The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-02-26
HIS laggard pupils with slothf.l mien
The buZzing stiffness Of the school

luc DuZZluS StIlucSS u Tic SSuOp'
room was broken by galloping mes
senger, who brought an invitation &c
a quilting frolic" that evening at Van
Tassel's.
Promptly dismissing school, 1chabod
furnished up his only suit Of rusty
black. and soon rode forth-a gallant
cavalier to this bidding Of his lady
fair.
Gunpowder. the bony old pillow horse.
borrowed from the farmer with whom
Ichabod was domiciled, was suitable
steed for his long, gaunt frame.
Jogging slowly along. it was after
shutdown when he reached Van Tas-
sells, where were gathered the farmer
folk of the surrounding country.
However, 1t was not the buxom
lacses which held Ichabod enthraiied,
1t was the sumptuous abundance OF
the supper table. Such luscious ham
and chicken, and heaped platters OF
doughnuts, crullers and ginger cakes
IchabOd's rapacious appetite dld
ample justice to this repast, while he
gloated over the opulence or Wnich
some day he might be master.
Soon the sound Of fiddling bade oil
TO dance. With Katrina as his part
ner. smiling graciously at his amorous
oglings. the lank. but agile, Ichabod
cIattered triumphantly about. While
Brom Bones, sourly smitten with Jeal-
| l-o,t brooI;npIv aIoof
Later, Ichabod joined the sager folk,
- sat smoking and spinning tales OF
| ghosts ans, <apparitions, and of the
headless horsemaan H. that nightly teth-
cred his steed among the churchyard
graves.
| Most terrifying were the adventures
of those who, on dark nights, had met
the gruesome specter. Even BroIn
testified that once. overtaken by the
midnight trooper. he had raced with
him to the church bridge, where the
horseman had vanished In q flash OF
fire.
| When at a late hour the revel broke
Nd, Ichabod fingered for the custom
ary lovers talk. What passed at that
interview with the heiress was never
known, but when he finally sailed
forth it was with detected, chop
fallen air.
Had Katrlna's encouragement been
only a couuettish trick TO secure hei
conquest of his rival?
II was near the witching midnight
hour that the crestfallen Ichabod pur
sued his solitary travel hOmeward. Al
the stories of ghosts and COLLINS toie
that evening crowded hauntingly upoT
him.
The night grew deeper and darker
as he approached the lonely church
yard-sombrous scene Of many or th'
tales. Suddenly through the leat
stirred stiffness came the clatfer O.
hoofs! Something huge and misshapel
doomed above the crouching shadows
In quaking terror Ichabod dashe'
ahead, hut the unknown followed
close. Then the moonlight, through
a rifting cloud, revealed the headles
horseman! More CHASTITY still, nj
head rested on the pommel Of his sad
die!
Away they few. IchabOd madl,
spurring Gunpowder. while the SIMS
ter horseman came galloping after.
As they reached the haunted road
turning of to Sleepy Hollow. the GRIT
Eof Ichabod's saddle broke. Grippin
his steed around the neck. as the sad
die slipped beneath him. he sti
plunged on, with the ghostly rider pull
suing.
The church bridge. where in Bror
Bones tale the specter had vanished
was inst ahead. Another moment an
: old Gunpowder was laundering owe
the resounding plan,ys.
, Here Ichabod. casting a backwar
glance. saw the goblin rising in hi
stjrrups and in the very act OF hur
. ing his head.
The horrible missile crashe
. against Ichabod's Uranium and h
plunged headlong into the road-whil
Gunpowder and the ghostly horsema
}. swept on.
=
i The next morning the old horse Wa
found saddleless. grazing at his ma
s ter's gate. But no IchabOd!
9 In the road by the church wa
4 found the saddle. Farther on was ii
a trampied hat of the unfortunate pc
e agogue-and close beside 1t sha
4 tered pumpkin!
The whole neighborhood was arouse
' Brom Bones story and all the 9TH
n weird tales were called to mind. al
n the good folk sagely concluded tn
IchabOd had been carried on BY Il
Y headless horseman.
4 Soon the school was removed to
3 less haunted sectoF. Another ped
il gogue reigned, and Ichabod BEGAN
q only a legend.
II Is true that several years lat
It an old farmer, returning from Ne
t York. brought news that Ichabod "
3 still alive; that fear Of the goblin. nj
chagrin at his dismissal by the he
o ess, had caused his fight; that In a
d other part Of the country he ha
Ie taught school, studied law, and
~ 1 a,,~<S~o - Tho foy ,.y,0,pnA OOf1Yt