The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-04-20
Thirty Pieces Of Silver
The Night Adventure in the Highway
BY tosise Belts Edwards
TWO travellers in sober apparel, and

tAS oAiN ASAo VA viz OaNi' 90 40
as the eye could reach. Without them
the weird loneliness OF the November
landscape would have missed its last
touch of desolation; for the dripping
gray-green sedges, intersected with
sulky little streams, and ditches
which looked like faded grogram rib
bons with frayed edges, the sodden
road with it's deep ruts forming brown
ish-gray pools, and the leaden-gray
sky, against which the leafless branch
es Of the one pollard willow were ex-
tended-as though imploring respite
from further rainfall blended them
selves into somber background that
was wholly harmonious.
Only as the two horses, heavy with
mud laboriously climbed the steep, slip
perry hill, did the entrance of human
beings bring the element Of unrest in to
the scene.
You climb cautiously, sir" observed
the younger to the elder man, with a
Slight smile. Their difference in age
could be but that Of year or two.
The older traveller, clean-shaven,
firm-jawed man, of unmistakably
Scotch physiognomy, replied calmly:
81 am afraid"
The other-his name was Fitzroy-
suddenly reined in his horse. His COM
panion answered the amazed question
in his eyes.
'Of falling-have a care, sir, or you
will do it yourself. The mud is slippery;
my horse carries heavy load, and
have no mind for riding into town with
torn cloak or bespattered person"
"You are wise, sir" said Fitzroy.
THE merciful man is merciful to his
beast, his person and his garments.
1t hath been long years since valued
any of these, and, therefore, as you per-
ceive," noticing the other mans scru-
tiy, II have had many fall in the
mire."
"Tut! AS to that. we are both miry.
'ris these pestiferous roads after the
rains. The stable-boys at the Golden
Goblet shall scrape OFF some of it, when
we have dined."
Again Fitzroy's horse reared back
sharply, and again amazement stared
from his eyes. The Golden Goblet?
You are bound to dine there? Then
our ways part. sir; though am 10th to
leave pleasant company"
"But how now? in astonishment
equally blank. "Where else should we
dine. save at the inn? Pardon me, sir;
but your behavior is certainly most
strange"
A dull red had risen in Ftzroy's
cheeks. He gazed at the ground with
out answer.
"1f tits matter Of money" began
the other. In an altered tone.
"Ay, sir; you have touched thepoint.
Poverty is not vice, is it? or it could
not so readily shame us. My pockets
are empty, and have counted on the
charity Of some good cottage creature
for cup of milk and some bread and
cheese"
"Pray be my guest at the inn," said
the other man, with formal civility. He
was apparently as cautious of over
demonstration toward chance ac-
quaintance MS of climbing slippery hills.
but waxed more insistent at Fitzroy's
violent demur: "But wherefore not?
"Sir, YOU are most kind. But I would |
go with an empty stomach rather than
dine at the Golden Goblet. have an
ancient grudge-"
'But thought" cried his fellow
traveller, "you were strange In these |
parts? You said as much when we fell |
in with each other this morning. and |
YOU prayed me to point you the road to
Durham"
"But doth a road run one way only?"
Fitzroy asked, sudden sparkle of |
mirth in his eyes, as quickly extin-
guished. "As | remember the Golden |
Goblet, it stands at crossing, and some
it from the east, some from
the west. Nay, sir-I have not yet |
learned your name. l cannot and will |
not enter that inn, and it is spending
breath to ask mewherefore. Perchance
the landlord hath cheated me-or have
cheated the landlord; perchance I hap
pened to kiss the barmaid. Sir, I am
sorry, but I will not 60. see cottage
in the distance; l am confident the good |
dame there will give us food. and even
a nights lodging"
"Why. how know you that there
Is dame, and that her hospitality Is so
free?"
Il do not know" said Fitzroy, with a
slight contraction Of the brows. "I can
clearly see, however, you fear to trust
in the company of n man who
acknowledges himself penniless, even
family contemptu-
ous glance at the other mans holsters
you carry arms and he does not.
You are right, sir; the country is lone
y, there are rumors of highwaymen.
md you never saw me before this
morning. Let us part ways-you to
'our inn, and to my good dame, or
master, or whomever Imay find. Good
lay, sir"
Good Duncan McDougall, kirk officer