Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-14

my own. The steps were taken, and she held
for moment fondly by the sleeves ofmy blue
broad-cloth, before we looked up to the win
dow, both with appraised hands, to catch a
small bundle of clothing that Fanny was to
throw down to US, and which we had no other
means to carry with us.
"Be quiet, Fam" whispered Janet, as her
sister appeared at the window, and poised the
bundle above our heads. "Be quiet, Fan, "
for heavens sake, and drop it quickly!'
| But Fanny still stood there, swinging back
ward and forward the huge bundle, without
needing Janet's earnest entreaties.
'Do, do throw it, Fanny dear! Do have
some mercy ON me? What if father should
know of this? What if he should be ava
kened ?"
"La, give it to her Fan don't plague your
sister, she's in hurryr' called a voice at that
moment from the closed blinds at the parlor
windows, which belonged to none other than
DR.. Stoddard.
"Give her the things, and tell the boys to
carry out bag of corn, a cheese, some wheat
| and butter to the cart Janet must have a
setting out. Only be still about it, Fam"
For moment we were petrifed upon the
spot; l thought should fall to the ground.
What should we do-run, faint die, evaporate
or 60 mad? While we stood undecided, two
huge mattresses fell at our feet from the win
dow, followed at once by sheets, pillow cases,
table cloths, and sundry other articles neces-
sary to the setting mp Of a respectable house.
keeping establishment.
feather bsds belong to Jane?" called Charlie
Stoddard, from one part of the house.
Yes, yes, and bolster, and pair of nice
1o~, &c c,o- u
door," was the answer.
"Whose horse have you, Jason ?' asked
the doctor, pushing up the blind; "your faith
er's?"
"Y-e-e-s sir" stammered.
"Humph! didn't you know better than
that? that old grey isn't worth button to 60.
Why didn't you come to my barn and get my
black mare? Sam, Sam, hurry away straight
to the barn and harness black Molly for Jason.
If you'll believe it, he was going to start off
with his fathers old horse! Be quick Sam
work lively-they're in hurry; it's time they
were off,
"Have you anything with you Janet, to eat
her head out of the window.
"No ma a'am," faltered Janet, moving step
or two from me.
w Cll tildI SOOu Alu d. L
live, there isn't bit of cake cooked in the
house, either Can you make some bread and
bacon, and some brown bread and cheese do,
Jason. It's all we have.
"Yes ma'am," l said meekly, stepping
easily as l could little further from Janet.
Look, father and mother, quick, now
the moon is out, and see Jason's new coat
and hat !" called Fan, from the window, her
merry voice trembling with suppressed laugh
ter "Isn't that splendid one, father p
just look at the length of its tails -
"Just give me my glasses, wife," said the
doctor. "ls it new one, Jason?"
"Yes sir, rather new," said, giving an
eager look in the direction of the land.
"Well," drawled the doctor eyeing me
slyly, st that coat is handsome ~
"And his hat, father 7" called the wicked
little Fan.
81 declare p exclaimed the DOCTOR "Wife,
wife, look here, and see Jason's coat and
hat p
What should do; stand there till morning
before that incessant fire of words? Should
run? Should sneak off slowly, as Janet
was doing? What, oh what should do !?
"Don't they look nice, mother ?'' asked
the doctor, putting one broad brown hand
over his mouth, and doubling his grey head al
most down to his knees. "He-haw, he-haw,
hi lie-llaw Mother-ho haw don't they
look NICE" roarcd the doctor.
81 couldn't stand it any longer. The doc
tor slaughter was signal it was echoed from
all parts of the house. Fan cackled from the
chamber window; Sam shouted from the
barn; Mrs. Stoddard "he-ho-ho'd !" from
the kitchen; while Charlie threw himself down
in the doorway and screamed like wild In
lian. turned around; gave a leap across
the garden. Every Stoddard called after me.
l am wrong; every Stoddard but janet she
remained silent. One told me to come back
for the bread and cheese another that had
forgotten my bundle and bride; another bade
me wait for black Molly and the new buggy
Fan bade me hold upmy coat tails, or should
get them draggled. didn't heed any of these
requests; went directly for home. reached
home, feeling sheepish-no, sheepish is weak
word for it, can't expess to you how felt.
had a great idea of hanging myself; l thot
had better be dead than alive; that had
made an idiot of myself l vowed vengence
upon her until daylight, then sneaked out to
the barn and hid in the haystack l staid
there until Charlie Stoddard brought my ia
ther's horse.
The old gentlemrn was frightened wanted
to know how he cvme by the horse. He was
told to ask me, he did ask me, and made a
clean breast of it; didn't promise him not to
| repeat the offense; there was no need of it
but am sure of this did not look at CIR
for seven years-no, not for seven years.
When the eighth year came round, remem.
bered my old VOW against Fanny Stoddard.- -
| Well, to make a long story short, married
Fanny. Janet became a parsons wife.
And here let me tell you in confidence
reader, that really think little Fanny Stod
dard had very deep motive in her head wher
she betrayed Janet and me, though she was
but child. She liked me, even then, be-
lieve. Well, at any rate she declares every
time that the affair is mentioned, that have
had my revenge upon her. Bless her faithful
heart, it has indeed been sweet one!