The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-25
THF STRANGE EXPERIENCE OF ALKAL| DICK
BY BRETsHARTE.
cartwright, 1897, by Bret Harte. }

. road and that the sun was sinking, con-
contracted his scattered faculties. The
nrospect of sleeping out in that summer
woodland was nothing to the pioneer
bred Dick: he could make himself and
his horse comfortable anywhere, but
no was delaying his arrival at Havre. He
must regain the high road, or some way
side inn. He glanced around him. The
western sun was a guide for his gem
eral direction; the road must follow it
north or south: he would find a clear
ing somewhere. But here Dick was
mistaken: there seemed no interruption
of. nor encroachment upon, this sylvan
tract, as in his own western woods.
There was no track nor trail to be found;
he missed even the ordinary woodland
signs that denoted the path of animals
to water, for the park, from the time Il
Norman duke had first alienated from
the virgin forest, had been rigidly pre-
served.
Suddenly. rising APPARENTLY from the
ground before him, he saw the high roof
ridges and tourelles of a long irregular,
gloomy building. A few steps further
showed him that it lay in a cup-like de-
preston of the forest, and that it was
still long descent from where he had
erng darkness. His mustang was NOV
ing with great difficulty; he uncoiled his
lariat from the saddle-horn, and, select
ing the most open space, tied one end to
the trunk of a large tree-the 40 feet of
horsehair rope giving the animal suftl-
Gent degree of grazing freedom. Then
he strobe more quickly down the forest
side towards the building which now re-
.A.n flnI1 OH
Dick could see that they were mitigated
by a strange formal flower garden, with
Quaint statues and fountains. There were
grim black allees of clipped trees curl
lously wrought iron gate, and twisted iron
Iespaliers. On one side the edifce was
supported by a great stone terrace which
! seemed to him as broad as a Partisan
! boulevard. Yet everywhere it appeared
sleeping in the desertion and silence of
the summer twilight. The evening breeze
Iswayed the lace curtains at the tall Win
! dows. but nothing else moved. To the
unsophisticated western man, it looked
like a scene on the stage.
/ His progress was, however, presently
checked by the first sign of preservation
I he had met in the forest-a thick hedge,
which interfered between him and slop-
ing down beyond. 1t was up to his waist,
1 but he began to break his way through
it, when suddenly he was arrested by the
sound of voices. Before him on the lawn
q man and woman, evidently servants,
were slowly advancing, peering into the
shadows on the wood which he had just
left. He could not understand what they
were saying, but he was about to speak
and indicate his desire to find the road
/ by signs, when the woman, turning TO
speak to her companion, caught sight OF
| his face and shoulders above the hedge.
To his surprise and CONSERVATION, he
saw the color drop out of her fresh
cheeks; her round eyes fix in their sockets
and with despairing Shrek, she turned
and fed toward the house. The man
turned at his companions cry, gave the
same Mortified glance at Dicks face, ut
tered a hoanse ''Sacre!' crossed himself
violently and fed also.