Year: 1864




tackled to the eastward snd blew a COLI
raw mist into nv face and neck very un
comfortably. The premonitions OF
coming storm and an early nj ghtfall 500
grew 50 plain as to make me really anx
ious TO find a comfortable lodging 70


myself ard horse during the cominI


night I had wondered far away from


nv usual course and was a perfect stran


ger in a section ofthe country promising


but little in the way of material comforts


as far as / could see. For many mile


back had travelled over nearly leve


plains Of loose, sandy soil, sparsely COY
cred with small pines and gray birches
These plains however, were not broa'
reaches of open country, but were irrcgu
lar and often very narrow, hemmed ii
on all sides by barren, rugged hills an'
precipitous bluffs of bare rocks, amone
which they wound along like the bed o
great river The prospects on all side:
was very limited, and the scenery of the
most bold and rugged sort ! seemed tc
have lost myself in the huge labyrinth
and to wander about without much
prospect of an egress for which | was
becoming hourly more anxious The
few houses had passed upon the pine
lands had poor and comfortless look,
which deferred me from soliciting their
hospitality. Their tumble down pos
lures, rag or shingle windows, slatternly
doorways and miserable novels, haunted
by a few spectral cattle, gave my practis-
ed eve but few indications of reasonable
entertainment for man or beast. SO l
pursued my way rather discontentedly
while the gathering storm grew more
darkly and the waning afternoon grew
more chilly and comfortless. had just
passed a dwelling little better than the
most and was standing quite still deba-
ting whether had not better return and
seek shelter in it, when a stranger rode
briskly up from behind. He was mount
ed on fine strong animal, glossy and
mettlesomc, and as he came abreast he
drew rein and bringing his horse to a
walk, was passing with an inquiring look
when / accosted him.


In answer to my inquiry for public
house, he said ..there is none nearer than
four miles. About a mile and a half
further on, you will leave the plain and
follow road which bears away TO the
left among the hills. There is large
maple tree at this point. Go on as
streight as the road will let you, until
you descend steep hill and cross
brook 1t is the next house on the right
"A little white one with a bit of sign,
which you will see by the time you get
there


This last was said with look at the
sky and slight tap at his riding whip.
He had gone but n few yards, however,
and was standing still, turning over his
directions i'm my mind in order that they
might not escape me, when he halted,
bent his head IA if some thought had
struck him. and after II moments delibera-
ton with himself, he wheeled his horse
and said IL am going to spend the night
ut the same house myself, and as l am i'll
no great haste, l will be your company if
you please. You will find it a blind road
in the night, sir"


This proposal | ut once accepted with
thanks for his kindness. Yet l was
hardly at his side, before l become con
scious Of vague dislike to my new com
panion--1 think, however, it was rather
a suspicion than dislike His eyes, keen
and gray, his swarthy and strangely sal
low skin, and streight black hair long
and struggling over his shoulders, gave
him n rather incongruous and somewhat
sinister appearance He was well
mounted as have said, aud wore a cap
of shaggy fur, shading his singular fea
lures. Coarsely and loosely dressed, he
nevertheless, displayed a form of fine
proportions and great strength, and al
together reminded me of those gentle
manly bandits, which in story books
haunt the passes ofthe Pyraunees and Ap-
pennies. This impression was deepened
by certain steadiness of tone ald fea-
ture, and easy self constrained and self
~. ,r,l n,,l
mein not easy to describe, but such as is
seldom found i'll men unaccustomed to
intercourse with the world


We had rode some distance, when
thinking to relieve the monotony of the
journey and at the same time satisfy my
curiosity, l said to my.guide.


..Iou reside near here, l presume"


mo sir" he answered, in rather re
pellent tone of voice.


Excuse me, SIR but you seem famil-
lar with the way"


..Yes sir, l am, and was once more so
perhaps. though for that matter there is
hardly tree or rock between this and
the place | spoke of, that l should not
know if were 10 see it ut the worlds
end


EARLY Impressions" remarked. ..are
very vivid and lasting A~@


..rhey are said to be- he rejoinei,
"but there is much difference in the peo-
ple some notice what is about them at
any time, and others go all their lives
with their eyes shut


There was no smile or leer upon his
features, as he said these last words. but
he east at me significant glance from
his keen gray eye, an eve that ALWAYS
carried in ita gleam OF iavelin. aud
suddenly recollection myself, saw that
I was already half past the maple tree
which as he had told me, marked the
the diverging road we were to follow
Being on the right, had noticed that
his horse had alaeady turned into It,


IL may as well confess. said. little
piqued. .'that l am less observane than
many, but in truth, l do find my way
through many miles of strange country
every year


.'Then you travel a good DEAL" he
said.


nodded assent.


ssWail " ho so;1 Mil, ,o1tb,. rl,n..