The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-01-13
wvtts. or ehs New Vera -.
HUNTED DOWN
BY MRS. ANN 9. srEPHsSB..
CHATTER vnu.

Bea, ne most accommodating and bost
hssrted creature In the word, VA seen orossing
ne river mounted on huge pair Of stilu which
BE- nanaged with astonishing dsxtsrity.
'Nsv, nswI" whispered Lucy, springing up
end running 10 the edge Of the greensvsrd a.
n he wsr. attracted by something creeping in
o. grs~. Then shs snatohcd up her bonnet,
waved Il high above her hcad and called out
oBs.. Ben I" Do como and tell me what this
Il In the grsss."
ben throw HI, stills on the bank and hAstsnod
toward them, his long arms swinging lsaily At
cab step, hh head bent forward and his mouth
n broad grin from sympathy with the girls
nnnis'sksble glee.
"Whsro Is IL 2" he ssked. stumbling forward,
stretching out his mock and looking on tho grass
to which Luey's little white fngor was point.
ing.
Lacy bent her head and struggled against
ths bupt Of laughter in hor throat as she moved
hr hager q little. and in soft cosxing man
nm wned him on.
"Thos 1t gOe. Como a step nearer, dear
Bsa-"
ben pu. his heavy fcot forward, and crash, down
he went into tho pit they had dug for him and
concealed 20 piooly with not work Of dry
sticks and wild cabbage leaves and layer Of
ssad smoo,htd uosoherously over the whole.
Tho two girls started up shouting, dancing
and hipging about their bonnets like crazy
creatures. II was too ridiculous Poor Ben,
W to his armpts in the sand, his groat o,'ss
staring with astonishment and 1is suporlstivoly
asiy face moving to and fro, first toward one
then the other Of his tormentors as thoy danced
sses, him ~ bent down leaning their brown
hsnds on their KNOBS half suffocsted with NOR
riInsnt, the better TO enjoy his wonderful grim
acs.
In vsis did the unEainly victim attempt to
throw up his long arms and polt them with
sand, tboir work had bosn done tn rJughly
the Dol, was 90 d,op; his arms were powerlosS,
and tho sand no Intended for thom fell in show
srs over tho nsss Of red hair which ilumin-
a.ed hi. r % head 40 intellectually pltntod, and
I, which there was no visible appondago save
nsoso lsDl arms playing in the air like wind
mills TO very little purpose or proat.
Poor Ben Every effort at oxtrica,ion sunk
an deeper in trouble and Increased tho saucy
Eirls mir'h 10 poifcc, convulsons Of laughter.
stu he struggled. writbing and distortug that
eKquisitoly ugly countenanco until it bo-
csmc absolutely too ridiculous. They could
endure il no longer, and fairly fell on the
ground laughing AID crying and shouting feo-
dy o. oVo'y new movement or gtimaco Of
thou victim. Tho very birds that lived in thu
old oln- bcIsn huttoring among tho leaves and
1sv across tho river tcIriloi 10y tho noise, and q
6sh.hsWk which was 6yifg over head wi h hi
talsLs extended for rome unfortunate porch
VIII Aid h. the cir, dsttSd up yard and away
te~sd lie ills, tcsr,d tom HI, oy hy tnrs,
aPo Q GU, sb,u,s
by tn, tine tie gil WorO c,mp'ot,ly out
Of breath add lay painting on the sand. Poor
Bon quito BUNDLED, bcgg Cd pi ,oously TO bc ro-
'ioased from his untimely burial. His ruoful
faoe almost set thom in commissions arow, but
tho unfortunate follow persuaded and threatened
with tosn in his eyes nutil at len 9Th they rose
and put forth ali tho strength they possessed in
m oaoft TO NNhumo him, but the work Of in,
oaroersuon had boon too thoroughly performed.
At overy struggle the sand gave way beneath
his feot aud his resurrection was thing whic
they had no power to accomplish quite unable
a. he was 10 rond,r the least assistance. 20 after
ltsruAte;y pulling and lsus hing for ten minutes,
htS found II absolutely neoes AIRY 70 go in search
Botsey johnson and entroat her 70 rescue her
svOs from his untmoly fate, but they deemed
prudent frat 70 extort . promise that no
complaint ihould DO made whom the old folks
returned homo.
SHOW Ber ;" s>d Lucy, aitdng down on the
bank, and ITO ping over vita an elbow planted
in her lap. her check resting en- one palm and
hsr laughing oyos bent on his comical looking
head at her iOet New Ben, II We go up aud
got Botsey. will you promise not to tell Of US
"Yos, Lucy, yes, hs replied, rolling up hi
syea until they mot that mischievous gaze snt
cot her Of in fresh spasm Of laughter.
"yOry well, said Lucy, nodding hSr hoar
Gravely, ~ II Ben and not she had boeu the cul
pit; "vsiy well but will you ak Botssy no
10 csnpl.in OF ns, lot 10 say any thing about ou
playing truant or breaking grandm.'s hone,
sudds vines or"
'Bstssy won't mind mo-" interrupted B,r
adsfuily; show do l know what Botsoy viii
sAyI-I-"
Bsnis face grow rcd as his hair and no begal
70 look particularly foolish about the eyes.
"WsIi, then, taid Lucy, turning to Sophia
and gathering heI bonnet up, OTIS time t
90 hom,. Somebody may cross the ford in
week or two-I dare say Botsey johnson woul
not come If wo asked her."
"Oh, yes abe would, pleaded Beu do as
ker, Lucy now do-thst's nice gal, "
Lucy shook her head, and Il, appealed TO S.
vhia.
"SOphy, Misc Sophy; yUH 20, th,'s
rood critter."
But I'm not good, rotorted Sophia, not
whit softened by his distress 4" it was OH
yesterday you called me an imp"
., Wal you make BotsOy keep quiet 2" POI
slated Lucy, keeping Sophia back with OF
hand
"Tu-ln try; answered poor Boa.
swell, you must do it this very evening
no matter If it isn't Sunday night coutiuu,
sho, laughing slyly as Bon's face grow &c
again.
- But remember she must keep i Ill to hs
Aoli-she terra frocks, broken sweotmaat jar Al
everything
."TsS y's, exclaimed Beu, BE- iucog to Ii
tort b;s face again, ".ll ,vc,y ihjag. On
do Iei mo 0ug." That imp "a point oo,'
settied, he gi,ls went 10 each ot Bets.
and 1000 br ugtt her doNa 70 the river, pSn
ing Rnlry ssld vet half olioy.ug the tri,