The Republican., 1899-04-06
Thirty Pieces Of Silver
The Night Adventure in the Highway
BY Louise Bems Edwards

lduuSCdpe NOulu nave IllSStu us last
touch of desolation; for the dripping,
gray-green sedges, intersected with
sulky little streams, and bitches,
which looked like faded grogram rib
bons with frsyed edges, the sodden
road with its deep ruts forming brown
ish-gray pools, and the leaden-gray
sky, against which the leafiess 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 into
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 refined 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 isslippery;
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, 81 have had many fall III the
mire."
Tut! AS to that, we are both miry
"Tis 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 l 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 Fitzroys
cheeks. He gazed at the ground with
out answer.
''If It's a matter of money" began
the other. in an altered tone.
'Ay sir; you have touched the point
Poverty is not a 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 a chance ac-
quaintance as of climbing slippery hills,
but waXed more insistent at Fitzroy's
violent demur: but wherefore not?
OH y Ou al ( IIOSl hIllN Dul L NOuIu
go with an empty stomach rather than
dine at the Golden Goblet. l have an
ancient grudge-''
''But l 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 road run one way only?"
Fitzroy asked, a sudden sparkle of
mirth in his eyes, as quickly extin-
guished. 'As | remember the Golden
Goblet, it stands at a crossing, and some
approach it from the east. some from
the west. Nay. sir-I have not vet
learned your name. I cannot and will
not enter that inn, and it is spending
breath to ask me wherefore. Perchance
The landlord hath cheated me-or have
cheated the landlord; perchance hap
pened to kiss the barmaid. Sir. | am
sorry, but | will not go. see a cottage
in the distance; 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?'
II do not know" said Fitzroy. with a.
slight contraction of the brows. II car
clearly see, however. you fear to trust
yourself in the company of a man who
acknowledges himself penniless. even
though a family contemptu-
Gus glance at the other mans holsters
you carry arms and he does not.
You are right, sir; the country is lone
1y, there are rumors of highwaymen.
and you never saw me before this
morning. Let us part ways-you to
your inn, and l to my good dame, or
master, or whomever may find. Good
day, sir"
Good Duncan McDougall, kirk officer
of Ballantyne Parish. and canniest of
Scots, thoughtfully watched him spur
his horse up another of the steep.
muddy little hills, with the stumbling
haste of an angry schoClboy. Society
on the ROAD was pleasant-but per
chance dangerous pleasure, when Won
know net with whom You were riding.
and when your saddle-bags held forty
pounds Scots, in good gold. to buy
set OF communion silver for the Ballan-