The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-10-12
Seleet Stpru.
THE HOUSE OF THE NIGHTMARE
BY EDWARD LUCAS WHITE.

| first caught sight of the house from
the brow of the mountain as [ cleared the
woods and looked across the broad valley
several hundred feet below me, to the low
sun sinking toward the far blue hills.
From that momentary Viewpoint l had an
exaggerated sense of looking almost verti-
cally down. l seemed to be hanging over
the checker board of roads and fields, dot.
ted with farm buildings, and felt the ia
miliar deception that could almost throw
stone upon the house. l barely glimpsed
its slate roof.
What caught my eyes was the bit of
road in front of it, between the mass of
dark green shade trees about the house
and the orchard opposite. Perfectly straight
it was, bordered by an even row of trees,
through which [ made out cinder side
path and low stone wall.
Conspicuous on the orchard side be-
tween two of the flanking trees was white
object, which took to be tall stone, a
vertical splinter of one of the tilted lime
stone reefs with which the fields of the
region are Scared
The road itself | saw plain as box
wood ruler on green baize table, Itgave
me pleasurable anticipation of chance
for burst of speed. | had been painfully
traversing closely forested, semi mountain
Gus hills Not farm, house had | passed
only wretched cabins by the road, more
than twenty miles of which | had founC
very bad and hindering. Now, when
was not many miles from my expected
stopping place, l looked forward to the
better going, and to that straight, leve
bit in particular.
AS | sped cautiously down the sharp
beginning of the long descent, the tree:
engulfed me again, and lost sight of th'
valley. l dipped into a hollow, rose OIL
the crest of the next hill, and again saw
the house, nearer, and not SO far below.
The tall stone caught my eye with shocl
of surprise. Had [ not thought it wa
opposite the house next the orchard
Clearly it was on the left hand side of roa'
toward the house. My self-questionins
lasted only the moment as passed tn
crest. Then the outlook was cut off again
but | found myself gazing ahead, watch
ing for the next chance at the same view
At the edge Of the second hill only say
the bit of the road obliquely and could no
be sure, but, as at first, the tall stone
seemed on the right of the road.
At the top of the third and last hill
looked down the stretch of road under tn
overarching trees, almost as one woul'
look through a tube There was line Q
whiteness which l took for the tall stone
1t was on the right.
dipped into the last hollow. As
mounted the farther slope 1 kept my eye
on the top of the road ahead of me. Whe
my line of sight surmounted the rise
marked the tall stone on my right han'
among the serried naples. leaned over
first on one side, then on the other, to in
spect my tires, then | threw the lever.
AsI flew forward looked ahead. Their
was the tall stone-on the left of the road
was really scared and almost dazed.
meant to stop dead, take a good look
the stone, and make up my mind beyon'
peradventure whether it was on the righ
or the left-if not, indeed, in the middl
of the road.
In my bewilderment | put on the high
est speed. The machine leaped forward
everything l touched went wrong; steere'
wildly, slowed to the left, and crashed int
big maple.
When came to my senses l was flat O.
my back in the dry ditch. The last ray
of the sun sent shafts of golden green high
through the maple boughs overhead. M
first thought was an odd mixture Of appre
citation of the beauties Of nature and dis
approval of my own conduct in tourin
without companion-a fad l had re
gretted more than once. Then my min
cleared and I set up. felt myself fror
the head down. l was not bleeding; N
bones were broken; and, while much shak
en-, I had suffered no serious bruises.
Then I saw the boy. He was standin
at the edge of the cinder-path, near tn
ditch. He was stocky and solidly built
barefoot, with his trousers rolled up to hi
knees; wore a sort of butternut shir, rope
at the throat; and was coatless and hatless
He was towheaded, with shock of tousle'
hair; was much freckled, and had hid
eous harelip. He shifted from one foot t
the other, twiddled his toes, and sal
nothing whatever, though he stared at m
intently.
I scrambled to my feet and PROCEEDED t
survey the wreck. 1t seemed distressing
ly complete. 1t had not blown up, no
even caught fire; but otherwise the rui
appeared hopelessly thorough. Every
thing | examined seemed worse smashed
than the rest. My two hampers alone, b
one of those cynical jokes of chance, ha
escaped-both had pitched clear Of tn
wreckage and were unhurt, not even
bottle broken.
During my investigations the boys ia
ded eyes followed me continuously. but h
uttered no word. When l had convince'
myself of my helplessness | straightene
up and addressed him:
| .'How far is it to a blacksmith shop 2
| "Eight mile" he answered. He ha
distressing case of cleft palate and wa
scarcely Ineligible.
"Can you drive me there?" / il
quired.
"Nary team on the place. he replied
stnary horse, nary COW.
"How far to the next house2' con
tinued.