The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-03-13

thin, cold mist was falling, COndensing
into large drops OF the naked trees and
hedges and dripping thence upon the
muddy road. The mare was tired with
a hard days hunting and plodded along
with a springless gait that showed she
was almost cheat" And her rider, as
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,
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 aud reared when he endeavored
to push her forward. Her rider was not
one to he mastered by al animal, and
he gave her the spur, wherein she re-
sponded by a buck jump that nearly
unseated him.
"She's more sense than you havel''
said a 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 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 a shilling for
YOU
"She's not frightened at me-" said
the man, without stirring. "I'm no beg
gar, and l want nono 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 a
sort of hollow chuckle.
"Why do you think l had better?"
asked the horseman. "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 q
little, disclosing himself u h~unchback.
1t 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.
Here! Hil' called the rider after
him. what is there there to brighten a
horse?"
BLOOD, said a voice already dis
tant, and "a 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 ayerted from the ominous
patch of fresh earth. Soon a 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 un'
der the swinging signboard. THAT In
matte 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 O
food of light into the wet darkness, the
portal framed as in a picture the form
of a beautiful woman. She was clad il
black from head to foot, and a shawl Of
Spanish lace covered her head and vi
gnetted her pale face in its dark folds
She looked out into the road with tn,
frightened expression of one who fear
TO see something not of this world. Th'
rider took off his hat.
Can l have supper and a bed" h
asked, land a feed for my horse? | have
lost my way out hunting, and we ar
both dead beat. / am Captain Preston
of the Royal artillery"
"You can have a bed and supper,
said the woman in a monotonOus voice
but you must see to your horse your
self. l am alone in the house."
The captain whistled softly to him
self and dismounting led the mare t.
the stable. His hostess stood with
lantern to light him as he rubbed thu
poor beast down and gave her a feed o
corn. Neither the man nor the woman
said a word. When he had finished hi
work, she glided back to the house, anC
he followed her through a wide hal
where carved oak benches were ranged
round a table black with age into 1
room in which a fire was burning ant
a table was spread with cold viands q
various kinds. A large party had evi
IDENTIFY made a meal there not Ions
Dince. The woman began to clear away
the plates and dishes with great rapid
ity, and the man watched her with .
keen appreciation of the grace of he,
movements. Outside the roar of the wa
ter over the weir sounded like surf Oh {
rocky shore.
81 am not the first guest you have
had today" he said at last interroga
lively.
"No, you are not" she replied, rails
ing her eyes for a moment. Again ht
noticed the "haunted" look in her face
81 suppose your servants will soon b.
baok?' he asked.
"Tbey will never come back again, ;
she said slowly. This time she did no
raise her eyes at all.
"Your supper is ready" she contin
ned. Your room opens out of this
that door to the left. Not the right, re
member. If you want beer or wine, yo'
will find them in the bar and can hel,
yourself. Candles you have here. l wis.
you n quiet night" She moved towar
the door.
"But look here. Good heavens