Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-01-28

9eAo nc oe9ru ciankine
cnalns and groans:-in isn't wortl
while TO hide Ii from your Lordship
out the sergeant ran awav like
coward, and / followed him liz
another, Lord Charles. Since tha,
night, l have not been near the BlaeL
House. We have On old saving IN
my country cen &c brande kat
vreest bet koude water'-the scald.
ed cat keeps clear ofcold water--ha.
l mind the proverb.
IL Is not long ago." said Daun.
trees perhaps nos above two wears.
when they say. the old sun.dried
timber Of the building turned sud.
danly black. 10 was the work os n
slngie night-your Lordship shall
lind IL so now."
] can witness the truth OF n said
Arnold-"the house was never black
until that night. and noD ID iooss -,
II 10 was scorched with lichtnino
from roof 20 ground sill. And vet
lightning never could leave Il so
ground"
There is some trickery In this. -
said the proprietary. Itmay scarce
be accounted for on any preteuce OF
witchcraft or sorcery, although /
know there are malignant influences
ut work In the province, which find
motive enough 70 do ell the BARN
they can. Has Fendall, or and OF
his confederates, had commence with
this house. Captain Dauntreesf Can
you suspect such intercourse2"
.Assuredly not. my Lord" re-.
piled the Captain, "for Marshall. who
is the most insolent OF that faction.
has. 10 my personal knowledge, the
dread Of the chapel of all
other men have seen. Besides, these
terrors have flourished In the winter.
night tales OF the neigh borhood. ever
since the death OF Kslpy, aud long
before the Fendalls grew SO pestilent
In the provinces.
1T is the blood Of the fisherman.
my good Lord. and OF bis wife and
chat stains the fioor. (" it il
that blood which brings the evil
spirits together about the old hearth.
Twiceevery day the blood spots upon
The hoor freshen and grow strong.
10 the tide comes 10 food at the ebb.
they may hardly be seem"
You have Witnessed this your.
self. Arnold7"
AT the ebb. Lord Charles. Ibid
did not stay for the change OF tide.
When / saw the spots IL was as much
As We could do TO make them out.
But at the flood everybody says they
are plain"
1T is ~eighty matter, an IL like
your Lordship's honor" muttered
the slim voice Of Garrett Weasel, who
had insinnated himself. by slow ap.
proach, into the rear Of the company,
near enough TO hear q part OF the
and who now faucied
that bis interest In the sui biect would
ensure him an unrebuked access TO
the Proprietary-''and your Lord
ship hath worthy care for the fears
OF the poor people touching the
nominations ofthe Wizard 3 Chapel
What brought thee here, Garret
Weasel2" inquired the Proprietary,
rs DO suddenly turned upon the
publican and looked him steadfastly
In the face--"what wonder hast
thou 70 tell to excuse thou lurking at
our heels?"
Much and manifold, our most
noble Lord. touching the rumors,
replied the confused innkeeper, with
O thick utterance. And 10 is the
most notable thing about IL that
Robert Swales-Rob o. the Trencher.
as he Ia commonly called-your Lord
ship apprehends that / mean the
Cripple-that Rob lives so near the
Wizard q Chapel. There is matter
Of consideration In that II your Lord
ship will weigh it,"
"Fie, Master Gsrret Weaseli Fie
on theel Thou art in thy cups. |
grieve 10 see thee making beast OF
thyself. You had q name for sobrie-
ty. Look that you lose 10 not again.
Captain Dauntrees, II the publican
has been your guest this evening,
you are scarce free Of blame for this. I"
He has shallow head, my Lord,
and 10 10 more easily sounded than |
guessed. Arnold, said Daun trees,
apart. persuade the innkeeper
home.
THE ranger took Carrots arm,
and expostulating with him as be
led him away. dismissed him at the
gate with an admonition 70 bear him
self discreetly Ia the presence OF his
wife-a hint which seemed 70 have
q salutary effect, as the laLdlord was
seen shaping bis course with an i'm
proved carriage towards the town.
Have you reason 70 believe, Cap
tain Dauntrees, said the Proprie-
tary, after Weasel had departed,
that the Cripple gives credit TO
these tales. He lives near this trou-
bied house,"
Not above q gunshot Of, my Lord.
he cannot but be witness 10 these
marvels. But be is q man Of harsh
words, and lives to himself. There
Ia matter In bis own life, I should
guess, which leaves but little will 70
censure these doings. To certain
~ he has no fear Of what may dwell
In the Black building. Ihave seldom
spoken with him.
Your report and Arnold 8" said
the Proprietary. confirm the CON-
mon rumor. / have heard to day,
that two nights past some such
phantoms as you speak Of have been
seen, aod deemed IL first mere gos-
sips wonder;-but what you tell
gives q graver complexion Of truth
70 these whisperings. Be there
demons or jugglers amongst us-and
i have deason 10 suspect both-this
matter must be sifted. Iwould have
the inquiry made by men who are
not moved by vuglar love Of marvel.