Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-20
DAILY SHORT STORY
A NEW YEAR ADVENTURE.


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 it from him. He was looking |
about him for a place of shelter, Tor |
the days were short and the sun had
just set at half past O'Clock IN tne
afternoon. Coming 10 an imposing
house standing in large grounds far
back from the road, he turned MS
horses head between two pillars anu
entered He had traverSed but hair
the distance TO the house when the
front door opened and a man stepped
out whose rapier. feathered hat and
broad lace collar betokened cavalier
Descending the steps. he quickly came
on between the great trees that lined
the way as IL bent on some errand or
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.
his rapier. replaced it and was passing
on when the stranger added:
"Can l get shelter In yonder houseY'
There is no one there except a wo-
man, and she has not been used to
waiting even on herself
Where are the men"
"One 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 you
think the woman, or rather the lady.
will be obliged 10 remain the night
alone?"
''Mayhap she Will"
Possibly then she may be glad or
the protection even OF a stranger"
You had best go on and find out for
yourself"
He showed no disposition to further
converse and passed on. tine stranger
continuing his journey toward the
house. On reaching the porch he threw
| the reins on his horses neck. and In an
| other moment loud rap on the knOk-
| err indicated his presence. No one re-
piled to his summons. and he knocked
| again and again, still with no reply
He turned and looked at the flying
snow. shivered and. turning again,
tried the door. 1t was unfastened. En-
| tering. he passed through broad hall
| and was about to go up the winding
| staircase when in one OF the rooms he
| saw woman sitting at a table. her
head resting in her hands. her elbows
| OH the table Surely the man she had
met was right she was Il lady and
one endowed with II 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-
tering unannOunced. / am Il weary
treyeler and would gladly rest for the
night under your roof. l met a gentle
man without who told me you We're
alone. May 1 not serve as a PROTECTOR
The woman now for the first time no.
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 OF
not, she paid no further attention tC
him. He began to- think that he had
stumbled on haunted house; that the
man he had met and this woman were
not flesh and blood. but the wraiths OF
departed occupants of what was now d
deserted house. However, having re
ceived permission to remain overnight
he went out and stabbed his horse. Civ
ing him u feed, then. returning to the
house, went to the kitchen, where ht
found sufficient cooked food to furnish
him a supper. Having eaten, he went
again to the room where the lady ha6
been sitting. She was not there.
A fire was ready on the hearth. and
taking the flint from the mantel, the
traveller put sparks To Ii. then lighted 6
lamp and sat down at the table. There
were books on it. and he tried to read
but wonder prevented. and somehow
he wished the lady. be she ghost Oh
flesh. would relieve his loneliness. Ther
he fell to thinking what had become Of
her.
Might she not be of her head
and If so she should not be left alone
He resolved to go and seek her. TAX
ing a candle. he went through all tn,
rooms on the ground floor and, no
finding her, mounted the staircase. Or
reaching the floor above he called:
Madam
The only answer was in his imagina
ton, which created myriads of re
| sponses. He would have turned and
retraced his steps, but wonder spurres
him on. He explored one bedroom aft
or another and at last came TO one II
which his dim candle showed him
figure on the floor. He shuddered les
, II be the lady. but IL was no woman
lying there. Lowering the candle.
showed him the dead body OF a maj
with fresh sword thrust in the chest
With cry, the stranger fed from
the room and the house. Getting on
his horse. he rode 10 an inn, wher
he spent the rest OF the night A few
. 4 L.. L. - l. n Z.