Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02

Up at lis windows. Standing under a
tree On the opposite side of the ave.
nue., ! cav a rnsn come out Of the door
and walk away hurriedly with long
strides. I mot hin. Mt the next corner.
Good evening" he said.
reeognzst then the voice and fig.
uyc u J MIN Trumbul,.
"Eecn TO Euliey's." said he.
"How Ia Hope?" I asked.
: Setter" said he. "Walk with me?"
with pleasure" said I. And then
be quickened his pace.
we walked awhile in silence. goins
90 fast 7 had hardly time to speak, and
che darkness deepened into night. We
hurried along through streets and nj
legs that were hut dimiy lighted. com.
sing ont at length on a wide avenue
passing through open fields IN the up
per part Of the city. Lights in cabin
windows glowed on the bills around
MS. I made some remark about them.
but he did not hear me. He slackened
pace in a moment and began whisper
ing to himself. l could not hear what
he said. I thought OF bidding him
good night and returning. but where
were we, and how could find my
way?
We heard n horse coming presently
ut a gallop. At the first loud whack
Of the hoofs he turned suddenly and,
laying hold Of my arm, began to run
! followed him into the darkness Of tie
open field. II ave me n spell o. rare
>--.- D.. .
highwaymen. having ranG so much Of
them in the Tribune. lie stopped sud-
denly and stopped low. his hands
touching the grass. and neither spoke
until the horse had gone well beyond
as. Then he rose stealthily and looked
about him in silence, even turning his
face to the dark sky. where only a few
stars were visible.
We'll" said he, with a gtunt. beats
ehe devil. thought it was
A wonderful thing was happening in
the sky. A great double moon seemed
20 be flying over the city hooded in
purple haze. 4 little spray IF silver
light broke out OF it as we looked, and
obct backward and thcn hoated after
<he two shining disks that were falling
eastward in q long curve. They seemed
70 he SO near I thought they were com
Ing down upon the city. 1t occurred 10
me they must have some connection
with the odd experience | had gone
through. In a moment they had passed
out Of sight. We We're not aware that
we had witnessed n spectacle the like
OF which had not been seer in centu-
tl.s, II ever, since Coo made the heav.
<ns-the great meteor Of 1850.
Lets 70 back" said Trunbull. 1--WE
came too far. ] forgot myself"
dangerous Lerc:' | inquired.
Not at all" said he. but a long
way out of town. Tired"
Rather" ! said. grateful for his evil
uent desire 10 quiet my alarm.
Come said he rs we came back to
fhe pavement, his hand upon my shou.-
der. Talk to me. Tell me-what are
Tou going to do
We walked slowly down the deserted
avenue, l meanwhile talking OF INV
plans.
"You love Hope" he said presently.
"You will marry herr
III she will la We me- said l.
You must wait" he said. "Time
Enough"
He %qnickened his pace again as we
zane in sight of the scattering shops
Ind house of the upper city, and no
pther word was spoken. On the cor
hers we saw men looking nto the sky
Ind talking of the fallen moon. 1t
was late bedtime when we turned in
30 Gramercy park.
Come ill.," said he as he opened an
Iron gate.
l followed him up a marble stair
way, aud a doddering old English but
Ser opened the door for us. We en-
tered n fine half, its floor Of beautiful
parQuetry unified with Silken rugs.
High and spacious rooms were all
hglow with light.
He conducted mo to n large smoking
room. its floor and walls covered with
trOphies Of the hunt-antiers and the
skins of carnivora. Here he threw
rs he lay down upon a wicker divan
with the tawny skin Of some
wild animal. He stroked the fur fond. |
~ with his hand.
"Hello, Jack he said, a greeting |
chat mysti6ed Inc.
"Tried to eat me-" he added, turning
10 me.
Then he barred his great hairy arm
Ind showed me n lot Of ugly scars.
I / besought him to tell the story.
"Killed him. be answered.
with a gum"
mo. with my hands" And that
vas all he would say Of 1t.
He lay facing a black curtain that
covered a corner. Now and then T
heard a singular sound in the room
nike some faint. far night cry such as
4 have heard often In the deep woods.
u was NO weird ! felt some wonder of
It. Presently l could tell it came from
behind the curtain, where also ] heard
m odd rustic like that of wings.
| sat in a r~everie, looking at the ST.
vent man before me-. and In the midst
Rf It he pulled n cord that hung near
hin, and a bell rang.
( "Lancheon." he said to the old butler |
who entered Immediately.
|. Then he rose and showed me odd
hings carved out Of wood by his own
kand. aS he told me. and with n deli |