The Cairo bulletin., 1905-12-25
"A NE w YEAR
HDVENTVRE
[OrIglnall

tOrlginall
II was the first day Of the year The
wind was blowing icy cold, driving the
snow into drifts. A dead leaf here and
there dancing on a naked branch was
all that was left to remind one of the
verdure that had once covered the land
scape.
A traveller on horseback was making
his way through the snow, yainly en-
deavoring to keep his cloak wrapped
about him, the wind struggling equally
TO tear Ii from him. He was looking
about him for a place Of shelter for
the days were short ana the sun had
just set at half past 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon Coming 10 an imposing
house standing in large grounds far
back from the road, he turned his
horses head between two pillars and
entered He had trayersed but half
the distance to thg house when the
front door opened aud a man stepped
ont whose rapier feaihnrcd hat ud
broad lace collar betokonCd cavalier.
Descending the steps, he quickly came
on between the great trees that lined
the way as if bent Oh some errand of
importance. As he approached the
traveller he scarcely seemed TO notice
him
The latter drew rein and said.
"A happy New Year to you, sir"
The man stopped, glared, half drew
his rapier, replaced 1t and was passing
ON when the stranger added:
"Can | get shelter in yonder housep'
There is no one there except wo-
man, and she has not been used to
waiting even on herself"
Where are the menY
zone Of them is before you: the other
well, the other was one too many, and
he has gone away"
You. speak In riddles, sir. Do yon
think the woman, or rather the lady,
will be obliged TO remain the night
alone?'
''Mayhap she will.
POSSIBLY then she may be glad OF
the protection even OF stranger"
You had best go ON and find ont for
yourself"
He showed no disposition to further
converse and passed on, the stranger
continuing his journey toward the
house. On reaching the porch he threw
the rens on his horses neck, and in an-
other moment loud rap on the knock
III mn n
piled to his summons, and he knocked
again and again, still with no reply.
He turned and looked at the dying
snow. shvered and, turning again.
tried the door. 1t was unfastened. En-
tering he passed through broad han
and was about TO 20 M the winding
staircase when in one of the rooms he
saw woman sitting at a table, her
head resting in her hands, her elbows
on the table Surely the man she had
met was right She was n lady and
one endowed with a refined beauty.
She looked straight before her and
seemed no more interested in the stran-
GER than the other had been.
Madam" he said.
She did not turn her eyes, and he
tried again TO secure her attention.
Madam, crave your pardon for en-
terlng unannounced. | am weary
treveler and would gladly rest for the
night under your roof | met a gentle
man without who told me you were
alone. May not serve as PROTECTOR
The woman now for the first time mo-
ticed him. Turning her eyes slowly
upon him, she said.
You are welcome TO stay here, but
not as my protector. shall need no
protector"
Whether she forgot his presence or
not. she paid no further attention to
him. He began TO think that he had
stumbled Oh haunted house; that the
man he had met and this woman were
not flesh and blood. but the wraiths Of
deuhrted occupants of what was now a
deserted house. However, having re
ceigcd permission 10 remain overnight
he went out and stabbed his horse. Civ
ing him a feed then. returning to the
house. went to the kitchen, where be
found sufficient cooked food to furnish
him "a supper Having eaten, he went
again 10 the room where The lady had
been sitting. She was not there.
4 fire was ready on the hearth. and,
taking the flint from the mantel. the
traveller put sparks to it, then lighted a
lamp and sat down at the table. There
were books on It. and be tried to read,
but wonder prevented, and somehow
he wished the lady. be she ghost or
flesh. would relieve his loneliness. Then
he fell to thinking what had become OF
her
Might she not be off her head.
and II so she should not be left alonei
He resolved to 60 and seek her. Tax
ing a candle. he went through all the
rooms on the ground floor and. not
finding her. mounted the staircase. On
reaching the floor above he called;
Madam
The only answer was in his imagina-
ton. which created myriads or re
sponscs. He would have turned and
retraced his steps. but wonder spurred
him on. He explored one bedroom aft
er another and at last came TO one in
which his dim candle showed bin q