White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-16

grieved and surprised, for felt so, " did you ev-
er know of my peeping or meddling, or asking
questions about anything that wasn't my bust
ness to knowl'
No, my DEAR said he, and put his lips to
mine as he said it; know you amt like any
of the rest of your sex that ever saw, and I've
often thought you couldn't bear any relationship
to old Eve, because you are so destitute of curl
osity."
Twas so used to being praised by him that
wasn't taken by surprise at his gallant speech,
so merely said
"May-be I've got common sense enough to
keep my curiosity within its proper bounds, and
that's all the reason I'm any better on that score
than other women"
"Yes, yes, that's it," said he, "and you de-
serve all the more praise for that, because you
resist the temptation and others DON'T"
Then he kissed me again-you know there is
no harm in telling ont now that I'm an old wo-
man--and telling me to remember and have ev-
ervthing ready, he left the room.
/ kept one hired girl, and prime good one
she was, too-not such help as we get now-a-
days, that can't do anything but crimp and curl
their hair to catch the fellers-I could trust her
with almost any secret, and never knew her TO
betray it.
"Well, when It was dark, called her into
the other room, away from the rest of the fapi-
ly, and says L
Betty, (that was her name,) they're agJis,"
to make Free-Mason of Tim scriggins to-
night, and if you'll promise to be Free Mason,
too, you shall see them initiate him.
Betty laughed and clapped her hands, saying
she promised and lenged for the hour to come.
"Well," says /, "you get the large gridjron
and put it on the kitchen fire, and be sure that it
gets red-hot at the proper time"
Betty understood in moment Her compre-
hensive powers were nearly as large as her
body, and that weighed two hundred, down
weight.
By-andbye Tim came in, and seating him
self by the fire, eyed the gridron with a woful
countenance.
Betty stood near, and occasionally stirred the
fire under it, as il she was in Il hurry to get it
hot.
Tim began fdgeting in his chair, and at last
he couldn't bear it any longer; so, he asked Bet
ty in low voice, as if afraid of being overheard,
what she was heating that gridiron for.
"Why," says she, didn't you know they
were going to make another Free-M Mason, to-
night7"
And she looked as solemn as the grave.
Tin gave another look at the iron, now grow
ing as red as the Goals beneath it, then glanced
at the door, as If he thought he could vet escape
the horrid torture; but at that moment nv hus
band accompanied BY half dozen Others enter
ed, and geing directly to him, took him BY the
hand and led him from the room. saying to Betty:
I'VE will be ready in FIVE minutes"
At these words, poor Tim gave groan so ter
rible that II fairly started me from nv chair,
where had been seated behind the cellar door,
out of sight, but seeing all that was going on.
As soon as they were fairly out of the room,
Betty and I started for the closet She had car
ried our big churn, an Old-fashioned tall one,
such as they used in them days, into the closet
for US to stand on.
Well, we mounted the churn, first, and Bet
ty behind me, because she was the tallest and
could look ever my shoulder.
They were, blind folding Tim when we first
looked; then took of his bree-unmentionables
/ believe they are now called-then one Of the
Masons said in very solemn voice
Mr.. Petgew, we are ready"
Then my husband opened the door, and poor
Tim thought he was after the gridiron, of course,
and oh how he did tremble and shake from head
to fost.
"Are you cOldr' asked one of the Masons,
solemnly. . 4
Eyes," he grOaned out, and thought Betty
would have busted.
Whispered to her to be careful, forshe shook
so, thought she would fall of the ehurn, though
could hardly help laughing right out myself,
and We stuffed our aprons into our mouths.
"YOu will soon be warm enough" the Mason
replied, in the same solemn tone.
Just then nay husband entered the room, lug
ging cake Of ice as big as our great Bible, and
laying it in chair, tive of the Masons took hold
of Tim, one hold of each arm, to steady him,
and sat him down.
But no sooner had the ice come in contact
with his naked extremities, than he gave one
leap, and with yell as horrible as an Indian
war-Vhoop, sprang from the men who we're hold
ing him, and bounded nearly 70 the chamber
door.
At this, Betty could contain herself no longer,
and grasped the cupboard for support. 1t wasn't
nailed up very strong, and as she was so heavy,
it yielded to her grasp and came down with
crash that sounded ike ten thousand drums all
beating different tune, and Betty came on the
top of it. 1t didn't hurt her much though, and
she had presence of mind enough not to scream.
l chung to the churn and the sides of the door to
zee the game out.
Tim thought 70 be sure he had arrived % the
lower regions, and all the impz1f darkness had
united in one graEd chorus Of welcome, and tear