Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-07-29
AUNT RILL's RIDE.

that was passing on the sidewalks be-
low. Seems as II We ought to be pop
ping corn or pulling candy. Or"
"Or telling nice. creepy, shiyery |
stories" piped in Warren. Il tell you.
I'D just like TO hear a real ghostly one
the kind that makes you afraid 70 20
TO bed. for fear something II catch
hold Of your feet when you jump In"
Aunt Rill smiled
Il can't tell ghost stories" she said,
because don't believe In ghosts. But
not more than ten minutes ago | was
thinking OF something that happened
when ! was a girl.
How Jolly meet" said Warren,
smothering a little whoop OF hilariiy.
while Clover lost interest in the UNI
brella procession and curled up In
Aunt Rllfs arms--a way that girls
have when creepy" tales are told.
1T was before the war. that Is. the
war OF the SOS. my dears," Aunt Rill
began, ''and I was a young woman.
barely 20 years OLD Then we didn't
have so many theaters and places OF
amusement as you have now. and con-
certs we're quite In vogue. As | had a
good voice and my brother John-yOur
uncle, my dears. who died before you
we're bOrn-played the violin with
considerable ability. we often helped
10 hll up the programme al concerts
and entertainments In the small towns
near the city where we iiyed-Roches-
ter. New York state. Uncle John was
ten years older than /. and totally
blind. When he played every breath
was stilled, and the people listened a.
n It were heavenly music that he drew
from the strings Of his fiddle After
awhile we made up little programme
Of our own and spent most OF our time
going from one town TO another.
One night Just before a concert We
got letter saying that We were want
ed In another town the following even
ing We we're perplexed. Trains
didn't run so frequently as they 90
now. and the only way to get 10 that
/ town was for us 90 reach Rochester
/ before 6 o'clock the next morning.
We talked Il All over. We didn't
want TO miss the concert. because they
/ we're counting on our being there and
/ for the reason that We needed the
money. After the last song was finish
ed and we had put on our things broth
or John said: Sister Rlll. would you
| be afraid II we we're 20 drive In TO
| the three OF Us went inside and hud-
| died about the stove. We we're sur
Z prlscd 20 hnd no one In the big. bleak
room but a boy about 10 years old. lie
seemed very nice and told u.s. 10 ST.
down You can imagine We we're glad
TO do so, and We took the chairs that
he drew up for Ms with a feeling oi
glowing gratitude. Just then we
heard a little whistle auri the boy hur.
ried out Of the room. That struck
me as being strange and ! suddenly
began to feel a nervous dread-as II
we we're unsafe. In a moment the boy
was back, bringing with him three
glasses OF wine on a little plate.
Don't touch II beg OF you
whispered to the boy driver.
But I'm nearly frozen, he answer
ed
"'No, No! You mustn't insist
ed. and he did not.
The boy with the wine seemed
quite put out because We refused u
lie asked us where We we're going an,
how long We would stay. and then thu
little whistle was sounded again an,
out he went. lie was scarcely be
You'd the door when / clutched brothe
Johns hand and motionlng 10 on
driver. said quickly: Come! Hurry
Hurry ! know we're not safe here!
we ran out OF the room and wer
not a moment too soon. As We climb
ed into the sleigh We heard excite
: voices and saw dark figures runnin
from around the corners OF the house
, We lashed the horses and they tore OF
like mad. seeming also to realize tha
We were In danger. Luckily 10 wa
down grade. for they came after us
half a dozen dangerous, desperat
q Rochester to-nightT
e Not a biz In the world ! answer
Z ed, for / was young and plucky. m
dears. and nothing seemed terrifyln
p 10 me then.
so we bundled up well and / tucl
ed an the money We had got for 0u
work In the linlng OF my bodice.
= was an hour or more before We fOun
G any one willing TO undertake the Ion
. cold night drive. but we 40 last i0uu
e % boy OF 10 who said he wasn't afraI
n OF anything. lie had Two good, stol
horses. and just at midnight We star
d, ed out ON our Eve hours drive.
1T was bitterly cold. There was
little scuuyIng OF hne snow. aud q
q chill. penetrating winds from Lal
T. Ontario were blowing a gale. III
ie horses plodded along with that stol
d heroism that horses have. shaking a
y, snow from their names and breastli
the cutting blasts. For more thi
4. two hours we continued that way, d
our fingers and feet were numb and o
checks felt tight and smooth like Il
cold faces OF china dolls. Then \
n spled light on the right Of the rOa
I'd As we came up 10 II saw that Il "
IS, an inn. and there was big glOwil
FIRE inside. We knew that we Cou
H. not stop long. but a moments warm
ns would be a blessing Just then.
did not tie the horses, instead,
brought them close 10 the porch. und
lie the protection OF H. projecting cav
"a. II led brother John by the hand a
m men. firing guns and commanding
90 stop. We dashed into an Old-fas
i'm toned covered bridge with the crowd
~ them In pursuit like a pack Of rave
Gus wolves. Beyond the bridge was
az second steep grade. Here they ga
rs mp the chase and I hreathed a pray
OF Thanksgiving when We had ~