The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-12-06
BY SCHOFF. VINEGAR & co.

from Deninu ner. bur they know Tn ROAD
weel enough" '
Theamist grew rapidly, swiftly rising from
graDny's ankle to her knee, and thence to
her head, causing her to cough. at which
she became illtempered even with her self,
stamping with her stick upon the ground,
talking and coughing at once, the former
Ionly irritating the latter, but her Impotence
would not permit her to be silent. 1t seem
ed to her that the whole night of time had
elapsed, but presently her ear, which, though
dulled a little from age, was then quckened
by her feelings, detected a regularly recur-
ring hoarse breathing sound; almost at the
same instant smothcred yelp by dog was
heard Snap was aware of the old wo,nan's
vicinity.
"Matty! Matty' whispered granny in
high excitement as she hobbled forward in
to the mist SIS -*.aa
at cau't hardly walk" came in frighten
ed, girlish tones out of the fog, the voice
sounding like, and yet unlike, that of Mat
ty. Isn't it dying?'
''kick at the dog! They'n know his bark, "
the old woman angrily said, as poor Snap,
proud of his part af the performance, again
gave mouth in recognition of granny. Mean
while the apparently gigantic figure of the
stricken cow doomed slowly through the
mist, its labored breath coming in loud puffs
from the heavy dependent head, and its feet
dragging sharply on the stony road
lis this how they are?" said the old woman
crawling forward to peer at the Inflated
beast, which had come to standstill-its
long neck dropping till the vapor- blowing
nostrils nearly touched the ground, and its
whole body painting at each gasp. III ur's
very bad" added granny. hobling around
Ter, and even touching her damp, smoking
dappled hide
LET her go back, pleaded Matty, in thin
shrill tones
sch! Yo' go OIL, an open their hone-6eld
gate. Look up for tn trees, they'n tell you
wheer it is, though it is foggy," was the
quick, tart, and resolute reply; and, as she
said it. she struck the poor COW with her
stick, to get it again in motion. Down
WI 20, Snap she added recalling the dog
from following the child who in hesta-
ting manner, went forward as directed.
''Coo-oop' and she struck the suffering
beast again, but a third blow had to be Civ
en- before it stirred Slowly it staggered,
guided by granny, towards the dim opening
of the middle road of the three in front,
which was the one leading to Astbury's
farm Another instant and the embod- |
led pest had crossed the bouudary-the |
plague had been wilfuly introduced into an
other parish
The complaining breathing of the suffer
ing beast increased in loudness, and its steps
were more and more unsteady; but slowly
it labored along through the fog, the half
crippled old woman at its heels, releutlesly
urging it on whenever it attempted to stop,
1t was a long journey yet, and granny oc-
casionally surveyed the sides Of the road,
noting the trees as if they were landmarks
to her Once or twice she even ventured to
call out, afraid she had passed the scene of
her Intended vengeance. Byand-by Mattys
slight figure came suddenly from some
where in the mist, aud with level arm 81
lently indicated the gap made by an opened
gate to the left of the road.
"Are yo' sure? Wheer are tn big trees?"
nervously inquired her grandam, looking
upwards The tall forms of several large
trees could be indistinctly made out over
head in the smoking fog, and at the sight of
these the old woman grew much excited.
Strong enough at that moment to dispense
with all support for her limbs, she flourished
ing COW cruelty, Kissed it forward through
the gate ''Theer! Make light O Leath-
am now, yo' bits of Astburys!" she shrily
said, shaking her stick in triumph, as the
stricken animal. numbering along, vanished
out of sight into the home-feld leading to
the farm.
Matty went creeping close to the old wo-
man side, and in a timorous way urged
her to start on their return; but granny re-
manned on the same spot, chuckling i'll ell
| ioyment of her achievement, although she
too, trembling in every limb from agitation.
The dull bark of dog-not sounding from
the Astburys house, but rather in the rear
to which Snap growled a yelping reply,
broke the spell, and granny hastily moved
to 60 back home.
1t was laborious journey, for the fatigut
began now to tell on her aged limbs,
and involuntary groans checked her wheezy
chuckles. Matty went on little ahead
with the dog, fully occupied-until they
got near home, when the fog all at once ter
uinated-in acting as pioneer,
when Yo hear as Astbury's COWS are
badly, dunner let EN- see auythink in yo', /"
muttered the old lady, as they turned again
into their own lane, the wicked errand sue
cessfuliy completed.
No, granny .
| ''l'm ner sorry we're heer;my ovid bones
are full o pain. Fasten Snap up, an come
in gently, for | dunner think Mark sleeps
sound now" she added, diverging towards
the house, her dragging steps showing that
she was almost exhausted.
Matty did as she was bid, and minute
or two later, the bolts of the homestead
door were pushed softly back into their pla-
ces from within, and all once more was ST.
lent there.
".
The next morning the whole parish was
astir with excitement. Very early the de-
ceased COW was missed at Bates's farm, and
a little later it was found in Astburys home
croft just in the act of dying 1t had APP.
preached within a hundred yards of the
lighthouses, and was only discovered after
Astbury's own COWS were in an adjoining
enclosure. At first the beast was not rec
ognized to be one of Batess but there was
no installing the symptoms of the disease
and the constable was forthwith communi-
Gated with. Before long the news was got
Ahat one of the stricken animals at the Firs
was missing, ana luenClucatlon Iheh was
leasy. 1t was this which Intensified the ex-
element, for it was preposterous to suppose
that it bad happened in the ordinary way
, of cattle wandering. Farmer Astbury said
r somebody wanted to ruin him, and Farmer
3 Bates, whom it subjected to penalty as
r well as to suspicion, vociferated his limo
: cence The clergyman and the squire were
D soon upon tina spot; indeed, the whole vii
, lsge was in council, all common duties be.
e ing at stand AS the first proceeding o.
: all, the poor dead beast was buried where
k it lay, and every precauton that could bt
a thought of in the way of disinfectants was
If used. Then the inquiry was entered upor
p as to how the animal could have come t
D be where it was found instead of in til,
N sheep house in the hollow at home? With