Nebraska advertiser., 1866-04-26
.rhaddeus,, cried Mrs. DackIOw.

Il was Thaddeus, indeed, who, awaklns
from a real dream Of The drum this time
and hearing conversation In the room be
low, had once more descended the stair
to listen. What were the old people
hiding under The carpet Il must be
those Curious things in the envelope. =
And what were those things, about whiel
so much mystery seemed necessary
Taddy was peeplng and considering
when he heard his name called. Hs
would have glided back TO bed again, ,bu
MrsDucklow, who sprang TO the stairway,
door, was TOO quick for him
What do you want now 90 she deman.
ded.
IL wan; you to scratch my back,
said Taddy.
As he had often come to her with this
innocent request, after undressing fol
bed, he did not see why the excuse
would not pass as readily'as the previous
one of sOmnambulism. But Mrs. Duck
low was in no mood TO be triAed with.
'I'll scratch your back for ye' And
seizing her rattan, she laid it smartlv On
the Troublesome part. to the terror and
pain of poor. Taddy, who concluded that
too much Of a good thing was decidedly
worse than nothing. There, you. Sir,
that's scratching that'll last ye for one
while ? &
And givine him two or three parting
cuts not confined 10 the region of the
back, but falling upon the lower latitude
which they marked like SO many geo.
graphical parallels. she dismissed him
with a shap injunction not to let himself
be seen or heard again that night.
Taddy Obeyed, and, crying himself TO
sleep, dreamed that be was himself a
drum, and that Mrs. Ducklow beat him.
Father p called Mrs. Ducklow TO her
husband, who was at the barn, do you
know what time il is / wouldn't think
of going over there tonight they'll be
all locked, up. and abeds and asleep, like
as not.
Wal, / s'pose 1 must do as you say,
replied Mr.. DucklOw, glad Of an excuse
not to go-Miss Beswick's visit having
left him in exlreemly low spirits.
Accordingly, after bedding down the
horse and fastening the barn, he return,
ed to the kircken; and Soon the pros
porous couple retired to rest.
Why, how restless you be y exclaim-
ed Mrs. Ducklow, IN the middle of the
night. What's the reason ye can't
sleep!'
Il don't know grOaned Mr.. Ducklow.
can't sleep thinkin' o. Miss Bes-
wick. Inever was SO worked at any lit
tie thing
We'll, well! forget it, father; and do
go to sleep"
i feel ought to have gone over to
Reuben's And l should have gone, if
it hadn't been for you.'
Now how unreasonable TO blame me =
said Mis-. Ducklow 'Ye might have
gone l only reminded ye how late it
was. M
Mr.. Ducklow groaned. and turned
over. He tried to forget Miss Beswick,
Reuben and the bonds, and at last be
fell asleep.
'Fathern whispered Mrs. Ducklow,
awaiking him.
What's the matter g
i think-rm pretty sure-hark !
heard something sounded like somebody
Citing into the kitchen winder 9
'I.'s your Nervousness. Yet Mr..
D ucklOw listened for further indications
Of burglary. why can't ye be quiet
and go to sleep, as you said TO men
'Im sure heard something Any
body might have looked through the
blinds and seen US puIting-yOu know
under the carpet
Nonsense ! it amt at all likely
But Mr.. Ducklow was more alarmed
than he was willing 10 confess He
succeeded in quietiug his wife's appre-
tensions but at the same time the bur-
den of solicitude and wax fulness seemed
to pass from her mind only TO rest upon
his own. She Soon after fell asleep
but he lay awake, hearing burglars IN
all parts of The house for an hour lon
ger.
'Wha. nOw7' srddpnly exclaimed
Mrs DucklOw, starting up in bed.
4 thought l might as well git up and
satisfy myself replied her husband. in
4 low, agitatid voice.
He had risen, and was grouping his
way to The kitchen.
IS there anything g she inquired,
after listening long with chilling blood,
expecting at each moment to hear him
nocked down or throttled.