Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-11-03
CHAPTER II.
THE SECOND HEARING

CHAI II.
TIE SECOND HEARING.
One summer evening | had fingered
longer than usual i'll my rocky re-
treat. l had laid half -reaming in
the mouth Of my cave, till the shad-
oyvs of evening had fallen. and ne
cleaning had deepened ha@Nway
toward the night. But the night had no
more terrors for me than the day. The
mountain rose before me huge mass
Of gloom: but its several peaks stood
out against the sky with clear, pure,
sharp outline and looked nearer to
me than the bulk from when they
rose heavenward. One star trembled
and throbbed upon the very tip of the
loftieSt. the central peak, which
seemed the spire Of mighty temple
where the light was worshiped-
crowned. therefore, in the darkness.
with the emblem Of the Jay. | was
living as | have said, with this fancy
still in my thought, when suddenly l
heard. clear. though faint and far
away. the sound rs Of the iron-shod
hoofs OF a horse, in furious gallop
along an ultNtu i''hS HhA A''N'- -
was more like q distant ecno than an
original sound 1t seemed to come
from the face Of the mountain, where
no horse. | knew, could 20 at that
speed. even if its rider courted GER
tain destruction There was n pecu-
liarity. too. in the sOund,-a certain
tiukIe. or cIank, which | fancied my
self able. by auricu!ar analysis. to
distinguish from the body Of the
sound \ tcrror-stran2c even to my
experience seized me. and | FASTENED
home. The sounds gradually died
away as | descended the Mill Could
they have been an echo from some
precipice of the mountainE | knew
Of no road lying so that, if horse
were galloping upon it, the sounds
would be reflected from the mountain
TO me.
The next day, IN one Of my rambles,
found myself near the cottage OF
my old fostcr-mother, who was dis
tantly related To us, and was n trusted
servant in the family at the time
was born. On the death Of my
mother, which took place almost i'm
mediately after my birth, she had
taken the entire charge Of me, aud
had brought me up, though with diff
Guilty; for she used to tell me,
should never be folk or fairy. For
some years she had lived alone in u
cottage, at the bottom Of deep green
circular hollow, upon which, In walk
ing over a healthy tableland, one came
with sudden surprise. | was her
frequent visitor. She was a tall
thin, aged woman, with eager eyes
and well-defned, clear-cut features.
Her voice was harsh, but with an
undertone Of great tenderness. She
was scrupulOusly careful In her at
tire, which was rather above her
station. Altogether, she had much
the bearing Of gentlcwoman. Her
devotion to me SvAs quite uothcrly.
Never having had any family Of her
own, although she had been the wife
OF one of my fathers shepherds, she
expended the whole maternity of her
nature upon me- She was always my
first resource In any pcrplcxity, for /
was sure OF all the help she could give
me. And as she had much Influence
with my father. who was rather Sc
we're In his notions, ] had had oc-
casiOn TO beg her interference. No
necessity Of this sort however, had
led to my visit on the present oc-
casion.
! ran down the side Of the basin,
and entered the little cottage Nurse
was seated on chair by the wall,
with her usual knitting, stocking,
In one hand, but her hands were mo-
tlonlcss, and her eyes wue open and
fixed knew that the nciGhbors
stood rather In awe of her, on tho
ground that she had the second sight;
but, although she often tOId us fright
full enough stories she had never al
luded 10 such n gift MS being in her
possession. Now ! concluncd at once
that she was seeing" I was con
nrmcd I'm this conclusion when, seem
ing 10 come 10 herself suddenly. she
covered her head With her plaid, and
sobbcd audIbly, in spite OF her efforts
TO command herself. But | aid not
dare to ask her any questions. nor
did she attempt any excuse for her
behavior. After few moments shq
unveiled herself, rose, and weIcomcd
me with her usual kindness; then got
me some rcfrcahmcnt, and began to
question me about matters mt home.
After n pause she said suddenly:
"Wbcn are you going 10 get your
commission, Duncan, do you know"
/ replied that | had heard nothing of
II; that ! did not think my father nad
Influence or money enough 10 procure
me one. and that ! feared | should
have no such good chance of dstin-
gushing myself. She dld not answer,
but nodded her head three times,
slowly, nnd with compressed lips. ap.
parcnty ~ much as 10 say: II know
better"
just as ! was leaving her # occurred
10 me TO mention that had heard an
odd sound the night before. She
turned toward me and looked al me
hxcdly. "What wns It like. Duncan.
my dcnrl'
Like horse gnlloping with loose
shoe" replied.
Duncan Duncan. my darling"
she said, In n low, trembling voice.
but with passionate carncalmcss. You
did not hear ~ Tell me that you dld
not h"nr ~ You only want to fright
en- poor old nurse! Some one has
been telling you the story"
1t was my turn to be frightened
now; for the matter became nt once
associated with my fears nH To- The
pOaBibl" nature Of my nuriculnr pc-
culinrltlcA. ! assured her that moth
ing WIS further from my intention
than to fri2htcn her: that, on he con.
trary, she had rather alarmed me; and
/ begged her 10 explain: but she sat
down, white ana trcmulng. aud did
not speak. Presently, however, she
ros" ngnin nnd saying II have known
II happen sometimes without anything
very bad following" bcgnn 10 put
away the basin and plate / had been
using, NJ If she would compel herself
to bc calm before me. renewed my
cntrcaticB for mn explanation. but
without avail She begged me 10 bc
content for n few days. ms she was 4.
quite unable 10 tell the story Mt prcs-
cnt She promised, however. Of ncr /
own accord, that before ! left home |
she would tell me nlI she knew.
The next day letter arrived. mn.
nounclng the death Of distant rcla. |