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


He called To the stui.ent who was
calmly driving to stop and we got out.
Then the brave lad on the box had his
turn TO faint. and tumbled over into
our arms. II was 20 minutes before
he came to himself We CONSULTED to-
gether and IL was agreed that the bride
groom who knew the road. should
drive. and when we had got the young
wife 10 taste some brand she revived
and said that she would let w on the
box with him. Veniurita was in sad
case. She WAS frightened out Of her
wits and. imagining that the fat &C.
eiesiastic WAS her brother. began wildly
TO hug MIN. and would have III. -cd him
iairiy but that hc nohiy drew away.
And 20 we io=g,i On ;hr strange
ana starry nigIt 10 Lilac. where at
midnight Ne alightcd AT miserable
meson The people OF tho inn were
sOrcly puzzled 90 see no AIars.rlino on
the box We explained ias; the driver
and his boy had imagined that the
stage had been attacked by 3ri2ands
and had jumped down aud run away.
This made the good people laugh. and
they SAID that they would make them
set up Il half dozen i.pti.rs OF teuuila
when they reappearVd. ds they were
sure TO do before uoun.
We unlashcd the COVERINGS AT the
rear OF the stage. and sure enough our
trunks and boxes tthe latter In worse
plight were badly smashed and pre-
sented soy Sigrt 1t looked 10 b..
the work "f the ghosts uf American
baggage handlers. Van Huyten had TO
mourn the destruction of a fine micro
scope. which. with it's case. was pound
cd ali TO pieces. II was a mitigating
circunStanc'.. ard the canon. who HAD
thought OF proposing To lynch him. he
Caple COMPASSIONATE TO him
As usual there was uothiuy in the
meson TO eat. and. being night. moth
Ing 20 bc had: 80. with "mp;y stom-
achS. we sought our repoSc toh. word
ironicall on the rude pallets within
the small. tomblike rooms. Then
something not spiritual arose in hosts
and smotc U> hip and thigh. We
could hear Ncnturita employing elegant
Spanish ladies' oaths suitable TO such
occasions. and the canon's voice rose
In anything but prayer. Van Huvten
arose and walked out To the coach.
and. getting i'm. lay down on a seat
ana sept Ike n philosopher. The
canon also went ont into the patio and
walked restleSsly Ip and down till the
dawn. when be. too, betook himself
TO the interior Of the stage W .iictI 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
Marcelino 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
gage-the rOgues, They asked me 10
translate TO 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
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 Sn ;hat special
night he could not understand any
more than they. the only possible ex-
planation being that our good friend
the canon was I'm mortal sin.
The driver was satisfied and the peo-
pie Of the inn clappcd their hands. say
ing, when a padre has done wrong,
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" he said. that when
1 left Morelia / took without permis-
sion. silver mounted flask from u
brother canon. But really. I must as
sure you, and by all the saints. that !
Intended TO send ii back TO him by ex-
press. If there was one in this accursed
and devil ridden region"
"But our boxes. our shattered
boxes?' queried Venturita. who saw a
chance for damages and perhaps profit
by exalting the value Of her apparel
which was only muSSed.
"And my costly microsc0peF" added
Ven Huyten,
The canon lifted his hands TO heaven:
L swear am poor man and cannot
pay You must all share In the judg-
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 somew hat imperil-
ed by his borrowing. without permIs-
sion. the silver mounted brandy iiask.
And 50 In calmer mind we left Etlac
Tor the other points on the road whith-
er we were bound. but | noticed that
Van Huyten slipped some silver dollars
into Marcelino'S hands. and that the
driver assumed the air OF man With