The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-03-29

iE-=,St the westward as at the sum-
xSsAJ nit Of the road came upon
the village of Brayle.
shifted my knapsack from my
shoulder ard, leaning upon my staff,
stood contemplating one of the most
glorious panOramas my eyes had ever
rested upon. Behind me to the north,
stretching away eastward and west
ward, the great mountain range lifted
its frowning tops to heaven, and to
the south and southwest. from whence
i had come. the world fell down to-
ward verdure and cultivation and
lands watered by streams, which grew
slowly and joined together into Il riv-
er far away toward the horizon.
AS evening came rapidly over the
lower lands and chill wind struck
the mountain road | entered the vii
lage and went toward long, low
building which seemed likely to afford
a resting place for the night Four
men were sitting at a rough table
smoking and drinking They were in
eager if not an angry conversation,
but stopped as | entered and looked
at me in surprise One of them SEEM
ed delighted at my advent, for he cried
out eXcitedly:
"The proof, The proof, Look!
1ere is one of them
Another man. whom | rightly took
to be the proprietor of the establish
ment, growled savagely at him to be
silent and then rose and saluted me.
You are traveller, just an ordinary
traveller"
''Yes; oh, yes" | answered.
There was something in his tone
which had the effect of taking the
cOnceit out of one. | have never con
sidered myself quite an ordinary trav-
eler
umph
The man addressed looked at me fix
eddy. but did not speak. He had sprung
excitedly from his seat at my en-
trance.
81 want to stay here tonight" | went
on. Tomorrow l may go farther, or
the next day, or it may be next week.
1t all depends what find to interest
me. There is a fine waterfall neal
Brayle, | have heard
rs it only for this YOU have Gomez"
asked Mustapha, with some contempt.
Yes" | answered. throwing down
my knapsacl and spreading out my
hands to the blaze. What else should
j have come for"
The disappointment in the mans face
was quite cOmical. and his companions
burst out laughing.
Take no notice Of what he says"
laughed the landlord. "Mustapha is
dreamer. He sees armies along the
mountain tops when others see only
snow. He hears the ring Of steel in
every tinkling goat bell and the shout
of war In the bark of every dog. \
wonderful dreamer is Mustapha."
~ said nothing of armies; | said
armed men," the dreamer returned
sullenly.
II am not armed | observed.
"Many Of the men | have seen are
not armed" he returned, but they are
no ordinary travellers. They all go the
same way-yonder."
His attitude was unconsciously dra-
matte as he stretched out his arm,
pointing toward the mountains TO the
north.
where Is yonder?" | asked, more
for the sake Of saying something than
because | wanted to know.
II only know the legend which every
body knows and which everybody
laughs at, but | am wiser than every
body. because | don't laugh"
A roar of merriment greeted this
assertion. could not help joining
In t..
LET me eat first, and then We'll
have the story. The story will wait
and my hunger is too ripe to keep"
or necessity In this history | must
talk OF myself. | am the hero OF IL,
and he's a poor hero indeed who isn't
worth talking about. was wan
derer by inclination. not OF necessity
and, although not actually seeking ad
venture. was not unwilling 10 enjoy
some mild form of enterprise should
such come my way, but little thought
Of the strange experiences which lay
before me. Few people even II they
are interested will believe the story
and will say of me, as was said OF
Mustapha. He is a stupid dreamer"
To ID can honestly confess that ]
she sometimes doubt the history