The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-01
"Have ye q too high a stomach to lie

l am to be kept for the mares sake,
but not admitted TO the house, and
said aloud that l could put up with a
straw bed.
Because there's tie stable loft ut
your service. AS ye hea!' tand, in
fact, the singing still went on only
now ! heard a mans voice joining in
the catch our house is full Of ccm-
parry. But straw is clean bedding, and
the mare I'll help to put in stall"
Agreed" l said, ION Il condition
that you send out n maid to me with a
cup Of mulled sack. for this cold eats
ne alive"
TO this be consented, and, stepping
back into a side room with the other
fellow, returned il n minute alone. and
CARRYING n lantern which, in spite of
the moon, was needed to guide q
stranger across that ruinous yard. The
flare, as we picked our way along. fell
for a moment on an open cart shed.
and within. on the gilt panels of q
coach that I recognized. In the stable
that stood at the far end of the court,
1 was surprised to find half a dozen
horses standing, ready saGdled. and
munchins their fill of oats. They were
ungroomed, and one or two in q father
of sweat that on such a night was hard
TO account for.
But / asked TO questions, and my
companion ~voushsafed no talk, though
twice l caught him regarding me curl
ously as I unbridlcd the mare in the
only vacant stall. Not q word pass'd
as he took the lantern off the peg
again. and led the way up a ram
sha ckle ladder to the loft above. Ee
was a fat, numbering fellow, and mace
the old timbers creak. At the top he
set down the light, and pointed to a
heap Of straw in the C"rner.
"Yon's your bed" he growled; ard
before l could answer, was picking
his way down the ladder again.
l look'd about and shiver'd. The
caves Of my bedchamber We're scarce
on speaking terms with the walls, and
trough a score of crannies at least the
wind poured and whistled, so that
after shifting my truss Of straw n
dozen times I found myself still the
centre of a whirl Of draught. The
candle-fame, too, was puffed this way
and that inside the horn sheath. ] was
losing patience when l heard the foot
steps below; the ladder creak'd, ard
tie red hair and broad shoulders of a
chambermaid rose into view. She car
ried a steaming mug in her hand, and
mutter'd all the while in 10 very choice
talk.
The werch had a kind face, tho;
and a pair Of eyes that did her more
credit than her tongue.
And what's TO be my reward for
this, l want TO know" she painted out,
resting her lett palm on her hip.
why. a great or two said l, when
il comes to tie reckoning.
"Lud.' she cried, what a dull young
man.
"Duil?"
"Aye-to make me ask for 4 Elss IN
so many words" and with the back of
ncr left land she wiped her mouth for
it frankly. while she he'd out the mug
in Eer right.
CHI" said. 81 beg your pardon, hut
nv wits arc frozen up. l think. There's
two, fer interest; and another if you
tell me whom your master cntertains
tonight. that l must be content With
this crib"
Size took the kisses with comrosurc
and said
"Ncll-to begin. there's the gentle
folk that came this afternoon win
their " carriage and h~eatheniSb
French servant; 4 cranky old grandee
and 4 daughter with more airs than 4
peacock; Sir Something-or-other Kill
gew-Lord bless the boy!
For l had dropp'd the mug and split
the lot sack all about the straw.
where it trickled away with a fraG-
rance r~enroachfully delicious.
"Now l beg your pardon a hundred
times; but the chill is in my bones
worse than the ague;;' and budding
my shoulders up, l counterfeitel o
shivering fit with 4 truthfulness that
SURPRISED myself.
Poor lad"
And it's first hot and then Geld all
down my spine"
"Tnere, now"
And goose flesh and flushes all
owe my body.
Dear h~eart-and to pass the night
in this grave Of 4 place"
And by morning 1 shall be in a
high fever; ard oh! feel l shall die
Of it."
tTo be continued.)