow chuckle.
"Why do you think | had better?"
asked the horsemun. And what is the
mare afraid of? Inever saw her like this
before"
"She's afraid of that" said the man
in the hedge, pointing toward a spot in
the center of the crossroads where the
earth had been newly dug.
He rose slowly and came forward a
little, disclosing himself q h%unchback.
1t vas too dark to see his face plainly.
"The road to the left" he said again,
with the same hollow chuckle, and then
began to walk briskly in the opposite
direction.
"Here! Hip called the rider after
him. "What is there there to brighten u
horse?"
"Blood," said a voice already dis
tant, and a cackling peal of laughter
came back through the G.rkness.
"a queer country this, said the rid
er, and he turned into the road to tho
left.
The mare went like a lamb, once her
head was averted from the ominous
patch Of fresh earth. Soon light glim.
mered in the distance, and a noise of
falling water could be heard.
"There is the Weir inn after all" said
the horseman to himself as he rode I'M
der the swinging signboard. "That lu-
natio told me right so far"
1t was a long time before his vigorous
knocking brought any one to the closed
door. When at last it opened, letting a
food of light into the wet darkness, the
portal framed ms in n picture the form
of a beautiful She WAS clad in
black from head to foot, and "a shawl Of
Spanish lace covered her head ard vi
gnetted her pale face in its dark folds.
She looked out into the road with the
frightened expression of one who fears
to see something not of this world. The
rider took off his hat.
"Can l have supper and a bed. he
asked, land q feed for my horse? l have
lost my way out hunting, aud we are
both dead beat. I am Captain Preston
Of the Royal artillery"
"You can have u bed and supper"
said the woman in u monotonous voice,
but you must see to your horse your
self. / am alone in the house."
The captain whistled softly to him
self and ~dismounting led the mare to
the stable. His hostess stood with q
lantern to light him as he rubbed the
poor beast down and gave her "a feed Of
corn. Neither the man nor the woman
said a word. When he had finished his
work, she glided back to the house, and
he followed her through u wide hall
where carved oak benches were ranged
round a table black with g into a
room in which a fire vas burning and
4 table was spread with cold viands of
various kinds. A large party had evil
IDENTIFY made a meal there not long
since. The woman began to clear away
the plates and dishes with great rapid.
ity, and the man watched her with q
keen appreciation Of the grace of her
movements. Outside the roar of the wa
ter over the weir sounded like surf on a
rocky shore.
81 am rot the first guest you have
had todayr' he said at last interroga-
lively.
"No, you are not" she replied. rails
ing her eyes for d moment. Again he
noticed the ''baunted" look in her face.
81 suppose your servant will soon be
back!'' he asked.
'sTbey will never come back again."
she said slowly. This time she did not
raise her eyes at all.
"Your supper ia ready" she contin-
red. "Your room opens ont OF this