Year: 1866

and who, for many years, had followed
the calling Of drover. He told it il
the best of time and places for hearing
such a story,-in the bar-room of {
rude country tavern,-one night, wher
fierce storm OF wind and rain was
raging without, until it seemed a:
though the creaking sign must be dash
ed to the ground, beneath its violence
Such a night was the time, of all 9th
erS, for thrilling story, that stirred
ones blood; and we drew closer tc
the fire, as theinterest of the tale deep
ened, seeking in each other, com
panlonshlp that we should have beer
ashamed to have said we desired.


"Gentlemen," said the drover, by
way OF beginning, "yOu have asked me
for story; and | make it a point
never to refuse so small a favor, wher
l think the company really desire it
L think that is the case tonight; and
so without further words, | will tel
you OF an adventure that befell me
some fifteen years ago, while | was
pursuing my avocation in a neighbor
ing state, and in a section thereof that
L fear to this day reflects but little
credit upon the reminder.


For several years | had partner
by the name Of Frank Brown; and SC
much were we together, that | came tc
regard him almost as | would a
brother. He had become endeared tc
me from long association, and also from
the fact that, in the short space of three
weeks from the time that the adven
ture | am about to tell befell me, he
was to marry my only sister; and ]
knew OF no one in the whole circle ot
my acquaintance that | would sooner
trust her happiness with than with
him. Many times, while we were buy
ing up the last drove that we bought
together, he talked over his plans for
the future, which of conrse, could not
fail to interest me, considering the
relation he was soon to assume to.
wards me.


ave were very fortunate with that
drove. We bought at low prices
and, happening to reach the market
when it was nearly empty, we realized
a large profit. 1t was with feelings
that man can experience only when
he Is perfectly satisfied with himself
and all the world, that Frank and
mounted our horses, the next morning
after our last venture had been dis
posed Of and with our pockets well
filled, started for home, which we
should not be able to reach before
late in the second night.


ave had ridden for about two
hours, when we met a man with whom
we had had considerable dealings, and
with whom | was very anxious to come
to settlement; as he was owing us
quite a sum, and we had been fearful
that we should lose it. The man de-
clared his inability to pay it then
that he had not that sum Of money
about him; but, if one Of US would re.
turn with him to town that we had
left that morning, he would obtain it
for us. This was much better than |
had expected; and | proposed to
Frank that we should 90 back with
him. | saw, at a glance, that he was
opposed to this; that he wanted to
reach home as soon as possible. |
easily OWNED the reason; and under
the circumstances, | did not wonder
at it. | knew that my sister would
look for his coming with impatience
so told him to go, while | would re
turn to town, and take a new start
the next day. As but one of US was
needed, this was agreed upon, and we
separated; [ telling Frank, that if
nothing happened, he might expect
me the next day after his arrival
home.


''The man was as good as his word
although the settlement was not &C
complished until nightfall, and [ was
prevented from getting over a portion
Of the road that night. as [ had hoped
to have done. But the next morning
| was on my way at seasonable
hour; and long before nightfall, | haC
reached tavern, where Frank and
had proposed passing the night wher
we had set out the day before.


"Upon inquiries, found that Frank
had reached here the preceding day
at about the same hour; that he ap
peared in great hurry to get on, anG
had announced his intention of riding
some six miles further, where, yeal
or two before, a man had come anC
opened small house of entertainment
in the midst of a desolate portion o
the country, which On account of thu
soil, was very sparsely populated
| Indeed, the nearest house on eithel
side, was upwards of a mile; and tn,
most custom that the man obtained
was from those that night overtool
before they could get out of the woods
as the road for some ten miles, wa
commonly called. Neither the land
lord nor the inn was held in the bes
repute; and there were stories tina


would deter timid man from takin,
up his abode there, for the night, wer


they known to him. Frank and


stopped there once, and had been wei


cared for; although we, in commo


with others, had never fancied th
landlord. And now, finding that b
he had gone on, with the intention o
passing the previous night there, / dt
termined to do the same; as | shoul


have plenty of time to reach there b


dark. With this determination, | a
lowed my horse to rest, for few mt
ments, and then resumed my way


and, just as the last glow of dayligl


died out of the west, [ drew rein
: front of the tavern, and was greete