Copyright Story. How Squire Chalmers Kept the Road.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1, 7 January 1905, Page 8

Copyright Story. How Squire Chalmers Kept the Road.

By

L. T. MEADE.

Author of “Stories From the Diary of a Doctor,” Etc.

It was in the old Chronicles of the House of Chalmers, a well-known Cornish family, that 1 came across the following strange, and in some ways unaccountable tale, in a large volume bound in white vellum, which was a sort of diary of the annals of my family. This is exactly how it ran: ”1 must write it all down. My wife, Ursula, would not allow me to leave out the smallest occurrence. My son, when he comes after me, will want to read of that most marvellous, that most unac countable, ride, in all its fulness. 1 can give no explanation. As the story happened, so 1 relate it. The ways of Providence are past finding out, and what im polled my movements on that wonderful night, what voice whispered to my groom, and forced the toll-keeper and the ferryman to be in readiness for me, and those others, whom 1 am about to mention, to lead me. is more than 1 can ever explain. "This is the story: "On a certain day in the year of Grace 1800, 1, Harry Chalmers, having lately come into possession of my estates, rode my mare Starlight to a distant part of Cornwall. 1 rode between flowery hedges and deep lanes in search of 1 knew not what. I was naturally of a quiet ami stay-at-home disposition, but on this day 1 felt that 1 must be up and doing. All had gone well with me. hitherto, in my life. I inherited my estates from an uncle, to whom 1 was not devotedly attached. His death, therefore, a year ago, had caused me little acute trouble. I was engaged to be married to the girl whom 1 most dearly loved. Aly sky stretched before me without even the shadow of a cloud. Nevertheless, 1 could not stay at home, but mounting on Starlight, had i idden her so fast and long that at last the poor beast was tired, and showed her weariness by suddenly going lame in one toot. Now, I loved this mare, whom I had known from the time she was a tottering foal, and would not for the wor'.d ill-treat her. I dismounted, therefore, patted her on her arched neck, examined her foot, and then led her. not knowing where I was walking, or why, but determined to find the best possible inn where both she and I might rest for the night. "Without intending it, 1 had wandered into a particularly lonely part of the country, and for a long time 1 could not see anything approaching a place of shelter. At last, however, situated in a hollow. amongst a clump of trees, 1 came across a little hamlet of houses with thatched roofs, and amongst them was the proverbial village inn. It was known as the Sign of the Thistle,, and was a pretty little place, although somewhat neglected in appearance. I walked up to the door, leading Starlight by the rein. Both the landlord and landlady came out to greet me. I asked if they could put up my horse, if she could be attended to. and if 1. also, could have a bed for the night. "They were regular Cornish folks, dark-eyed, with strong features. They received me with cordiality, and assured me that they could give me all that was required for the mare’s comfort, and could also provide for me. "The landlady took me upstairs and showed me my bedroom. It was a sparsely furnished apart It contained a huge four-poster, and a monstrous feather bed. but hardly any other furniture. I was easily contented, however, ami a minute or two later I found my way to the stables, where I. myself, gave directions with regard to Starlight, and when satisfied as to her comfort. I returned to the house, where a savoury meal awaited me in a small old-fashioned coffee room. A round table was drawn into a bay window at one end of the apartment, whereon a cloth was spread, and where* presently a substantial, if homely meal of fried eggs and home-cured bacon, with an excellent dish of asparagus, were placed before me. To this the landlord added a bottle of really good Burgundy, and I ex pressed myself well content.

“But I had scarcely begun to eat, when I noticed that a man came and stood at the door of the coffee room. He was a thin, meagre-looking individual, with long straw-coloured hair, a face almost waxen in hue, dull, rather anxious eyes, a long upper lip, and ragged unkempt whiskers at each side of his face. He was dressed very shabbily, and altogether- had the anxious, almost frightened air of a person who had known, whether with reason or not, a good deal of fear in his life. I saw the landlord talking to this stranger for a few minutes, and soon afterwards he came up to me and said: “ ‘1 am sorry to intrude, sir, but would you object to the gentleman who has just arrived sharing your table for dinner' It would convenience us very much, for this is market day, and we have no corner where he ean enjoy a quiet meal.’ " ’Make no apologies, my good fellow.* 1 replied. ‘Your guest is heartily welcome to share my table. It is, 1 take it, a great deal too big for one.’ ’’The landlord assured me that 1 was a most affable gentleman, and soon afterwards the cadaverous-looking' stranger was facing me at the board. On nearer acquaintance. 1 perceived that my fellow-traveller had a perfectly harmless and gentle face, but with such a deprecating and appealing expression in his eyes that 1 felt a sense of discomfort whenever 1 met them. It was as though he were beseeching me to do something for him With his eyes alone for his lips were almost silent—his re plies to my conversation being almost monosyllabic. 1 tried to pump him a little with regard to himself, but he was either too shy or absolutely unwilling to confide in me, and although I forced on him a good glass of Burgundy, and tilled his pipe for him, not only once, but twice, still, with all my endeavours, to make myself agreeable, he held himself aloof in the most mournful way, as though he would like to be friendly if he dared. “He left the supper table before 1 did. and thanked me in a modest voice for what he called my affability, and went up at once to ills bedroom. There was something about the man which at once aroused my contempt and my pity. " ’He is doubtless one of those unfortunate poor devils who has been always down on his luck.’ I mentally soliloquised. Well, we are scarcely likely to meet again, but 1 am glad 1 ensured his having a comfortable dinner.’ “During the night I dreamt of the stranger, who, as a matter of fact, occupied the room next to mine and when I came down on the fallowing morning. 1 asked the landlord if his visitor intended to share my b-eakfast as well as my dinner. ’’ ‘Oh, no, sir,’ replied mine host. ’The poor man went on his way some three hours ago. He was very much obliged to you, sir. and said he had seldom met a more kindly gentleman.’ “‘What was his name?" I asked. ■' 1 did not inquire, sir. 1 know nothing whatever abourt him. We do have people of his sort coming to the Sign of the Th.stle times and again, but we are never likely to see any more of him. 1 take it. He is doubtless very poor, and so weakly that my wife thinks he won’t be long for this world.’ "1 said nothing further, but sat down to my breakfast, and made a hearty meal. Starlight had recovered her indisposition during the hours of the night, and soon after nine o’clock on that summer's morning 1 left the little old fashioned inn amid the blessings and curtseys of my good landlady, the bows of mine host, and the shy admiration of a little maid of three years of age. who was perched on her father’s shoulder, and who saw me off with the greatest interest. “About six months afterwards I heard that the landlord and landlady, whose

name happened to be Brown, had sold the Sign of the Thistle to another man; but. busy with my own affairs as 1 was at that time, I scarcely took any notice of the circumstance.

“Two whole years of adventure and bustle passed by. I was happily married to the girl whom I loved, and in course of time was the father of one of the bonniest boys in England. “On a certain evening in the month f June, just when the days were at neir longest, I had spent a fatiguing time visiting some outlying farms in the neighbourhood of the county town of Chadwick. I was all impatient to be home again, for I wm thinking of my wife and child, and in particular of some music which Ursula was preparing for my special benefit, and which she promised to play to me that evening. Still, work had to be done, and I was the last man to neglect my appointed duties.

“1 had settled all to my own satisfaction and returning to Chadwick between eight and nine o’clock, mounted a y horse which was ready for me at the -principal inn of the town. My groom followed behind and we rode rapidly through the little market town. As we passed the Court house, 1 noticed a great crowd outside, and inquired the cause of my servant Amos. He replied immediately—- “ ’Why. Squire, don’t you remember, these are the assizes, and there is a man being tried for his life; they say it will go hard with him. I don’t know any particulars, but they say he will be hanged by the neck. I only hope 1 may be there to see.’

“I reproved Amos for the savage instinct which would give him pleasure in seeing a nan struggling for existence, to which he answered that he was right sorry for the chap, but if he had to be hanged it might be as good i lessen as any other, to watch him quit the world.

"My groom talked on. giving me various little pieces of local gossip to which 1 scarcely listened, for I was all the time thinking of Ursula and the dark-eyed babe who was as a king to me. and who would, by and by, reign in my stead.

Now there were two ways back from Chadwick to Chalmers Hall, one round by a fairly well-kept road, across the principal bridge, then on to the main road again, then under some princely trees and by a wide avenue, and so through the park gates right up to the house. This way occupied a distance of fifteen miles, but there was a shorter route across the ferry and through a less well-kept road, through the toll gate and so up to the house, a matter of twelve miles. As a rule 1 took the long way, preferring it to the

route by the ferry. On this particular night I went, as was my custom, round by the bridge, and in course of time was delighted to see my dear and lovely Ursula waiting for me on the steps of the old mansion. “There she stood in her regal dress of purple velvet, her eyes shining like stars, her fair hair clustering in curls round her forehead and neck, and the babe, the most beautiful creature in the world, springing joyfully in her arms at the sight of his father. ‘••Why you are late!’ she said. ‘I have kept Baby up, for he has done nothing but call out for you during the latter part of the day. He must go straight off to his cosy nest now, mustn't he, the sweet,’ and she smothered the child’s face with her own kisses. “ ‘Come in, Harry,’ she continued. •Come in, you must be utterly spent; but I have a good supper waiting for you.’ “1 bad already dismounted, my groom had taken the reins, and groom and horses had disappeared round the avenue towards the stables. Ursula followed me into the house. •“What kept you so late?’ she began. •’ ‘I had some difficulty at Hedges’ Farm.’ 1 said. ‘I don’t want to evict the people, and yet I had to insist on their performing their part of our contract. Never mind now. Ursula dear, I

want to sup and drink, for I am both hungry and thirsty. Afterward* you ■ball lull me to sleep with your sweet music.’

“ ‘Oil, I hare prepared such sweet musk; to-nigM,* she said, looking into my face with her bright eyes. ‘But you will go upstairs and get tidy before dinner, won’t you, Harry?* “I promised, and she left me at once, earrying the baby herself up the wide stairs. I watched her for a minute as I stood in the centre hall. She turned at a corner of the spacious staircase, waved her hand to me, kissed the babe and was then lost to sight, “I don’t know what impelled me to <o as I did then, but instead of following her advice and going up to my dressing room to change, as was my custom, into full evening dress, I went into a sort of morning room, where I kept my whips, pipes, guns, etc. There was a window here which looked right out on the carriage drive. I stood at it and •watched the young moon coming up over the hill." It was the veriest crescent moon, and I was glad to observe, being in spite of myself, somewhat superstitious, that I saw it through the open window, and without the intervention of glass between it and me. I had just noticed it, and was about to go upstairs when to my amazement I saw my groom, Amos, coming quickly round the avenue leading my favourite mare. Starlight, saddled and bridled. I had been riding a stout cob, Rufus, all day. He brought her to the front door, where he waited, looked round him eagerly, caught sight of me, and called out—

“ ‘Here she is, sir. I got her ready as fast as possible.’

“I went out to him in some amazement.

“•'What in the world do you mean?’ I said. ‘I don’t want Starlight now. Take her back: again.’ “ ‘But excuse me, sir, yon told me to get her ready as fast as ever I could. You said you wanted to be off, and you hadn’t a moment to lose.’

“My first inclination was to Jet out ft. torrent of abuse at the. lad, but when f looked into his face, all wish to speak left me. I felt the strangest sensation that could ever be vouchsafed to anybody, and that was a mad desire to find myself on Starlight’s back. There she stood, curving her graceful neck, and looking at me with her bright eyes. Get on her I must, and get on her also as quickly as I possibly could. Somehow, I felt that it was not only accessory to ride her, but that it was necessary to ride her quickly, to go as fast as ever I could, as fast as the mare’s fleet feet could take me, I knew not whither.

“AU thought of Ursula and her disappointment and amazement when she found me not coming into supper, faded from my mind. I said, after a brief! moment’s pause—■

“ ‘That’s all right, then, Amos. You have bet 11 quick,” and I am off.* “I sprang on the mare’s back, and tlie sound of her hoofs thundering up the avenue as fast as ever I could compel her to go, must have been borne up to Ursula as she laid her babe to rest.

“ ‘I must reach the toll-gate, whatever happens,’ I thought, and I urged my willing steed with both spur and whip. But she did not need any entreaties of mine to go fast. Never before had she flown at such a rate. But it seemed to me, in some unaccountable way, that minutes were dragging, and that we could never reach our destination in time. All the same I did not know what that destination was, and I had not the faintest idea why I was on Starlight's back; why I had gone away without saying a single word to ml wife; why I, a tired man, weary to death with a long day’s work, should be suddenly galloping over the roads as fast as ever the feet of my good mare could convey me. I kept on repeating to myself—- “ ‘Tliis is absolute folly! But I will ride as far as the toll-gate. The tollgate, of course, will be shut. The tollkeeper, I know, goes to bed soon after eight o’clock, and will be snoring lustily. I won't wake him, poor chap, I will just go as far as the toll-gate and the unaccountable sensation which ia at my heart, and which is driving me there will have passed by then, and I will go borne. Yes, when I reach the toll-gate I will return and Starlight will be all the better for her gallop in the moonlight.' __ “But there was ns moonlight. Thft

young crescent moon w«« already hidden behind banka of clouds which wse gathered up in every direction. Long as the days now were, it was past ten o’clock, and for a midsummer’s night really dark. The wind, too was sighing amongst the trees. There had been a long season of drought, and little eddies of dust kicked up by my mare’s hoofs, were blown disagreeably into my eyes. Still we thundered on and on. “ ‘When we get to the toll-gate we will go back,’ I kept repeating and repeating. “But wlien we did reach the gate, what was my amazement to see it wide open, and old Jakes, the toll-keeper was standing at one side, bis wife and little son having placed themselves just behind him. The moment he saw me approaching, he took off liis moleskin cap, waved it three or four times in the air, and shouted in a voice of great excitement:

“‘Here you are, Squire! I kept the gate open, for I knew you would be coming. You go through at once, Squire, and don’t wait to pay the toll until you are returning; and ride for your life, sir; ride for your life! And God bless you'sir! God bless you!”

“His words were utterly amazing, and the frantic gestures of excitement from his wife and son were only matched by his own. Starlight thundered through the open gate-way and on up the dusty road, and I felt my heart beating in the queerest state of ungovernable amazement. The frantic haste I had felt the very moment I had seen my mare saddled and bridled and standing waiting for me outside my own front door, was nothing to what now caused my heart to beat as though it must burst. Yes, there was no doubt about it; whatever the consequence, I must go forward and as rapidly as it was in the power of man and beast to go. “Presently we found ourselves in the open country, and a very barren piece of country it was. It was a road stretching across a great extent of heather and moorland, and not a living soul in sight. There were mile stones here and there to mark the way. and there was an old gibbet on whieh three robbers had hung not so many years ago, their bones clanking in the wind, and there was a blasted oak tree whieh the lightning had seared. All these objects stood out black and gaunt in the semi darkness of that summer’s night, and still Starlight and I kept the road, rushing on and on, and on. Starlight good horse, being quite willing to go anywhere, in any direction where I bade her go, and I, myself, in a state of absolute astonishment, not having the faintest idea what I was doing, or where I was being driven, for it came over me, as I rushed along that windy desolate track and dreary road, that something, superhuman, unaccountable, was directing my way, and that I was compelled to go I did not know where, and to do I did not know what. But by and by, as I rode, a sort of reaction took possession of me. The desire to go on and meet something unaccountable and unknown became fainter, the desire to return to my wife and child became more dominant. It is true, the toll-gate had not stopped me, for it was open, and I had rushed through as though propelled by a mighty power. But by and by there would be the ferry. The ferryman with his boat would not be in readiness at this hour of the summer’s night. I knew quite well the hours that the old ferryman kept. lie generally put up his boat, and retired to his’ cottage near by soon after nine o’clock. It was not far from eleven o’clock now. He would be in bed and asleep, having truly earned his night’s repose. “ T will not wake him,’ I said to myself. ‘I will go as far as the ferry, amt if he is not there, I will return. There is no mnnuer of use in taking this mad ride for ever. If the ferryman is not waiting, and of course he will not be waiting for me, Starlight and I will return homo quietly. We will go Lack over the miles of road, and forget (his night, and what impelled us almost to risk our lives in our speed to get Somewhere, and to do Something Unknown. Yes, it will be at the ferry that I shall stop. The ferry will put an cud to this extraordinary ndvtdture.’

“1 had to .ride several miles yet, to reach It, but - by" and by I saw the bend in the river, which very soon afterwards opened out into a landlocked harbour, and further on into another harbour, and then once more into the

restless main of the open sea. Th* clouds broke now and then overhead, and I could observe the gleaming of the water. Starlight and I could not swim across. The ferry would be our halting place. Afterwards we would quietly return.

“But as we approached the ferry, what was my amazement to see that the boat was still rocking on the water, and that the ferryman, a stalwart person, with long gray hair, and an unkempt beard, was standing up in the boat, swaying it slightly from side to side. He was looking up the road down whieh I was rushing, and when he saw me, he did exactly’ what the toll-keeper had done. He took off his tattered cap and waved it and shouted aloud in the still night air: “‘I knew you were comfiig, Squire Chalmers, and I kept the boat waiting for you. sir. There isn’t a minute to lose. In you get, sir, in you get! and I’ll ferry you across in a twinkling! For the Lord’s sake don’t delay, sir! Get in, get in! I knew well you were coming, and the wife could not get me indoors, try as she would; and neither bite nor sup have I tasted, for the thought of you, and the need that was bringing you. Here’s a place for the horse, sir. Here you sit. Get in, get in, Squire! I’ll soon have you ferried across the river.’ “Without a word I dismounted; without even the ghost of a remonstrance, I led my horse into the old ferry boat, the ferryman took the oars and I sat quiet, and dumb, in the midst of the boat with the strangest fear at my heart. “Jenkins on that night seemed to have the strength of ten men, so lustily did he ply the oars, and so rapidly did he propel the boat across the stream. “On the opposite side several men had collected, and when we neared the shore one of them shouted: “‘Faster, faster, Jenkins! It’s a case of life and death, you know. That’s right. Squire, we knew you’d come.’

“ £ For the Lord’s sake tell me what is the matter,’ I said to the men as I sprang on shore and helped Starlight to do likewise.

“But there was not a word from anyone. The men looked at me with that same strange fear in their eyes whieh I had already seen in the face of Jenkin*. It communicated itself to me. I had only one desire in life, and that was to go forward. I sprang on Starlight, without even waiting to pay the old ferryman, and was soon galloping up the High-street of the little town. In the street itself all was quiet, for people went to bed early in those days, but as I entered what was called Market-street and saw the market at one end and the new Court house at the further end, I perceived that several people were still up, and that the crowd which had assembled round the Court house when I left Chadwick early that evening was still there, only much greater in intensity.

“As soon as I appeared, the people made way for me right and left, and I drew up my panting horse exactly opposite the great row of steps which led into the court. A man came forward at once.

‘“lt’s all right, sir, yon go straight in, please. I’ll take care of the horse.* “I put Starlight’s reins into his hand without glancing at his face, and went straight up the steps, the people all watching me as I went. No one spoke a

word, as I disappeared through the thicW crowd into the Court house.

“The court where the prisoners were tried was a blaze of light caused by eandles and torches stuck against the walls, and the air was breathless and very hat and exhausted. I observed that there were crowds of people, mostly men, but also a few ladies, in the house, and all bending forward as though they were full of the most intense emotio*, and there was a great stillness, so still that you might have heard a pin drop. “ As soon as I appeared, everyone in the house looked at me, and there was a sort or murmur, for I came in all untidy and dusty from my ride, my hat in hand, and my hair tossed from my forehead. 1 carried my whip, and my spurs clanked at my heels. There were all those marks of that haste about me, which had certainly been mine during that marvellous ride. There was something about my appearance w hick evidently caused the most intense amazement, and then all of a sudden, the usher, who was standing close to the judge, said ‘Hush!’ and I looked towards the judge, and 1 saw that he had his black cap lying close to his side ; just then a door was opened to his left and the twelve gentlemen of the jury came out, having at that very moment decided on their verdict. They took their places gravely in the jury box, and I, led by no human being, but still overpowered by that Masterful Presence, which had compelled me to coma to the court, went up and stood between the judge and the prisoner. “ And then, for the first time, 1 looked full at the prisoner in the dock, and the face I saw was familiar to me. although just for a moment I could not remember where I had seen it before. Then, all of a sudden, I recalled that face, so gray, so sorrowful, with his eyes full of mute entreaty, that shaggy head, that poor exterior, and as I looked at the man, he looked full at me. I had never before seen such black lustre eyes as his were then, eyes from which all hope and almost intelligence had gone. But as he looked, back into his eyes there leapt a most golden, most rosy, most marvellous hope, and he stretched out his thin hands and he said imploringly—- “ ‘ You remember me. Once you and I supped together. You remember me. You will prove that I was with you at the hour the murder was committed. You will save my life!” “He had scarcely uttered the words before he sank in a dead heap on the floor. “ Well, that was about the principal part of the story. Of course I proved an alibi and saved the miserable life of the miserable man. But had I not been, so to speak, taken off my own feet and carried to that Courthouse by a Power stronger than my own, and by a Will greater than my own, the man would have been hanged by the neck, for the jury, as I entered the house, were just coming out with the verdict of ‘Guilty.’ “I cannot explain anything. What impelled my groom, what impelled myself, what impelled the man at the toilgate, what impelled the ferryman, all to conduct a witness to that courthouse to save an innocent man, lies amongst those inscrutable mysteries which another world will reveal.”