Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-28

One or The students asked To- 20 ON
top, and Van Huyten. IL being too
uark Tor htm To read. came inside with
U.s. had chance TO scrutinIze him
wen His eyes were gray. dcep set
calm and dominating: nc wore a sandy
beard. carefully trimmed. and a curled
mustache. and his forehead was hroad
ahd high. most Intellectual looking
man. more philosopher than n travel
VI Tor some European house. as we had
slken him to be when we set out from
the railways station for this pIunre
into the interior OF the country "a re-
gion Innocent or all acquaintancc with
steam.
ne snort twilight Of the tropics grew
uln and the stars came out ono bv ono
'he brightest first. IN the huge dark
vault or the SKY. We were tired with
the long ride. and the coach going slow.
~, some of us slumbcrcd
The leather curtains had been Dulled
down. aud the air was warm and close
rs country people seem 20 liis. II. thei,.
ldea of felicity being L. i.r s,,r,t mn in
crowd all sitting. Suddenly was
awakened i'y current OF strangely
cold air; II was rs II breath from th.
polar rcEicus had penciiatct tbc IN.
terior OF the coach. lookrd to see II
curtain had been rolled Up %adar
Not an apcit'.rr 40 lct In Tho. brcoze
Ihen the plump canon. nrnusiny him.
self, Shi,".cd and turned his fac. .
htue bianchcd. towarL ne. could
make II out. FOR The bridegroom, was
smoking n cigarette close 10 hirl The
AR momrntaiily grew colder. one Inv
one the slcvpers awoke.
The coach. just creeping alop.,
swayed gently from side 10 side nna :,
was apparent That we were making
progress oNe' good bit OF smooth
road.
Nan Huytc@ clone was mapping His
face was just Scerniblc rs Soni.bodv
struck nintcl and thought hnd
never seen n noblcr cuuutcrarc,. thon
that or this man Of thought AMI SDir.
tual beauty. The cold air is very
strange. said the canon I'm low voice
The little bride shlvered. and her %
year-old husband put his Serap,. around
her. and she snugsicd up TO him. Ven
turita coughed as the cold reached her
lungs and was just saying. Il wonder
if change Is com when ut the rear
OF the stage were heard blows rs II
made with big hammers. We all start
ed. 1t seemed at first as If people had
shot into the back Of the stage. Van
Huyten slept on.
The student inside rolled up cur
tain and. putting his head out called
to his companion on the box:
81 say. Manuel. are you up 10 your
tricksY'
Marcelino leaned over the side aud
said: Poor muchachol He has been
asleep here half an hour. and have to
look out that he doesn't fall on IL is
dangerous. this going TO sleep up here
once ! had passenger fall of Just
about he
And then Marceino gave a cry: "Ho
ly mother, What's thatY"
All OF us who could put our heads
out. and what we saw we shall never
forget The mules were travelling along
enshrouded In a greenish light which
played I'm little flames from their har-
ness. and there seemed to be shadowy
horsemen. all a silvery gray, riding by
their sides With pistols drawn. We
We're fascinated. Our eyes bulged. We
could not believe our senses. The can
on. who had not looked out. cried. Let
me see" He was given room. and his
deep voice smote the night in wonder
and fear. lis the DEVILS work, The
saints protect U.S. Tonight andan los
espantos 0he ghosts walk. and 1t is
that red bearded heretic who has en-
chanted u.s."
Van Huyten slept like babe. Not
muscle moved. He was the picture OF
healthful manliness resting after many
fatigues His soul was In the uncon-
sclOus. / thought
Finally Marcelno could stand IL no
longer and with howl jumped from
the box. followed by the scared Indian
mule tormentor leaving The now
awakened student who had sense
enough to gather up the reins. The
mules then began TO be covered at ali
points. on the tips OF the ears. on the
name. along the spine. with tiny phoS-
phorescent looking specks OF light. The
phantom party Of hrigands. as they
looked. rode with us. and one OF them
came up TO the of window ana stuck
what seemed to be a pistol into the
coach. Venturita swooned quite away
and sagged down limply In her corner.
making u stertorous noise before she
went completely of. The little bride
also tainted most neatly and discreetIy.
and the bridegroom hair stood ON end.
The student on top whipped up the
mules. and we went off at canter. the
strange lights continuing around them
and the shadowy troop cantering by
our side.
The noise at the rear of the stage.
which we had forgotten in our agita-
ton. soon made Itself more evident.
and there was n crashing sound among
the trunks and painted boxes. | could
stand 1t no longer and poked Van Huy-
ten in the ribsI
He came to slowly and looked puz-
zled. We were all so plainly frighten-
ed. was plain that he had been far
from Us In his misd journey.
"Look out!' cried the bridegroom
"See these horrible things IL you
brought them to us. I'n'-
And the vounQ valiant Of Oh vao 80