The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-12-24

The twilight of a November evening
was darkening rapidly into night. A
thin, cold mist was falling, condensing
into large drops on the naked trees and
hedges and dripping thence upon the
muddy road. The mare was tired with
hard days hunting and plodded along
with springless gait that showed she
was almost beat " And her rider. as
tired as she, looked anxiously about him
for place of shelter ere darkness set
tied completely. The country was new
to him, the run had been a long one,
and he was completely lost At the
crossroads he drew rein and looked for q
finger post, but found none, so there
was nothing for it but to ride straigh
on. His steed thought otherwise. She
snorted and reared when he endeavored
/ to push her forward Her rider was not
one to be mastered 10y an animal, and
he gave her the spur, wherein she re-
sponded by 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 could
| just make out the form of rugged man
sitting on the bank by the roadside. So
! dark We're his clothes that they scarce
showed at all against the black back
ground and bad he net spoken he
would certainly have escaped notice.
$50 it is you that the mare is fright.
! ened att" said the rider impatientlv.
4 Come out of that and tell me the wav
/ to tie nearest inn. Here's a shilling for
you. =
"Shes net frightened at Inc. y said
the man, without stirring. 'Im no beg.
gar. and want none of your shillings.
Take the road to the left, and you'll
come to house before you have gone
half a mile, the Weir inn. they call if.
If Won don't like the entertainment
! there Won viii have to ride another
eight miles. think Won had hotter if
you take nv advice. " And he gave a
sort Of hollow churkle
"Whv do Won think had better?''
asked tba horseman And What i the
mare afraid eff Iueypr saw her like This
before"
=
in the hedge. paintiug toward n snot in
the center of the crossroads where the
earth had been newly dug.
He rose slowly and came forward
little. disclosing himself a hunehbacl,
1t was too dark to see his face plainlv.
Tho road to tho left. = he said again
with the Same hollow chucl,le. and then
began TO walk brislIy in the onposjte
direction.
"Herel Hil' called the rider after
him. "What is there there to friphten a
horse?"
"Blood. said a voice already dis
tant. and cackling peal Of laughter
came back through the darkness.
"a queer country this" said the rid
er, and he turned into the road to the
left.
The mare went like a lamb, once her
head was averted from the ominous
patch of fresh earth Soon II light glim.
mered in the distance, and noise of
falling water could be heard
'Thero is the Weir inn after all, " said
the horseman to himself as he rode I'M
der the swinging signboard. "That lu-
matte told me right so far. "
1t Was 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 as in q picture the form
of beautiful woman. She was clad in
black from head to foot. and "a shawl of
Snanish Iaco covprpd bpr bond aud vi.