The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-15
RIDGWAY PA THURSDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1870.

beseeching: and when / told her there
was harm in writing to Master Huskis-
son without her dear gardewans know
ing anything about it, she alters said it
was for the last time, sir-really."
"If it was not for your age, Stokes,
I'd send you about your business this
very day"
I'm VERY sorry, sir" Stokes said
again, shedding many tears.
"Is this the tree I"
eyes, sir, that's the tree"
"And Claras last letter is up there
now, eh? In that holeY Now no more
liesl"
"Yes, sir, in that hole"
How on earth do you get at it 7"
"Master Huskisson climbs up there,
sir, for his answers. I'll go up and
fetch down Miss Clara's letter in a min
it."
There was small epistle of his own
he wished to obtain as well, perhaps or
it was possible that his noble mind had
suggested some tcheme to save dear
Ciara's missive from sacrilegious eyes.
But Mr.. Rowley suspected this old serv-
itor.
"Stop where you are, Stokesl" he
roared forth "I'll have no more of your
monkey tricks. Give me a back"
"Give you p wot, SIR"
BEND your back, you rascal, and I'll
Jump on it, and get the letter myself"
Jump on 2" repeated Stokes, with
a look of dismay at Mr.. Rowley's portly
figure; "it don't strike me that l can
bear your weight, master"
at will be only for a minute" said
Mr. Rowley, quite brutally land if l
break your back, it will serve you right
enough. Tm not an elephant, mal,
and | will have no more of this nom
sense"
Mr.. Stokes resisted no farther. He
made his back as if about to COM
mence game at leap-frog with JUS
tice of the peace and, with more agility
than l had given Mr.. Rowley credit for
the guardian was aloft, and within an
inch or two of our letter-box.
"Oh, lor shall you be long, sirt"
asked Mr.. Stokes, groaning softly to
himself.
"Raise your shoulder, you rascal, a lit
tie more" cried his employer.
Stokes did so, and from my hiding
place l saw the hand ct MIR. Rowley
strive, with some difficulty-for it was ii
fat, gouty hand, have already said-to
force itself into that casket, which had
contained so many of dear Clara's epis-
ties. Samuel Rowley was an excitable
man; for he swore little in his efforts,
and turned very red, and moved his feet
restlessly upon poor Stokes's back.
al have got it !" he cried at last. "The
ar,ful jade-the cunning, plotting little
mink, to serve her own guardian in this
- Oh !"
Tvh.-t'n 40 ---~ttor. sirY'
"Wait moment, Stokes-don't shake.
On, lord, have mercy upon us! Oh,
damn it Oh, dear, what is to be done?"
"Is anything partickler the matter,
sir! Not hadder, l hope, or nest of
sarpents, or anythingi" and old Stokes
hid his head little more-tucked in his
tuppeny we called it at school-to con-
ceal his laughing and sardonic connie
nance.
mo, Stokes; it's something much
worse, Pm sorry to say"
"Wuas, sir :" said Stokes, who left off
laughing Immediately.
"Yes; II can't get my hand out"
1.-THE devil you can't, sir" cried
Stokes, in dismay.
Its twisted somehow, or swollen, or
the wood has gripped me. Wait mo-
ment, Stokes Oh, its all up with me .
| can'tw
Take it quiet, sir. Keep cool, or
you'll never do it-don't hagitate your
self; but for Cords sake look sharp. I'm
a-cracking."
Don't move, Stokes-as you are
man, don't move! If you were to drop,
cannot imagine what would become of
me. 1t will be all right in a minute"
MAKE it less, if you can," groaned
Stokes; "all the blood's got into my
head, olful. Oh, lor, what is to be done?
Are you out, sir I"
mo, I'm not; I'm fixed, Stokes. I'm
dead man if you move; am indeed"
Stokes burst into tears, and howled
with all his might; and Mr.. Rowley
shouted great deal. and swore a great
deal too. Stokes would have run for it,
probably, for he WAS succumbing fast
to the dead weight above him, had not
Mr.. Rowley held him by the throat with
lhis boots, and fixed him too. In anoth-
e. moment had sprung to my feet, and
wa rushing to the rescue.
1tam really very sorry, Mr.. Rowley;
can 10 of any assistance!"
Assistance, y0u-you-youngd dew!
Yes, you tan, mydear child. Run for a
ladder, and 4 saw, T something, as quick
as lightning, to theIouse."
"Hi-hi-hollo% hrieked Stokes, as
l prepared to obey Ar. Rowley's com
mands; don't run cor, here. and let
me run, or bust up l uustl Oh, lor,
Master Huskisson, don'tleave me any
longer-do come and take, turn. He's
not so heavy when you're ued to him
he isn't indeed"
saw the necessity of adNncinq to
the rescue at once, and so did Ar. Row
ley. l was tall for my age anotolera-
bly, strong, and fastened to ta,e the
place of Mr.. Stokes, which did with
great caution on all sides. Behold me
at last bearing the guardian of CLARION
my shoulders, and feeling terribly he
weight of my responsibility as he stood
with his face to the tree, still exercising
his ingenuity to get his hand out of the
trap.
81 hope I'm not too heavy for you,
Master Huskisson." he condescended to
say, politely, for the sight of me was
even pleasant to witness.
"Not at all, was my cheerful answer.
you'll make yourself as light as you