Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-31

mint on the steps to listen, he'd
unlock the door and make his en-
trance and lock it behind him, and in
five minits them back chamber win
ders would be blazin' with light and
we'd see dreadful shaders on the cur
tins, and such noises that felt as if
somebody was pouring ice water right
down the spine of my back. 1t was
enough to make your blood run cold"
"What kind of noises ?" asked
Mrs. Perkins, shivering and drawing
near Miss Strickland, as if for pro-
lection.
"Oh, the most terrible sounds that
ever you heard; groans, as if some
body was almost killed alive; and
cries of oh, oh, Oh and ah,' and
'um,' and ratlin' of chairs and some
times something would fall so heavy
that the very winders ratified"
"Oh, gudeness meT
"l don't wonder you turn pale,
Mrs. Perkins-it's enough to make
any one turn minister, too--a man
that sets himself up for a NOODLE and
patron for the people"
"But what on earth can it mean ?"
asked Mrs. Perkins.
"I'll tell you" said Miss Strick-
land, impressively, I've studied it
all out"
Its counterfeiting these ere Unit
ed States bonds" said the deacon,
that's what he's about. They say
he's got a sight of bonds over to
Spruceville bank, and III bet ten dol
lars they are all counterfeit. Tread
about how the country was flooded
with EN-; and he's a maxim of 'em-
that's what he's about"
No, deacon, you're wrong" said
Miss Strickland, positively. He's
got a crazy wife shut up in that back
chamber"
Goodness gracious " cried Mrs.
Perkins. "Why he's got a wife tu
hum"
That makes no difference in
these. He's a bigotist. You may
depend ont that he's got another
wife beside poor Mrs. Howard; and
she's shot up in that chamber. Don't
you remember that when the How
ards moved here they came in the
night? Wall they had reason for it.
Kitty Malone, stop your giggIing.
You're blazy enough materially; but
when you giggle so, you're red as
poppy"
Never mind, dear" said Tom
Chester, squeezing Kitty's plump little
hand under the table. " It's a great
deal better to be poppy than a sun
flower, and going to seed at that"
"Ive noticed that Mrs. Howard's
eyes are always red" said Mr.. Per,
kins.
a thought they were weak; that's
what she told me, " said his wife.
" Crying makes weak eyes, said
Mrs. Swcetser; tain't likely she'll
say that it was crying, though. She's
got some pride, | reckon"
Wall, what shall be done about
it?' asked the deacon. Miss
Strickland what do you say p
Just what have said from the
first deacon. We will arm ourselves,
and march in a body to the house
burst the door open-rush up stairs
and surprise him in his iniquity."
And then the outraged citizens OF
SprucevilIe drew nearer together and
laid their plans and concurred in
Miss Strickland's opinion. The next
evening was the time set apart for
confounding.
1t came in due time-dark and wet
Miss Strickland put on her water
proof armed herself with a butcher
5 knife and a long pole, and thu;
l equipped set forth for the rendez
5 vou8, which was the woods behind
} the Jenkins house. Deacon PilgroyC
and Mr.. Perkins were already on th(
: ground, each carrying an old fashion
/. ed rife, and each feeling very veal
0 in the knees. Soon after Mrs Sweet
r ser and Tom Jones, their hired mai
/ arrived. Mr.. Sweetser refused tt
have anything to do with the affair
J. Parson Howard was about his owl
e business, he said, and what that busi
k ness was did not concern anybody.
d A little further back in the woods
n still as mice, were Tom Chester an,
two or three Of his chums, gathere,
: to see the fun.
g Presently Mr.. Howard came ou
n Of his house and walked rapidly tC
J. ward the old mansion. Unlockin
n the door he disappeared within
and soon after the back chan
e Der windows were lighted up as usl
5. al and just then the factory be-
rang out nine.
1t "Now is the time" said Mis-
Strickland. "Come you men folk
)" lead off"
n- "Let the deacon go first" sal
Tom Jones, he's one of the officer
)" of the church"
y, "Mr. Perkins, you go ahead" sal
le the deacon in faint voice. L.
Is rather nigh-sighted, and can't see tt
ID path so we'll"
S. "And I'm subject to turns of fain
ID ness," said Mr.. Perkins. "If l Sc
anything frightful I'm all took swoo
s. ing. You go deacon"
"Tll lead off myself" said Mi
k Strickland, brandishing the cloth
no pole. "If l am a woman, hair
er afeared OF my shadder as some pc
he pie be. Come on"
i'd She put her shoulder against tt
door of the old house, but it was su,
rs, a rickety concern that she did n
IT. have to exert herself. 1t flew op,
in at once, and the whole party, head,
W by the adventurous spinster, filed +,
by the stairs.
on The back door was not fastene
and Miss Strickland flung iG wi
ne open.
en- And what was the scene revealed
go Why: there in the center of t
,ht room, was Parson Howard, dress
IN in pair of red pantaloons, his che
be bare, and his feet likewise; and t