Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-29

" Cousin, you're very poetlcal TO-
night; but when you commence quo
tation, you ought to be able to finish
it. 7 don't feel at all cold, do you."
"Not at all, Polly. For my part I
think it vastly preferable TO indoors. "
$50 do l, she replied
Believe me, it's dangerous thing
for a young man TO be walking alone
with pretty cousin by moonlight on
Christmas Eve BY this time we had
reached the wicket-gate that opened
into the little churchyard, adjoining
the grounds Of the Grange.
Shall we stroll round the old church
before we return, Polly2"
A." should like to, very much. But
perhaps we should be missed; and
whatever would people say 7"
81 don't care what anybody says, +"
! replied. 81 don't care for anybody
or anything but you, dear Pollyl"
The moon was taking effect.
"Willis don be so absurd, or I'll
90 back at once
Don't be angry with me, Polly. It's
the moons fault The moon is to
blame for it all
$50 / should imagine" she replied
cody. "Sorry that / have been the
means Of subjecting you to its influence. "
As we passed by, l noticed that the
door of the church tower stood ajar.
The bell-ringers had been there that
morning, and had, no doubt, forgotten
to close it. so / opened it little way,
and peeped IN.
"Polly," ! said, "there's no one
here. Wouldn't it be capital fun TO go
up the beliry steps, and see how
the village looks from the top of the
tower tonight The moon will give
sufficient hight through the loopholes
FOR us to find our way up the stairs"
Glow delightfully."- romantic What
q charming adventure for Christmas
Eve she exclaimed
care you sure you'll not be frighten-
ed, dear2"
Frightened What at2 / don't
believe III the supernatural, Willis, >
she replied, like the courageous Little
girl that she was
& But perhaps you'll catch cold"
Vim not afraid Of that, either. I'm
aa warm as toast Come along, Willis. !"
And she began to ascend the tower.
Halfway up, we came to an iron bound
door, which, luckily for us, Was also
open, or it would have arrested our
progress.
q say, Whilst Whatever would
people say of us, if they could see us
nows' she cried, as we stopped for
moment to rest and take breath.
Flapl flap flap! "Tu-whool tn
whool tu-whoo And large owl
flew past US, evidently disturbed by our
intrusion.
"Ob, Willis, whatever was that !"
she said, Selling me by the arm.
"Only an owl, dear"
els that all2 How the horrid thing
frightened me "
81 thought that you were never
frightened, Polly
mot by the supernatural, she re-
piled. "But owls do not come under
that category"
A few steps more, and we had reach
ed the summit, and were standing just
beneath the bells.
sS" Oh, Willis-Willis The view
from here ia enough to make any one
poetical | u she cried, clapping her
hands. 81 had no idea that it was
half so beautiful Look Mt the lights
in the villago-look at the Grange =
look at the shadows on the blinds |
wonder if they've missed rs yet
Just then there came a sudden gust
of wind, followed by loud bang.
%bnt NI,1lio 2 -
| guessed It's meaning immediately,
and hurried down the stairs, TO find
that the middle door had blown to, and
that we were securely fastened IN.
Here was pretty position to be placed
in Laugh as much Us you please, but
how would you like to be shut up in
the belfy of an old Norman church
tower, Just before midnight on Christ
mas Eye2
"Oh, doarl oh, dear What are
we to do uow2 Whatever will become
OF us asked Polly.
"Be calm, dearest--compose your-
self Our case is not utterly hopeless,
after all / have a box Of fuzees in my
pocket. III light them one by one,
and throw out signals of distress"
But there's nobody about to see
them,n she returned. "Oh, suppose
we have to stay here all night It's
not twelve o'clock yet and the moon
will go down soon, and il will be eight
hours before daylight.
"Foliy " said quietly.
Oh, don't waste time talking to me,
if you please Oh, why did you bring
me up here7 Oh, whatever will be-
come of us Even if we're missed,
nobody will ever think of looking up
here for us. Oh, Willis Willis 40 do
something! CAN'T you tear our peck
| et-handkerchiefs into strips, and te
the pieces together, and let yourself
downs I'm sure If / were man |
would ~