The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-03-10
4 MIDNIGHT RUN.

..ao,her said when father suggested
..t;nq me with him, as he often did in
.he holidays. was q lad 81 twelve
- fa.hpr. who was a contractor. had
10 iob on a new railway. The OBJ
~, If this journey Wa 70 pay the
mar the paymaster being i'll.
~ don't like YOU to carry - much
money" mother complained 10
dangerous
xot creature knows that am takla9
!. Resides we are ahead 81 p1E ddE
pnt mother was not satisfied watch
e., ne vistfully from the doorstep the
royt morning when We st@rts' ior the
o#ca messenger from the bank
tr,usht the money. which was put
;,,o fathers valise ny hlg was only
half fuIl and exactly like fathers in
size and color.
We left town at II o'clock. Nou may
10 sure that we kept a careful eye on
the yalise
II was dark when We reached OAK
ION and after a poor supper al the
only hotel we waited for the stage
which was to take us 70 our destlna-
ton-tweve miles distant. The stage,
drawn by two bony horses, rumblei up
to the sidewalk.
"Wheres Bill?" father asked, for the
hurly driver always amused him with
bic quaint remarks
Guess Bill can't drive this here
stage tonight" the landlord answered
Them old horses skeered at some
thing this morning and upset the rig.
an Bill. he's allyn upstairs with
broken leg
Rilly's substitute was anything but
attractive | have seldom seen a more
disagreeable face. His eyes were
small and shifting; his mouth drawn
down. He was polite. however. and |
nut out his hand for the valises.
Never mind" said father, careless |
". They will not be in the way, |
dnce we are the only passengers.
4 The night was dark and gloomy. An
4 unaccountable depression came over
49, Going through the village father
told me that it had once been of some
Importance, but a rival town had
/, irawn away business and people, add
ng that it was sad to see such beauti-
hl houses going to decay
we will pass house said TO be
launted," father went on. "A man
vas found dead in his room and the
place became so terrifying TO the fam
ly that they left it hurriedly not even
aking their furniture"
wished that father would not dwell
N such unpleasant subjects, for it
gave me hOrrid sensation of fear.
Where did the accident happen this
norning?" We inquired of the driver.
Near the haunted house was the
'eply. The horses seemed nervous and {
SHE'D at every shadow. I
Here's the place." the driver cried, {
'and-curse it! the beasts seem to |
'emember It," At the same instant the '
terrified animals SHE'D violently, and
oef0re we could speak the left wheels a
lad gone into ditch and the big pole |
snapped OF. The man jumped out f
trying to quiet the frightened horses. O
strange to say we were unhurt and v
out, clinging to our luggage. il
Inc driver professed great concern. s
appearing much annoyed at the acct b
tent We freed the horses and tried D
Q hit the wagon, but so much damage '
lso been done that it was impossible v
0 repair it. o
I must get on to Norton tonight" s.
ather said. Can we get a wagon
ear?" y,
mere was nothing nearer than the o.
mage, the man declared, and must Fl
Ike these horses back and hitch them n;
the other bus" Then rubbing his &c
ead and considering: W
There's some folks in the old house a,
'noer. guess they can give YOU St
=. and will be back by daybreak." ST
Inefe seemed to be no alternative n
We went to the old mansion. The 81
'or was opened by a man with an az
l'orsettable face; with large pale or
ue eyes, wide forehead with n,
oxen nose. He spoke kindly, saying
a. ne would give US shelter. After "a
leenng before a cherry wood fire. n
l'cn scenes to emphasize the fitful so
vows we were conducted to a big cd
uloom upstairs. Its windows opened ne
. long veranda. ~ ~
ai'er our host left us we stepped %
= discovering that the veranda was nm
..n oilapidated and that a long il
'oet leaned against it. We next
'aeo our attention to the room. A NJ,