Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-08
THE WEIR INN.

into larg 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 a springless gait that showed she
was almost "beat. And her rider. as
tired as she, looked anxiously 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,
and he was completely lost At the
crossroads he drew rein and looked for
a 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 endeavored
TO push her forward. Her rider was not
one to be mastered by an animal, and
he gave her the spur, wherein she res
pended by buck jump that nearly IN
seated him.
"She's more sense than you haven
saba voice from the hedge
The rider strained his eyes and could
just make out the form of a rugged man
sitting on the bank by the road side. So
dark were his clothes that they scare
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 shilling for
you"
"She's not frightened at me" said the
man, without stirring. "I'm no beggar,
and 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 sort of
hollow chuckle.
"Why do you think had better?"
asked the horseman. "And what is the |
mare afraid of? I never 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 huhchback,
IT was too dark to see his face plainly.
1.-THE road to the left" he said again,
with the same hollow chuckle, and then
began to walk briskly in the opposite
direction.
"Herel Hir' called the rider after him.
sWhat is there there to brighten
horse"
Blood" said voice already distant,
and cackling peal of laughter came
through the darkness. {
"a queer country this" said the rider,
and he turned into the road to the left {
The mare went like lamb, once her
head was averted from the ominous
patch OF fresh earth. Soon light glim- '
ner in the distance. and noise of fall c
ng water could be heard. T
There is the Weir inn after all" said r
he horseman to himself as he rode I'M i
Ter the swinging signboard. THAT lu
latic told me right so far"
II was long time before his vigorous Il
knocking brought lany one to the closed K
oor. When at last it opened, letting a
ood Of light into the wet darkness, the s.
ortal framed as in picture the form of n
beautiful woman. She was clad in n
lack from head to foot, and shawl of tC
;panish lace covered her head and Wig ="
cited her pale face in its dark folds. &c
he looked out into the road with the
-ightened expression of one who fears nj
/, see something not of this world The III
der took off his hat. "
"Can have supper and bed he -"
'ked, "and a feed for my horse' 1 have
st my way out hunting, and we are on
9TH dead beat am Captain Preston sti
the Royal artillery" bi
"You can have bed and supper" pc
i'd the woman in a monotonous voice, do
nut YOU must see to your horse your Ian
Il. am alone in the house"
The captain whistled softly to himself sat
d dismounting led the mare to the the
IDLE. His hostess stood with lantern an
light him as he rubbed the poor beast inc
wn and gave her a feed Of corn.
either the man nor the woman said tai
,rd. When he had finished his work roc
e glided back to the house, and he
lowed her through a wide hall, where gu'
wed oak benches we're ranged round IN
,le black with age, into room in mil
,ioh FIRE was burning and table was as {
- nth cold ,,iarnds Of ,,arin1ls kinds q Il