The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-12-06
GRANNY LEATHAMS REVENGE.
[Continued
TIT

The moon was just dropping behind the
roof of the homestead when the door bolts
which Mrs Leatham, some hour and "a hall
before, had fastened iu their proper places,
were gently unfastened from within; and as
the dog. aroused by the noise, but puzzled
at the quarter whence it came, came sniff
ing and growing out of his kennel in the
yard, two figures, one little and one large,
the latter hobbling on a crutch and stick,
passed over the threshold. Matty, appar-
emily on an intimaticn from granny, for they
were the couple, gided swiftly across to-
wards the dog who began to leap at his
chain on recognizing them. A harsh whis-
per from granny, however, checked his en-
thusiasm, and he quietly licked Matty's pale
face, as with trembling little hands she un,
did his COLLAR setting him at liberty. The
brute then frisked about, going with them
in the direction of the gate, and in his sur
prised delight gave yelp or two; but quick
blow from the old woman's stick sent him
sinking to the rear Turning about gran
ny's black eyes, which seemed to glisten in
the dim light, eagerly surveyed the house.
All seemed silent there /: so she motioned to
Matty to open the gate. With the dog fol-
lowing, they then passed into the lane, the
hedges on either side of which were spark
ing with dewdrops where the light of the
ow moon lit them, but all being in deep
shadow where it did not. ..s Pa
''Pick it up; it'll do for the fost gate, "
said granny recovering herself from rough
stumble against stone on the road.
Matty stopped and CROPPED for the stone,
which she found, and placed in her pima
fore.
prop a. the gates open as 20 go through
bur remember an shut em again when yo,
come back, so as they mayn't know which
road hur went"
"Yes granny" answered the girl. putting
up a riDglet or two which had tumbled
down upon her neck in STOPPING
''Theer's sure to be nobody theer wi 'en;
theyn go down to look how they are early
of mornings" granny muttered, minute
later, as if talking to herself; but she in
stantly added, addressing Matty, Let Snap
90 bit afore yo' up tn Hollow's field, an
if he growIs, come back, an we'll try an
other night. Be a good dog-be good dog
an dunner yo' bark" she said, as Snap,
hearing his name mentioned, came from be-
hind; and, this time she rubbe him with
the BUICK 1DSb6au OL
"Drive her nicely, and don't bite her,
whispered Matty, STOPPING to fondle the dog
as he came to her side.
'.He mum bite bur, to run hur at gap il
tn hedge, if tn gate O tn field is fastened, .
said granny, sharply. Pick badly lookin
un. Matty, that looks worst o the lot" she
added, fiercely. He! he! tn Astburys are
quiet i their beds; James dunner know
what's afoot."
NO granny. II hope it won't kill al
their cows!
IF it does, they should ner ha' made light
O. Mark"
s.They shouldn't granny; that is what
think" the girl responded, with an old fash
toned air II am not afraid shall and SNAP
go on faster2' she asked, i'll voice not very
firm.
''Yo' may as well, for cannot go further
than tn lane enGs: my limbs hurt mt
wretched hard But I'd ha' come if they
had been twice as bad" she fercely added
81 shall be at tn finger post afore yo cal
get back there wi tn COW Leave the doc
@ the sheep shed open; they'n maybe think
bur streyed," she hoarsey called after Mat
ty. who with the dog, was already hasten
streak of road shut in by the black silver
topped hedgerows. Granny then siacKenec
her own hobble, but made up for that oy
chuckIing with increased emphasis.
The business on which the crone and tn
child were intent is already clear. was
wrong to say that granny was the moder,
tvpe of ancient witch OF the village! Josep
had resisted her temptation, but little Matt
had no powers of opposition, and SUCH nc
tions of right and wrong as she had the au
tboritv of her grandmother confused. Mis-
giyines she might have, but 1T seemed t
her that granny could not be very wron
in punishing the Astburys, who were so III
kind TO Mark; and the wickedness OF adopt
inp the introduction of the pest into tn
village as the means, was partially obscure
by the destinations of the mysterious noe
turnal expedition Granny resolutely tot
ed along the road stopping now aud the
to strain forward, eagerly gazing and listen
ing in the direction in which her grandchil
and the dog had gone. The moon, howev
er, was now nearly down; the silver ha
vanished from the tops of the field-fences
leaving nothing but the huge forms of tn
trees distinctly visible, and the night Al
carried a sound of chill rustling Of leavs
through which the ripple of running wat'
in the yke made itself heard. Once the or
Of a rabbit or hare startled the old woma
but she Instantly understood what it wa
and ouly chuckled at 1t. At length 81
reached a spot where several lands converi
"a the Iaue-ends she spoke OF IN her ia
with Matty; here she paused at the foot OF
white inger-post standing IN the center
the little open space, Propping herself sell -
against it with her crutoh and stick for 8:
part. Frequently she changed her Poslti
for her aching limbs grew intoleraoly pa
fol; but she never turned her face from 100
ing down the sloping lane to the LETT ma
though nothing could be made out IN
black hollow it formed.
THE dog d ha' barked if anythink b
happened, " she murmured by-and-by,fo fol,
minutes seemed to be growing longer tn
the way, although it was good distan
even thence to the infected farm. "Ah,i