Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-11-09
Number 81

and ehcitihg faint groan that sounded
like Help" the constable started of
rather leisurely;; | tHohght-but soon re:
turned with crowbar end hanmer-armet
bricklaycr, ind another policeman.
There was no stopping to tear up our
Brussels carpet, for, attacking the WALL
bricks, mortar plaster and torn paper soon
formed a dusty heap; and after guiding
himself by listening otoc or twice, in an
short space of tiihk !Ntte was
a hole made through the chimney commh:
nicating with the back kitchen, aid thto'
that hole came faint sigh.
"Come, hold up, old chap, whoever you
are, - said the policeman ; and then to me,
"Got drop Of brandy, sir?'
81 soon fetched the spirit, and then ii
the sight of the horrifed women, the hole
was sufficiently enlarged to lay bare a
ghastly, .blackened face, with protrud-
ing eyebslls and grinning teeth but as
the air seemed to reach the mans lungs
more purely there was change took
place, aided BY some brandy administered
in spoon by Of the olicemen.
1t was all plain enough now, and was
hot much surprised, when, the hole being
sufficiently enlarged, tall, stout life
guardsmsan was dragged out, but otl5 to
fall upon the rubbish heap, completely ex-
haustcd.
"Found on the premises for felonious
purposes" said one policeman. "Course
you'll press the charge, sir?"
But did not answer, being too much
taken up with the poor fellow before me,
whom it was evident few more minutes
would have Stifed.
"Couldn'tyou get down again 2" l asked
him, as soon as he could speak,
ono; not an inch, sir; nor yet up ;
jammed in," he gasped; sand 'eat from
next chimney seemed to stop my breath"
"How did you get there, eh ?" queried
one policeman.
"Therc don't bother Hin, 1 said "I
know and he's half dead now. Here,
have some some more brandy.
"Thanky, SIR" he gaspsd feebly, and
swallowed little, but only with great
difficulty; and it was pitiful to see the
great pro5ttatlbh IF the fellow; his gar
scarlet jacket reduced to blackened, torn
dilapidation; and his trim *biskers and
moustache all limp aud mortar filled.
"Why didn't you knock or call for help
sooner?" l said, as knelt down by him.
II couldn't MASTER" he whispered. II
hadn't the heart, for the poor lasss sake /;
and | wouldn't have groaned when l did
if could have kept em back"
| always was weak but if tho true
man did not stand out there, l thought; !
am no Judge; suffice it, those few earnest
words had quite won mo to his side, and
| had mapped out my course.
you'll press the chargs T. hsid Ohs 81
the policeman again.
"No," said firmly. The poor fellow
had no feonious intent, and he has been
punished enough without what will follow
for breaking barrack law"
Absurd !" exclaimed Mrs. Scribe's
mamma shrlly. ii dcsite, George, that
you have hitH taken off tS bfisoh directly,
or VIC shall all be murdcfed in our beds. y
"The sooher you are in yours, madam,
| think. the BETTER" l said politely ''for
your costume
She staid to hear no more, for her
dressing-gown and night-cap, hitherto for
gotten in the excitement, disappeared like
magic, followed by a banging door.
satisfied, then, the grinning polic,neh
and the bricklayer and, moved by eyre
gious folly, as Mrs Scribc's niamfha after.
wards told me, l allowed the wretched
man to pass the night in an easy chair,
seeing him off myself almost as soon as il
was light.
Betsy left us at the end Of q week, =,
and | must own to always supporting
Mrs. Scribe in her determination to moi
have any followers from the neighborine
barracks.
Whether our maid married tie man D
her choice, | know not; but this d.
know, that great piece of my little Ii
brary Brusscl was totally spoiled; and j
VIC wanted reminder when loctf talking
or sounds from the next house had cease,
to startle us in the late hours, when sit
ing together-if, l say, we wanted a re
minder, there it was in faded paper owe
the new wall which marked the hole fror
which We were favored with, the advef
Of Betsy's Beau.
P. S.-Probably owing to the shock
, her nerves, Mrs. Scribe's mamma return
ed to Hastings the next day, and did nj
visit us again for six months.
The following appears in daily P