The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-17

possible, stopped and waited for me to
come up.
"Wha- do you mean," l inquired, as
soon as I reached him, "by attacking an
inoffensive traveller in this way? '
The man pushed back his bearskin cap
from his forehead, and regarded me for
moment with an odd mixture of embarass-
ment and wonder.
''May be Rugged to death by bars,
stranger" he calculated, eff 1 didn't
think you were sperit =
"a sperit p repeated, smiling in spite
of my indignation. "You must have a
curious idea of spirits. Pray, do spirits
travel around, in this country, in boots and
leggings, and armed with bowie knife and
pistols p
Can tsay as to that, returned my COM
panion, his countenance assuming its usual
expression Of careless good nature, ''never
having seen them. But there are those
that has, and they do say that that old
cabin is full of them | kin face any liv-
ing being, bars, wild cats, rattlesnakes and
injuns, | amt afeard of nary one of them.
But | tell you what it is, stranger,
wouldn't step my foot inter that there
cabin fur all the cattle in Suckerdom
What on arth were you doing thar
II was thinking of putting up there for
the night friend, for lack of more agree
able quarters. Do you know of any house,
hereabouts, where I could be better ac-
commodated p
'Should't wonder if I did, stranger,
and if you Il only just follow me and old
Bess, you'll find yourself thar afore you
know it, -
was pleased with this proposition, and
well acquainted with the pecularities of
Western manner and phraseology, had no
scruples in accepting it.
';What is the matter with the house
you were speaking OFF, | inquired, as we
rode along side by side. "And why was
it deserted p
''You must be a stranger in these parts
not to have heard of the haunted cabin on
the prairie, - returned the man giving me
scrutinizing look. "From the East, [
reckon p
"Not exactly; from New York. y
''Sho, now, you amt tho p he ex-
claimed, looking at me as if he had sud-
denly discovered an old friend. "Squar'
Dexter, my old woman's pop halls from
them parts The old man. Il be powerful
glad to see you. And he'll tell We stories
about that thar cabin heap better than |
kin; though I've heard it from his own lips
moren' hundred times. A right smart
critter is the s4usr'. He was a lawyer in
New York
we SoOu dIIlScu DIT Illc CdUlu. was
introduced to the "Squar;' - and after
supper he told the following story
at is now nearly ten years., said the
old man, after lighting the pipe that his
daughter dutifully brought him, "when
learning that my eldest daughter had mar
ried and settled down in these parts, set
out to pay her visit. [ had just come
from California, and had few thousand
dollars, in gold, with me, together with
some presents for Jane, here, whom | had
not seen since she was little girl. These
l slowed away in knapsack, in front of
me.
"When, as | supposed, near the end of
my journey, l came up against the cabin
you visited, then place of entertainment
for the few travellers journeying across the
prairie. I had no intention of remaining
there, but merely stopped to inquire how
far it was to my place of destination.
ITO my surprise and disappointment,
the landlord informed me that it was ten
miles further on. 1t was growing dark;
my horse was weary and so was [, and |
made up my mind that [ should have to
defer the remainder of my journey until
the next day.
"When l announced my intention OF
remaining to the landlord, who was stand
ing by my horse evidently awaiting my
decision, I noticed peculiar fash to his
eyes, instantly hidden by the dropping OF
the lids. As I observed him more closely
his countenance seemed familiar. rarely
forgot a face that had once seen, and L
was convinced that had met him before,
though I was unable to recall when or
where.
ssWith an alacrity unusual to western
landlords, who, with characteristic indie
pendence, generally leave travellers to shift
for themselves, my host took charge of my
horse. and | entered the house.
cts only occupant was woman about
thirty five, sitting motionless by the fire,
with folded hands and eyes bent steadfast-
ly upon the floor. There was something
so unearthly in her appearance that 1T al
most startled me. Her whole face, even
to her lips, was perfectly colorless; and the
effect of this unnatural pallor was height
ened by the jetty blackness of her eyes,
hair and lashes. She had the appearance
of one stunned by some mighty grief, or
CONCEALED into ice by some deed of horror.
GAS I approached the fire she raised