Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-08
THE BROWN MAN.

Munster lived lone woman named
Guare. She had a beautiful girl,
daughter, named Nora. Their cabin
was the only one within three miles
round them every way. AS to their
mode Of living, it was simple enough,
for all they had was one little garden
Of white cabbage, and they had eaten
that down to a few heads between
them-a sorry prospect in place
where even handful of prishoc weed
was not 70 be had without sowing it.
1t was very fine morning in those
parts, for it was only showing and
hailing, when Nora and her mother
were sitting at the door of their little
cottage and laying out plans for the
next days dinner. On a sudden
strange horseman RODE up to the door
He was strange in more ways than, one.
He was dressed in brown, his boots
were brown, he rode a brown horse,
and he was followed by brown dog.
I'm come to marry you, Nora
Guare," said the Brown Man.
AK my mother fusht, if you plaise,
sir" said Nora, dropping him a
curtsey.
You'll not refuse, ma'am," said the
Brown Man to the old mother; L have
money enough, and I'll make your
daughter lady, with servants at her
call and all manner of fine doings about
her." And so saying, he flung purse
Of gold into the widows lap.
why, then, the heavens speed you
and her together; take her away with
you and make much of her" said the
old mother, quite bewildered with ali
the money.
"Agh. agh." said the Brown Man, as
he placed her on his horse behind him
without more ado. Are you all ready
now pr -, ----~f->
Il am" said the BRIDE Inc morse
snorted and the dog barked, ano s Illost
before the word was out Of her noun.
thew were whisked away out or sight.
After travelling a day and night, fas-
fer than the wind itself, the Brown
Man pulled up his horse in the middle
of the Mangerton Mountain, in one OF
the most lonesome places that eye ever
| looked on.
Here is my estate" said the Brown
Man. -
anthem, is it this wild bog you call
an estate?" said the bride. -,
Come in, wife; this is my place,
said the bridegroom.
What! a clay howell, worse than my
mother's!"
They dismounted, and the horse and
the dog disappeared in an instant WIN
a horrible noise, which the girl ola not
know whether to call snorting' parking
or laughing. , 49, prowr
Mon. IF so, there is your dinner,
"a handful of raw white eyes and a
grain of salt" - pouo e
And when you are sleepy here Is
vour he'd" he continued, pointing 70 a
iittIa straw in a corner, at sight Oh
which Nora's limbs shivered ana lrenl,
bled again. 1t may be easily supposed
that she did not make very nearly
dinner that evening, nor did her nus
Tn the dead of the night, when the
clock of Mucruss Abbey had just
toIled one a low neighing at the door
and soft barking at the WINDOW
y,-era hoard Nora feigned sleep. Inc
,srown Man passed his hand over her
ayee and face. She snored: I'm COM
ING" said he, and he arose gently
from her side. In half an hour atter
Che felt him by her side again. he
was cold as ice.
The next night the same SUMMONS ions
came. The Brown Man rose Inc
wife feigned sleep. He returned, coid'
The morning came.
The next night came. The bell toll
ed at Mucruss and was heard across
the lake. The Brown Man rose again
and passed a light before the eyes or
the feigning sleeper. None slumDer
so sound as they who will not wake.
Her heart trembled, but her frame
was quiet and firm. A voice at the
door summoned the husband.
You are very long coming. The
earth is tossed up and l am hungry:
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! if you would
not lose ALL"
Pm coming" said the Brown Man.
Nora rose and followed instantly. She
beheld him at a distance winding
through a lane of frost-nipped sallow
trees He often paused and looked
back. and once or twice retraced his
steps to within few yards OF the
tree behind which she had shrunk.
The moonlight, cutting the shadow
close and dark about her, afforded
the best concealment. He again pro-
ceeded. and she followed. In a few
minutes they reached the old Abbey
of Mucruss. With a sickening heart
she saw him enter the church yard.
The wind rushed through the huge
view trees and startled her, She mus
tered courage enough, however, TO
reach the gate Of the church yard and
look in. The Brown Man, the horse
and the dog were there, seated by an
open grave eating something, and
glancing their brown, fiery eyes about
in every direction. The moonlight
shone full on them and her. Looking
down toward her shadow on the
earth. she started with horror to OBJ
serve il move, although she herself
was perfectly still. 1t waved its black
arms and motioned her back. What
the feasters said she understood not,
but she seemed still fixed in the spot.
She looked once more on her shadow;
it raised one hand and pointed the
way to the lane; then slowly rising
from the ground and confronting her,
it walked rapidly OF in that direc-
ton. She followed as quickly as
might be.
She was scarcely in her straw when
the door creaked behind and her hus-
band entered. He lay down by her
side and started.
.Ufi .Uf' said she. pretending to be