Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08
lat HARRODSTOWN. N.

licious viands set before us, all of them smoking
hot.
After the meal to stretch my legs, l strolled for
an hour through the deserted streets, then re-
turning to the inn 1 seated myself upon the steps
and fell to watching the shadows made by the
light of the quarter moon sitting through the
locust trees, which were grouped in the court
square opposite. Feecy clouds were drifting rap
idly across the sky, and fresh breeze had sprung
up since sundown.
The circle of bachelors about the tree still
unbroken. From their talk and laughter judged
they cracking precious lot of jokes.
One Of them, retired judge, Was thinking of
deserting the ranks,-so McClusky told me-con-
templating matrmony Oh wise judge!
He seemed to be with them, but not of them, for
he had little to say. He sat with his pressed
to his lips, his eyes fastened upon the lighted win
dow of little cottage on the next corner, and did
not seem to be sharing the merr1ment OF his fe
lows His thoughts evidently far afeld, as
mine not long after.
Miss Peggy had given her best room, the
one in the northeast corner, over the parlor, fac
ing the public square, and in the shadow Of the
tall steeple of st. Peters, the pretty little Gothic
church. which hobnobbed with the engine house
the way.
scrupuousy neat, and the bed comfortable
that l would have needed no rocking to put me
to sleep.
Nevertheless 1 had it, for the stage had so i'm
pressed me with it's motion that l sooner
in bed than l began to feel the pendulous swing
ing of the coach, backward and forward, back
ward and forward, until with a downward plunge
| seemed to fall from the topmost cliff of Ken
lucky river into profound Sleep from which
was awakened, it seemed to me, only few Sec
onds later by terrible din outside.
1t was the gong for breakfast beaten with
frantic energy by negro boy, stationed beneath
the window Looking out I found McClusky's
prophecy concerning the weather had been full
filled. 1t raining.
Descending the stairway as the second sum-
mons sounded upon the gong found the wielder
of the baton, upon the brazen implement of tor
ture, stationed in the doorway. Curled at his
feet two dogs, wet and smelling of the
dampness.
You'd better go right in ter yo' breakfus
while de waffles is hot an de fried chicken is
a sizzlin'."
He of the gong was at my elbow, with a broad
smile on his face, suggestive of an itching palm
Slipping quarter into his hand, followed him
into the long breezy dining room.
The morning meal over, l stepped to the front
door, half expecting to the jolly bachelors
still circled around the tree They were gone,
but in their stead were dozen riotous ducks,
padding up and down in the swift little current
formed in the gutter by the overflow from the
down spout
Their backs were as sleek and glossy if
never a drop of water had fallen upon them.
They seemed heartily delighted with the rain,
and gabbed noisily as they plunged their heads
under the water, and essayed to swim in the
shallow stream.
1t was an unpromisng day. While casting
about in my mind as to how l should spend 1t,
my attention was attracted to the court house
opposite where the crier, in the doorway was
calling: