Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1866-05-03
PART

Gr.f
Mr.. Ducklow had scarcely turned the
corner of the street, when, looking anx-
iously in the direction of his homestead,
he saw a column of smoke, 1t was di-
rectly over the spot where he knew bis
house to be satisfied. He guessed at
glance what had happened. The
frighlful catastrophe foreboded had be-
fallen. Taddy had set the house afre.
/ Them bonds! them bonds he ex-
claim ed, distracledly. He did not think
so much of the house: house and furni.
lure were insured if they were burned
the Inconvenience would be great indeed
and at any other time the thought Of
such an. event would have been a suffi-
cient cause for trep idation.-but now bis
chief, his only aHxiety was the bonds
They were not insured They would be
a dead loss. And what added sharpness
to his pangs, they would be a loss which
he must keep q secret, as he had KEEP
their existence secret,--a loss which be
could hot confess, and of which be could
not complain. Had he not just givn hl:
neighbors tO. understand that he had nC
such property ? And his wife,-was she
not at that very moment, if not serving
up lie on the subject, at last pairing the
truth very thin indeed?
"A man would think observed Fer.
ring, that Ducklow had some O. them
bonds Oh his hands, and got scaret he
took such sudden start. He has, has
MT he, Mrs. Ducklow g
Has what a. said Mrs. Ducklow, pre-.
tending ignorance.
Some O. them cowpon bonds. rarh'
er guess he's got some,'
You mean GOv'ment bonds ! Duck
low some That amt al all likely he'd
speculate in them, without. saying some
thing to me bout it No, he could n
have any without my knowing, it, Pm
sure =
How demure, how innocent she look
ed, plying her knitting needles, and
STOPPING to take up a stitch How lit
tie at that moment she knew of Duck.
lows trouble, and its terrible cause 70
Ducklow's first impulse was to drive
on and endeavor at all hazards to snatch
the bonds from the flames. His mex
was, to return and alarm his neighbors
and obtain their assistance. But min
ute's delay might be fatal !, SO he drove
on, screaming Fire! fire at the top ci
his voice.
But the old mare was a slow-fOoteC
animal and Ducklow had no whip
He reached forward and struck hel
with the rains.
Git up! git uP!-Firel Firep scream
ed Ducklow. oh, them bonds then
bonds Why didn't l give the none!
to Reuben Fire fire 2
But dint of screaming and slappin.
urged her from a trOt into a gallop
which was scarcely an improvement a
to speed, and certainly not as to grace
1t was like the gallOp of an old cow
why do nj ye go along = be cried de
spairiDgly.
Slap, slap He knocked his own ha
of with the loose end of the reins.
fell under the wheels. He cast one loo
behind, 10 satisfy himself that it ha
been very thoroughly run over an
crushed into the dirt, and left it to ii
fate.
Slap, slap! Fire fire Canter, can
ter! NeighbOrs looked out of their wiz
dOws, and, recognizing DUO klOw's wac
on and old mare in such an astonishin
! plight, and Dueklow without his ha
rising from his seat, and reaching fol
ward in wild attitudes, brandishing h
reins, at the same Gme rendjng the a;
ure with pells, thought be must be il
sane. f7
He drove to the top of the bill, an
looking beyond in expectation of seein