The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-01-04
coURTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
nLD HANS TURNER and his neigh
BY 7. DELACY.

piece of land, and the result was n lawsuit,
which had made them such enemies that
they would not speak to each other or al
low their families to hold any intercourse.
Hans had a daughter Kate, who was
about eighteen years of age, and who John
Jones, the oldest son in the Jones family.
thought just the prettiest girl in all crea-
ton At the time the family troubles be-
gan, he was paying attention to Kate.
but then the old man forbid him the house,
and threatened Kate with dire vengeance
II she even spoke to him again. But love
was not to be conquered in any such man
ner' and in fact the opposition only seemed
to fan the flames the brighter. The result
was that John and Kate managed to meet
quite Often
1t so happened, that on one evening the
whole family, except Kate, went away to
"omc merry-making, to be gone until quite
late, when John as in duty bound. came
over-accidentally of course-to keep Kate
from getting lonesome, and help her to pass
the evening pleasantly.
That he succeeded admirably, we may
Judge, from the fact that before either of
the lovers thought it late the carriage
bringing home the family, arrived, and the
old mans voice was heard approaching the
door.
Kate was terribly afraid of her fathers
anger, and for moment, there seemed to
be no way except TO face him and brave it
but woman is generally ready for an
emergency, and Kate was a woman.
Hans and his wife slept in the sitting
room, having a bed so fixed that during the
day about two-thirds of its length turned
up against the wall, where with a curtain
drawn around it, was but little in the way.
Kate also knew that her parents invaria-
bly, visited the pantry for a bite, just before
retiring for the night, and so without any
more hesitation she directed John to creep
under the head of the bed, telling him to
slip out quietly while they were eating their
evening lunch. To please Kate, John
would have done much more than that, so
iiO Nitt Silc bOlu HllIl, WIFI us llJJle Gel1Y
as possible. He had hardly reached his
hiding place before the old folks accompan-
led by the boys, entered the room. After
few moments of conversation, the boys
and Kate went to their rooms. leaving Hans
and his wife as they supposed, in full pos
session of the premises.
Mrs. Hans soon proceeded to turn down
the bed and prepare it for the night, when
bJohn from his place under the bed, con-
graduated himself upon soon having a
chance to leave; but whether the good
cheer furnished at the party where they had
been, took away their usual appetite or not,
is not known, but to Johns horror they at
once prepared for bed, not giving him the
expected opportunity for escape.
lie thought. however, that he might by
keeping still until they were asleep, yet get
away without old Hans hearing him, and
perhaps might have done it, had he not
been troubled with a cold. John had not
long been under the bed until he felt a
strong inclination to cough, which he man
aged to restrain for time, but at last, be-
fore the old folks could possibly be asleep,
in spite of all he could do, sort of Crunt
escaped him. 1t was a curious sound and
perhaps might have frightened even braver
people than Hans Turner and his wife,
Every man has some weakness, and old
Turner's weak point was firm belief in
ghosts and COLLINS, and consequently he at
once gave the credit of the singular sound
to some supernatural cause. His hair bris-
tied with terror and he hardly had strength
TO whisper to his worthy paltner, to know
if she had heard the noise. Yes she too
fiad heard it, and was fully as badly scared
While they lay in such fear in the bed,
John was in still greater trouble under the
bed. The constant tickling in his throat,
and the fear of being discovered if he gave
way to it, put him in perfect misery. At
last he could restrain it no longer and in
the attempt to keep it back, he succeeded
in making noise that was groan, a cough
and grunt so mingled, that it was enough