Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-03

a.
nights ceased to play over the mules.
He called TO the student who was
calmly driving 10 stop and we got out
Then the brave lad on the box had his
turn TO faint. and tumbled over into
our arms IL was 20 minutes before
he came 10 himself. We consulted to-
gether and II was agreed that the bride
groom who knew the road. should
drive. and when We had got the young
wife ~ taste some brandy she revived
end said that she would get up on the
box with him. Venturita was In sad
case. She was frightened out OF her
wits and. imagining that the fat &C
eiesiastic was her brother. began wildly
10 hug him. and would have kissed him
fairly but that he nobly drew away.
And so we logged on the strange
and starry night TO Etlac. where at
midnight we anghted at a miserable
meson- The people OF the Inn were
sOrely puzzled TO see no Narcelino OH
the box. We explained that the driver
and his boy had imagined that the
Stage had been attacked by brigands
and had Jumped down and run away.
This made the good people laugh. and
they said that they would make them
set up half dozen bottles OF teuuila
when they reappeared. as they were
sure 10 do before noon.
We unlashed the coverings at the
rear OF the stage. and sure enough our
trunks and boxes uhe latter In verse
plighu Were badly smashed and pre-
scented sO:gy sight. IL looard To be
the work or the ghosts of American
baggage handlers. Van Huyten had 10
mourn the destruction of fine micro
scope. which. with It's case. was pound
cd all TO pieces. II was a mitigating
circumstance. and the canon. who had
thought OF proposing TO lynch him. be
came compe Ssionate TO him.
AS usual there was nothing In the
meson 10 eat. and. being night. moth
ing 10 be had; so. with empty stom-
nchs. we sought our repOse (Oh. word
ironically on the rude pallets within
the small. tomblike rooms. Then
something not spiritual" arose In hosts
and smote us hip and thigh We
could hear Venturita employing elegant
Spanish ladies' oRths suitable 10 such
occasions. and the canon's voice rose
in anything but prayer. Van Huyten
and. getting In. lay down on a seat
and slept like a philosopher. The
canon also went out into the patio and
walked restlessly up and down till the
dawn. when he. too. betook himself
TO the interior OF the stage. which was
at least insectless.
Sure enough. by IL o'clock. we hav-
Ing meantime breakfasted on fraudu-
lent coffee. and some sourish bread and
tough tortillas, and therefore more at
peace with ourselves. Nhere arrived
Mnrcelino and HIS assistant, both
dazed. still a sickly yellowish pallor on
their cheeks. and with an appetite OF
all the demons. as the canon said.
They gathered from one OF the stu
dents that Van Huyten was suspected
and demanded OF him payment for the
broken boxes and the detention. saying
that they were responsible for the lug
gsge-the rogues! They asked me to
translate 10 him that he was liable to
be shot by the jefe politico. who lived
IN the next town along our road. who
was "a killer OF all wizards" Van
Huyten. who understood Spanish, re-
piled that he was not responsible, that
he could easily explain the matter.
Then he went on TO relate that, years
ago. a band OF robbers had infested
that road. that. after several years
OF immunity, they had been all caught
and shot at the point where the phan-
toms showed themselves. and that the
cause OF their appearing On that special
night he could not understand any
more than they. the only possible eI-
PLANTATION being that our good friend
the canon was In mortal SIM
The driver was satisfied and the peo-
pie OF the inn clapped their hands. say
Ing, When a padre has done wrorg,
and has not done penance. all sorts OF
evil things happen"
Hereupon the most excellent canon
turned pale. and his knees shook under
him. Its true" be said, that when
left Morelia ] took. without permits
sion, a silver mounted flask from q
brother canon. But really, must as
sure you. and by all the saints. that
Intended to send II back to him by ex-
press, II there was one in this accursed
and devil ridden region"
But our boxes, our shattered
boxesT queried venturita, who saw q
chance for damages and perhaps profit
by exalting the value OF her apparel
which was only mussed.
And my costly microscopeT' added
Van Huyten.
The canon lifted his hands TO heaven:
Il swear ] am a poor man AMI cannot
pay. You must all share In the tudg-
ment upon me. and as you are all OF
you sinners your participation in the
common loss Will inure to the good Of
your souls"
This cogent reasoning struck US as
just the sort OF augmentation solomon
might have employed. and We agreed
not TO prosecute the excellent man. and
to pray for his soul somewhat imperil-
ed by his borrowing without permis-
sion. the silver mounted brandy flask.
And so in calmer mind we left Etlac
for the other points on the road whith-
er We were bound. but l noticed that
Van Huyten slipped some silver dollars
into MarcelinoS hands. and that the
driver assumed the air OF a man with
whom all things went we'll He prom.
sod k,a el.aN