Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-02-08

W hen Uncle Joshua came IN, fahhy WA
on her knees brushing up some shreds IN
to the dust-pan. Unobserved, she man.
aged to put her lips to a knot-hole and
whisper, Can you breathe 2" to which
Nathan as softly replied, Yes, but it is
awful hot here"
Uncle Joshua sat down and called Fnn-
ny to his knee.
Y gu look pale, child and you're troub-
led. What al you? Tell your father.
> Fanny"
: am not sick, father, indeed | am
: not. How can be sick | am not /;
but [ do wish Mr.. Jacobs would 60 away,
for can't bear him ~
What, and you wouldn't marry him,
; Fanny, if he should ask you tor
"Me? No, never, never ~
"Well, spose that young scamp, Ma
: than, has something to do with that Y
Don't call him a young scamp, fa-
: ther."
Mustn't ch Oh, | s'pose you think
) he'll make me one of the best OF son-in-
laws, and would not be carrying you of
} from the old home as some OF them chaps
do and that he'd work the farm as grew
old, and all that"
Indeed, indeed, yes! know he
would !" eagerly exclaimed Fanny.
WELL" said Uncle Joshua, dryily, II
don't intend to let him try that game yet
awhile Run and get me glass of cold
water, that's good child"
| Fanny cast an anxious look towards
the lounge, and left the room. The in
stant she vanished, Mr.. Jacobs threw up
the curtain and stepped through the win
dow.
Mr. Gray" he said in low voice. II
come to bid you adieu. After knowing
Miss Fanny's feelings toward me, rs l
learned them this afternoon, | can no lon
ger stay. could have loved your daugh-
ter, sir and would have been glad to have
lent my wealth towards embelshing this
fine old place, but Miss Fanny has wilIed
it otherwise, and I've nothing more to
say
"All right" said Uncle Joshua, blunt
ly; 4" as for the place, it's got along SO tar
with my means, and l don't want no one
elses money to keep it up for the rest of
my days. As for Fanny, she's a girl OF
good judgment, and if she don't like you,
| s'pose she has reasons for it,
No doubt she has" Mr.. Jacobs said
quietly, very much netted, "and if you
lift up the lid Of the lounge yonder,
presume you'll find about six feet of her
reason i'll there"
Ia los bt,n raf Of hnt
pretending not to notice Mr.. Jacobs re-
marks, he bade him goodbye.
When Fanny re-eutercd the room her
father was lying quietly on the lounge.
Bring me pillow Fanny, | believe
III take a nap"
Hadn't you better 60 into the other
ROOM father, til cooler there
No, child, I'll stay here, believc,and
spose you sit down and keep the flies of
me while | snoozc."
Poor Fanny; there was no alterna-
tive-but the pcrspiration poured from
her face in sympathy with poor Nathan.
who she really believed would melt in the
close box, The minutes slipped by-her
father still slept-and with tears on her
check she again put her lips to the lounge
and said, " Can you breathe ?''
What, that, child ?" said Uncle
Joshua, instantly opening his eyes, dill
YOU ask if | could breathe? dreamt'
you did, It's dcuccd hot hcrc-but | can
/ breathe, oh yes
The next minute he WIS snoring again,
an Fanny, in despair, sat tanning away
the flies, not daring to ask Nathan anoth-
er question, but suddenly she heard him
say softly, Fanny"
" Fanny, said Uncle Joshua, quickly,
without opening his eyes, some one is
calling you-run, dear, it may be your
aunt; and Fanny, kiss me. Goodnight.
child, its your bedtime and you must 60
at once You need not come back"
In a few minutes Nathan heard Cnclo
Joshul snoring again, and he made up
his mind there was no use OF trying to
endure this any longer. His clothes were
saturatc! with perspiraton, his brain was
throJbiug, aud Il steam bath was nothing
to thi, h0rrid Incarceration. He was get
tin. nervous, too, the dimensions OF his
box were 50 like 4 coffin, H. shulderod.
and the pcrspiration poured out faster
than ever. - suddenly drawing up his
kuse, AMI pu,hins with the palms of his
hruls, H. tried to lift the lid of the box.
H. 81 caedei in raising it about an inch.
IIaloo, cried Uncle Joshua, halo
within there, what's to pay? Is anybody
IN = tight box"
Nathan suppressed a groan.
" Halo, say, are there any spirits IN
this lounge as would like to communicate
with me- If 50, let them rap
Nathan gave three very emphatic raps.
The hopa 81 llenly entered his heart that
he could frightcn his tormentor off.
Are YOU 4 relation ~ Three moro
distinct raps.
Are vou dead relation %
Almost" groancd Nathan in his most
sepulchra tones.
Uu.lc Joshua chuckled, II think l
know your voice, spirit" he said +" it
sound, wonderfully like my nephew Ma
thal's who used to be hanging round here
after my Fanny haint seen him in
some time-hes an honest fellow, and
kept promise he made me not to como
here no morc-hes an honorable chap and
sticks to what he says, Well spirit of
Nathan, what do you want ~
Dh IFnola Inshuo '" prOaned Nathan